When steel and manufacturing jobs dried up over the last several decades in Venice, Illinois, the town lost two-thirds of the population, followed by its only grocery store and only school.

But now, Venice hopes to make a comeback that's already underway — thanks, in part, to the vision of Ed Hightower, a retired school superintendent who has deep roots in the area.

"I don't care what color you are, what belief you have. You want to reside in a safe area where you can go to school, you go get your groceries," Hightower said.

The former college basketball referee knew the rules of the game — in this case, how to get state money flowing Venice's way.

The Illinois Grocery Initiative is funding a new grocery store in Venice through a $2.4 million state grant. It's set to begin construc

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