Gov. Blagojevich announces $59,626 Opportunity Returns Brownfields Grant Funds for redevelopment in Decatur

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. --- Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has approved $59,626 in Municipal Brownfields Redevelopment Grant Funding for the Macon County city of Decatur.  This funding is necessary to assess the site of a former filling station.

 

The city of Decatur will use the grant funds for assessment activities and investigation of up to four underground storage tanks belonging to a former filling station.  The site is located at 735 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., and it sits within the boundaries of a Phase III development of the Wabash Crossing Project.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing funds to enable the City to build low income housing units as part of the Wabash Crossing Project.  The grant from the Illinois EPA will enable the City to remediate any environmental conditions in order to allow development of the former service station to proceed as scheduled.

 

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

 

"Opportunity Returns is critical to our state's economic future, and Brownfields Redevelopment Grants are an integral part of the program," said Gov. Blagojevich.  "With these Grants, communities such as Decatur can prepare properties for redevelopment, which leads to more jobs and increased tax revenue.  By working together, we will help Decatur and the Central region reach its economic potential."

 

During his administration, Gov. Blagojevich has been committed to improving the environment for Illinois citizens.  As part of his 2006 State of the State address, the governor proposed a plan to drastically reduce mercury emissions from power plants by 90 percent by June 30, 2009.  This ambitious plan to protect Illinois families from harmful mercury emissions will provide tougher standards than those proposed by the federal government. 

 

"Identifying and cleaning up environmental contamination at this former gas station to clear the way for much needed community housing is a good partnership between state and local government," said State Sen. Frank Watson (R-Greenville).

 

"This grant from Illinois EPA is another important step in moving this project forward for Decatur," said State Rep. Bob Flider (D-Mt. Zion).

 

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

 

So far, 124 Illinois communities have received over $16.5 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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