Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – U.S. Rep Nikki Budzinski and her giant-sized $1 million dollar check were the center of attention at a ceremony held on the site of the former Pillsbury processing plant on Springfield’s North Side Thursday.

The event was attended by several state and city officials as well, including Mayor Misty Buscher and state Sen. Doris Turner,

Chris Richmond, who is president of Moving Pillsbury Forward, told the assembled the check the congresswoman brings will push the project that much closer to completion. He says the original estimate to reclaim the property was set around $10 million to $12 million. Now only about $2 million remain to be found. He says they have raised $9.2 million thus far.