Dixon, Illinois

DI XON, I LL INOI S Blues Booze and Barbeque music festival, also bring people from all over the region to enjoy what Dixon has to offer. With a population of 15,000, Dixon embraces entrepreneurialism, especially in its large downtown district, which has seen a revitalization over the last decade. Mayor Liandro Arellano Jr.– known by the locals as “Mayor Li”– shares, “We’re very much known for our entrepreneurship. The downtown is very built out, with lots of local stores. We have several different business districts and except for those on the interstate, all of them have a heavy emphasis on local owners and local businesses. We are very proud of that.” Downtown Dixon is home to The Dixon, a historic theater which originally opened in 1922 and has shown everything from vaudeville acts and silent films, to movies, opera, and local theatre. Currently undergoing a restoration, the century-old theater is a proud gem of the downtown landscape, planning to continue bringing people from surrounding areas to enjoy live experiences and film. The Next Picture Show, a local art gallery showcasing national works, and Books on First, a bookstore and café, also show the culture and spirit at the heart of the community. A major downtown project is now underway, addressing issues along the Rock River. Fehr Graham, environmental engineers for the State of Illinois, conducted an analysis of the area and found serious environmental concerns. The city was able to bring in the federal government, who have invested $4 million into environmental remediation in the area so far. The project, called Viaduct Point, spans 14 acres, and will be developed into mixed-use commercial and residential spaces. Arellano explains the vision for the project, which is expected to be completed in two years: “We have started to work with some developers who know the federal actions taking place, and know it’s going to be a prime developable area in a couple of years. We have already started doing some drafting of what can go in there, whether that is a boutique hotel, which one of