South Bend Mayor Stephen J. Luecke and Congressman Joe Donnelly announced that environmental remediation work will soon begin at two sites in South Bend as a result of a $360,000 federal stimulus grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the City of South Bend's Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund.
South Bend was the only city in Indiana to receive direct funding. The State of Indiana also received $2.5 million for which South Bend and other cities can apply to the Indiana Brownfield Program for additional funding.
It is expected that the $360,000 ($180,000 each) will be used for:
- Soil removal on property in the Ignition Park area, south of the former South Bend Stamping Plant site, on former railroad property.
- Asbestos removal at Good Shepherd Montessori School at 1101 E. Jefferson Blvd.
"We are proud to have this national recognition of the City of South Bend's active brownfield remediation efforts – the most aggressive environmental clean-up efforts in the state," said Mayor Luecke. "Our City staff always seeks out opportunities to assist the private sector with federal support for environmental remediation. These grants will help pave the way for active use of key sites."
"Cleaning up these brownfield sites will create local jobs and economic opportunities while helping to improve the quality of life for those living around these sites," said Congressman Donnelly.
"These recovery act investments will help our communities create good jobs for local workers, and clean up development sites for even more long-term economic opportunities," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "By protecting human health and the environment, we're building a new foundation for prosperity. EPA is providing solutions in these challenging economic times, and making clear that we don't have to choose between a growing economy and a green environment."
The last two steps in the process are South Bend Common Council appropriation of the funds and final EPA project approval through the Board of Public Works.
Communities representing 55 state or local governments are receiving supplemental funding. Grantees selected for recovery act supplemental funds demonstrated:
- An ability to deliver programmatic results by making at least one loan or subgrant and have effectively utilized existing loan funds.
- Shovel-ready projects that will expeditiously result in job creation.
- An ability to track and measure their progress in creating the jobs associated with loans or sub-grants.
Contact:
- Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
- Don Inks, Dir. of Econ. Development or Ann Kolata, Senior Redev. Specialist, 235-9371
- Samantha Slater, Press Secretary, Congressman Joe Donnelly, 202-225-3915
