Bloomington Site Dubbed Shovel Ready
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA nearly 30-acre property in Bloomington has earned Shovel Ready Silver designation from the state. The city's economic development corporation says it is the fourth such site in Monroe County. October 30, 2013
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann today declared that the 311 North Curry Pike site located in the city of Bloomington is Shovel-Ready “Silver” based on the criteria of the state's Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). The Shovel Ready Silver designation shows the business community that the 29.9 acre 311 North Curry Pike site is ready for economic development.
To be declared “Shovel-Ready” a site must have a base level of defined boundaries with a clear title, established price, demonstration of executive level local government support, defined utility capacity, and provided documentation such as Phase I environmental assessment, ALTA survey, and wetland delineation.
A Shovel-Ready “Silver” site will have current documentation, proper zoning, infrastructure to the property line as well as no environmental or wetland considerations.
“Bloomington has taken a big step forward with this designation,” said Ellspermann. “I look forward to seeing the growth that takes place in the near future as Bloomington continues to attract business development.”
“Our mission to grow quality jobs is aided by the addition of a fourth shovel ready site in Monroe County,” said Ron Walker, President of Bloomington Economic Development Corporation. “This designation will help employers mitigate site risks, make investments and create jobs with greater predictability of success in Monroe County.”
“Duke Energy is thrilled to partner with the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation in the designation of this industrial property and to support the efforts for future economic growth in Bloomington and Monroe County,” said Bruce Calloway, District Manager of Duke Energy.
The goal of the Shovel-Ready program is to expedite the business location process by making sites more attractive to companies who are looking to relocate or expand.
The OCRA led Shovel-Ready program also works closely with the state's Fast Access Site Team (FAST), which is comprised of multiple state agencies, including Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).
Please visit www.in.gov/ocra/2622.htm for additional information on the Shovel Ready program.
The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) was created by legislation in 2005, making rural Indiana a major focus for the first time. OCRA’s mission is to promote community prosperity to strengthen Indiana’s economy by providing capacity-building solutions to assure ready, marketable, and competitive communities for economic growth. For additional information on OCRA and its programs visit www.in.gov/ocra.
For updates from the Lt. Governor and the agencies she oversees, please visit www.in.gov/lgov.
Source: The Office of Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann