On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the City of Champaign hosted the quarterly meeting for the State-Designated Cultural District, bringing together staff from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Tracy Parsons, Community Relations Manager, and Mikal Washington, Community Relations Specialist, from the Equity and Engagement Department participated in the meeting, providing updates on the upcoming plans for North First Street while gaining valuable insights into the exciting events taking place in other districts. City staff also had the opportunity to engage with DCEO representatives, asking questions related to upcoming funding opportunities, connect with other State-Designated Cultural Districts, and offering a tour of North First Street. During the tour, they were able to share the reasoning behind the selection of this area as a designated cultural district.