Moving Pillsbury Forward

The former Pillsbury Mills plant on the north east side of Springfield closed 20 years ago. The 18-acre property has significant legal entanglements and is known to be contaminated with asbestos and lead paint. The surrounding neighborhoods are among the most severely impoverished in Springfield.

Removal of existing structures and redevelopment of the site will provide the area with public safety, environmental, health, justice, and economics benefits.

Moving Pillsbury Forward (MPF) has positioned itself to coordinate redevelopment of the 18-acre site.

The Pillsbury project is large and complex but manageable. The project is reasonable and workable with the coordination provided by Moving Pillsbury Forward. It is also clearly worth the effort.

Doing nothing is the worst possible outcome. A successful outcome will require significant support from both public and private sources – and the support of the entire Springfield community. Please join us.

  • New Pop Up Art Exhibit Downtown Dec 4 and 6th, 2024

    Friends, While we are still looking for a permanent home for Pillsbury artifacts, a small selection of them has been incorporated into a new pop up art exhibit downtown. Details of the exhibit, Absence and Presence, are attached. Over this past year we established a number of collaborative relationships with artists and the Adams Family downtown. We are…

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  • Reviews Completed; Group Photo Date Set for 11/22

    Friends, Moving Pillsbury Forward is moving ahead with requests for proposals on both remediation and demolition of site structures now that all of our compliance reviews have been completed. It has been a long haul getting to this point. We appreciate everyone supporting and hanging in there with us. We look forward to 2025 being the year…

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  • Flashback to 1972 with the Springfield Communicator

    Friends, Moving Pillsbury Forward had a 1972 issue of The Springfield Communicator donated recently. This is the employee newsletter that came out periodically at the Springfield Pillsbury Plant. This issue is filled with names of employees that either retired or had big anniversaries (25,30,35, and 40 year) in 1972. There are more than 150 employees listed. Download the…

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“Pillsbury: Past, Present, and Future”

Chris Richmond, retired Fire Marshall in Springfield, IL and creator of the group Moving Pillsbury Forward, gives a PechaKucha presentation on “Pillsbury: Past, Present, and Future” as part of Springfield Inner City Older Neighborhoods’ (ICON) Annual Party Fundraiser 2019.