Muncie, IN – The Chicago Regional Office of the Economic Development Administration announced that the Energize-ECI Regional Planning District, Inc. has been awarded a $60,000 Planning Grant for 2011-2012. […]
Muncie, IN – E. Roy Budd, Executive Director of the Energize-ECI Regional Planning District, Inc., announced that the District Brownfields Coalition has received a $609,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant funds allow the District organization to assess properties in the counties of Blackford, Delaware, Grant and Jay that are potentially contaminated by hazardous and petroleum substances. The EPA issued 214 grants through the Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants programs totaling $76 million – which went to entities in 40 states and three tribes across the country. “Revitalizing our communities is vital to our health and the health of our local communities,” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. “The grants we’re awarding to communities across America will support projects that will help create thousands of jobs and make our communities cleaner, healthier and more prosperous places to raise a family and start [...]
Muncie, IN – E. Roy Budd, Executive Director of the Energize-ECI Regional Planning District, announced the 2011 Appointees to the Board of Directors. Founded in 2009, the Energize-ECI Regional Planning District serves Blackford, Delaware, Grant and Jay counties. Indiana Statute shapes the composition of the Board of Directors and establishes the number of directors and the appointing entities. […]
Muncie, IN – Roy Budd, Executive Director of the Energize-ECI Regional Planning District, announced the preparation and submission of a $609,000 Brownfield Assessment grant proposal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on behalf of the recently formed Energize-ECI Brownfield Coalition. Members of the Coalition include Blackford, Delaware, Grant and Jay counties. The primary focus of the grant application is to establish a plan to identify and develop a comprehensive inventory of brownfield properties existing in the four counties and determine what, if any, assessment or remediation work has been performed on the sites. Grant funding will also be used to assess a number of priority sites in the four counties, with a next-step plan for remediation. The grant proposal identified an example site from each county with a proposed program for remediation and the return of the properties to productive uses for the communities in which they are located. [...]
Muncie, IN – Sheila Cannon, Resource Development Manager for the Energize-ECI Regional Planning District, is inviting interested residents of Delaware County to review and make comments regarding the economic development and infrastructure projects submitted for the 2010 update of the District’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Report. Ms. Cannon stated, “Many projects have been submitted for Delaware County. We are now in the public review and comment period, inviting residents to forward comments regarding specific projects included in the 2010 list.” The CEDS update is an annual requirement by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the agency which authorizes the District, along with the State of Indiana. The CEDS Report covers Blackford, Delaware, Grant and Jay counties. The projects which have been submitted to be included in the 2010 CEDS Report Update for Delaware County and local communities include: Delaware County Riggin Road Project: Road [...]
Muncie,IN – E. Roy Budd, Executive Director of the Energize-ECI Regional Planning District, announced that the organization has been elected to membership in the Indiana Association of Regional Councils (IARC). IARC is a statewide association of 14 organizations that provide comprehensive, regional planning services which are coordinated with local governments in Indiana. Most of the IARC members were formed under Indiana Statute I.C. 36-7-7 more than 25 years ago. They are funded by member county dues, multiple grant sources and fee-based services, and have governing boards comprised primarily of local elected officials. Mr. Budd commented, “Membership in IARC provides us with an excellent opportunity to learn more about grant possibilities and to build relationships with peer organizations throughout the state. Indiana is known for its top-notch regional planning agencies. Collaborations and information-sharing benefits everyone involved. We’ve already put information and ideas gained from IARC meetings into action for our four-county [...]
The purpose of this fact page is to give community stakeholders who are involved in the Energize ECI (EECI) Indiana Brownfield Assessment Coalition a general understanding of the project. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that coalition partners be well-informed on the projects with which they are involved—and the EPA may contact coalition partners to “quiz” them on their project, so it is imperative that your organization knows some of the more important details of this undertaking. Here are some of the basics: The Brownfield Assessment Grant Program The EPA recently announced a funding opportunity for units of government and nonprofits to inventory and assess brownfield sites in their communities. The total amount of funding available for assessment activities is $37.3 million. Eligible applicants may apply on their own for up to $400,000 or as part of a larger coalition for up to $1 million. Grant funds may be [...]
Muncie, IN – E. Roy Budd, Executive Director of Energize-ECI, Inc., and Brad Bookout, Energize-ECI Resource Development Manager, announced they have been notified that $2.3 million in federal funds have been allocated to complete a rail spur at Park One Industrial Park adjacent to I-69 at SR-332. The spur will be an extension from a nearby rail line and be used by Brevini USA, Brevini Wind and VAT Energies to ship completed green energy components. Save-A-Lot also operates a large grocery store product distribution center at Park One. Initial work on the grant application began over two years ago, with the efforts completed by a team led by Brad Bookout of Energize-ECI and Terry Murphy, Vice president of the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance, with assistance from the Delaware County Commissioners and others. The County Commissioners had previously earmarked $1.9 million in local funds to help develop the spur, an [...]
Muncie, IN – E. Roy Budd, Executive Director of Energize-ECI, Inc., announced that the City of Muncie has joined the Resource and Grant Development Partnership formed earlier this year by Blackford County and Delaware County, and administered by Energize-ECI, Inc. A primary focus of the grant development partnership will be to advance economic development, upgrade infrastructure and improve the quality of life for the participating entities. The Resource and Grant Development Partnership is housed in the Energize-ECI, Inc. Engagement Center at 122 E. Main Street, Muncie. “The City of Muncie is very fortunate to have the opportunity to join Delaware County and Blackford County in the Resource and Grant Development Partnership administered by Energize-ECI, Inc.,” stated Muncie Mayor Sharon McShurley. “In the statewide shift to regional economic development, we are fortunate to have the resources of Roy Budd and his staff. Adding a grant writing component makes perfect sense and [...]