Lakes Restoration Initiative Awarded

EPA Awards Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Shoreline Cities Grants to Gary and Hammond

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants totaling $500,000 to the Cities of Gary and Hammond to fund green infrastructure projects that will improve water quality in Lake Michigan. EPA Region 5 Administrator/Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman was joined for the announcement at the Marquette Park Pavilion by U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson and Mark McLaughlin, Chief of Staff for Hammond Mayor Thomas M. McDermott.

"Gary and Hammond will use these EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Shoreline Cities Grants for green infrastructure projects to protect Lake Michigan," said Hedman. "Green infrastructure traps and filters rain where it falls - to reduce flooding and to prevent storm water from washing contaminants into our waterways."

"EPA is an instrumental partner to the Northwest Indiana region. Their emphasis to hire and train Gary and Hammond residents to learn skills about green infrastructure development is commendable," Visclosky said. "The EPA's commitment to our region is key to the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes."

Gary will use EPA's $250,000 grant, in combination with funding from the city ($83,500) and the Cleveland Botanical Garden ($168,000), to construct green infrastructure in the Aetna, Emerson, Miller and Horace Mann neighborhoods.

Source: EPA

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