State Dubs Site ‘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 NowThe Office of Community and Rural Affairs has designated a property in Lawrence Shovel-Ready. The site is located near Ivy Tech Community College at Fort Benjamin Harrison. September 17, 2013
News Release
LAWRENCE, Ind. – The 7.55 acre site at 56th Street and Lee Road site in the city of Lawrence has been declared Shovel-Ready Silver by Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). The Shovel Ready Silver designation demonstrates to the business community at large that the site is primed and 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, and infrastructure to the property line as well as no environmental or wetland considerations.
“We're pleased that the city of Lawrence has readied this property for development to reach its full potential,” said Ellspermann. “Continued growth and development within Lawrence will help attract new businesses and jobs to the community.”
Mayor of Lawrence, Dean Jessup and R. Aaron Greenwalt, J.D. of the Greenwalt Corporation both expressed support for the designation.
“This cornerstone location is near the heart of the former Ft. Benjamin Harrison and surrounded by the Ivy Tech campus, which makes it the ideal location for a new business,” said Jessup.
“Greenwalt Corporation is excited to receive shovel ready certification on its 7.55 acre site at 56th Street and Lee Road. We hope the certification will attract attention and promote future development within the City of Lawrence and Fort Harrison. We believe it is a great site, and we hope to see it develop in the near future,” said Greenwalt.
The goal of the Shovel-Ready program is to expedite the business location process by making the sites more attractive to companies and site-selection consultants who are looking to locate or expand their business.
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 Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs