Springfield native Yolonda Rice partnered with the city to renovate the former King's Daughters Home, which will soon be apartments for travel nurses and nursing students.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Springfield native Yolonda Rice partnered with the city to renovate the former King's Daughters Home. After renovations, the property will be apartments for travel nurses and nursing students. 

"For those students that are coming here from out of state and coming here from other cities, to have the opportunity to rent a place that would be furnished and that would be strategically located to your area of work, is over and beyond what we call an excellent opportunity," Rice said.  

The King's Daughters Home for Women was established in the late 1800s and later became a home-health residence for elderly women.  

The $6.7 million project will include preserving the historical aesthetic but modernizing the space for residents to live. Rice received nearly one million dollars in funding from the city, called tax increment financing, also known as TIF. Rice said she will be applying for other grants and resources and is confident they will reach the goal.  

"The City of Springfield sees its building as being very important, as an iconic part of our history, but also as an iconic part of being able to provide housing for nurses and nurse students. Because our central location is very valuable to the development of our community," Rice explained.  

Rice said the renovations should be complete and ready for residents in 12 months, and she feels honored to be able to give back to the Springfield community. 

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