SPRINGFIELD --- Governor Rod Blagojevich announced  that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has approved $13,147 in Brownfields Redevelopment Grant Funding for the Village of Naplate to complete environmental assessment activities at a former cement block plant and an empty lot that was formally used as a sandstone pit entrance and parking area.

 

Brownfields redevelopment grants are awarded to Illinois municipalities for environmental assessments and cleanup of abandoned or underutilized properties in preparation for redevelopment.  The funding is being provided through the IEPA as part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor's comprehensive, pro-active economic development plan for the Northwest region.

 

“Opportunity Returns is critical to our state's economic future and Brownfields Redevelopment Grants are an integral part of the program,” said Governor Blagojevich.  “With these grants, communities such as Naplate can prepare underutilized properties for redevelopment, which leads to more jobs and increased tax revenue.  By working together, we will continue doing all we can to help Naplate and the Northwest region reach its economic potential.”

 

In addition to the former cement block plant site located at 2005 Ottawa Avenue Naplate is using this grant to conduct additional environmental work at a former sandstone pit entrance site located at 2002 Ottawa Avenue. These additional Brownfields funds will be used to conduct additional environmental site assessments and prepare necessary reports as required by the Illinois EPA’s Site Remediation Program, with the hope of ultimately acquire a comprehensive No Further Remediation Letter for both sites. The Village hopes to turn one of the sites into a ball field and on the other site the Village hopes to build a new garage.

 

“Brownfields grants help communities with the funding they need to evaluate the environmental impact of the past uses of property and enables them to make plans to rehabilitate the site for redevelopment,” said EPA Director Renee Cipriano. 

 

So far, 109 Illinois communities have received over $13.4 million, for environmental assessments and cleanups of brownfields sites. The program began July 1, 1998.

 

Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history.  Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses.  It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.

 

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