Mel-O-Cream Donuts has been awarded the Preserve Route 66 Legacy Business Grant, receiving $5,876 to fund a new project celebrating the iconic highway's centennial.

The grant will be used to create and install a giant Route 66 shield-shaped donut sign at the Mel-O-Cream store located at 3010 S. 6th Street in Springfield.

Sangamon Donuts, which operates five Mel-O-Cream stores in Springfield, applied for the grant in December 2024. The installation aims to honor both the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and the Mel-O-Cream legacy along the historic route.

Amanda Crossland, owner of Sangamon Donuts LLC, expressed enthusiasm for the project. "The grant should cover fabrication and installation of the sign. We will invest in additional parking, lighting, and landscape to round out the on-site experience," she said. Crossland also acknowledged the support from Visit Springfield, Ace Sign Company, and Mel-O-Cream Donuts International, adding, "We are honored to be a small part of the Mel-O-Cream and Route 66 living legacy."