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.
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New Pillsbury Exhibit at the ALPLM
Friends, Moving Pillsbury Forward partnered with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum these past several months to develop a new exhibit focused on the early years (1929 to 1949) of the Springfield Pillsbury Plant. The exhibit represents an era in local manufacturing that provided hundreds of good jobs during the Great Depression and set
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Back to Big Demolition
Friends, The demolition crew at the site is back to big demolition. After a couple of months’ pause, the big crane is back in service and tearing down the AB-Mill. And the old 8000 pound wrecking ball has been exchanged for a new 10,000 pound ball. It is truly impressive what a difference 2000 pounds
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Made in Springfield
Friends, These cold winter days have given us a chance to sift through the archives and find some fun facts about local manufacturing. When the Springfield Pillsbury plant was initially built in 1929, they utilized local companies to supply manufacturing products made in Springfield. It was an era in our Springfield history where manufacturing was
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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.


