GOV. BLAGOJEVICH ANNOUNCES $61,342 IN OPPORTUNITY RETURNS BROWNFIELDS GRANT FUNDS FOR REDEVELOPMENT IN ROSELLE

SPRINGFIELD --- Governor Rod Blagojevich announced today that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has approved $61,342 in Municipal Brownfields Redevelopment Grant (MBRG) funding to the DuPage County village of Roselle, to initiate environmental investigation activities at a site located in the heart of the central business district.

 

The site has considerable value to the village and to local residential and commercial developers because of its location at the intersection of South Park and Main Streets, which is one of the village's main commercial intersections.  The village believes this project will complement ongoing private brownfield redevelopment presently occurring in the 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 Northeast 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 Roselle 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 Roselle and the Northeast region reach its economic potential."

 

"More and more, as the availability of affordable land decreases, officials are looking to brownfield sites as areas to redevelop," said Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott. "As a former mayor, I know firsthand that assistance such as IEPA's Brownfields Grants program can help make these developments a reality."

 

So far, 116 Illinois communities have received over $15 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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