Jimmy John’s Owner Gives $150,000 To Kickapoo Rail Trail Project

The owner of the Champaign-based Jimmy John's sandwich chain has donated $150,000 to the Kickapoo Rail Trail being built in east-central Illinois.

According to The News-Gazette, Jimmy John Liautaud said he decided to make the donation after recently reading about efforts by the Kickapoo Rail Trail's planners to raise money. He called the trail good for the area.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve District and others are building the 24.5-mile Kickapoo Rail Trail. The first segment would be 6.7 miles and is under construction between Urbana and the small town of St. Joseph.

Total cost of the first phase is expected to be about $2.7 million. The donation leaves the project needing only about $30,000 more.