Coffey brews up enthusiasm for possible tourism district

Economic development measure is part of the "Bears bill" which passed the IL House Wednesday.

Three adults posing and smiling at a social event, with two women in front and a man in a blue suit on the right, inside a lobby area with other guests in the background.

Capitol City Now(l-r) Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher, State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield, and State Rep. Mike Coffey (R-Springfield) attend a news conference about proposed economic development downtown, Springfield IL, March 31, 2026

Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – State Rep. Mike Coffey (pictured, right) (R-Springfield) could be the happiest man in Springfield now.

The morning after the Illinois House passed an economic development package which could help not only the Chicago Bears but downtown Springfield, Coffey said declaring downtown to be a special tourism district gives the city something important. “It gives you the tools you need for bonding capability. You can’t go to New York City and say, Mike and Dave are going to do this project. You need the power and the authority of the government to get these things finances and across the finish line.”

Doesn’t he mean the goal line?

Also in the package: expansion of the medical district, which includes the city’s two hospitals.

The bill‘s success in the Senate is far from a sure thing, and the Bears are not satisfied with the bill anyway. But Coffee and State Sen. Doris Turner (pictured, center) (D-Springfield) hope that the Springfield component of this passes even if the PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) piece does not.