The Elkhart City Redevelopment Commission on Oct. 14 approved appropriating $12,000 from the Downtown TIF to subcontract through Roberts Engineering with Terracon to support an anticipated Environmental Protection Agency cleanup grant application for the Roundhouse site.

Commission staff said the subcontract is intended to strengthen the city’s application by drawing on Terracon’s experience securing similar federal cleanup grants. "We are going to be applying for a cleanup grant through the EPA," Adam Fan, assistant director of redevelopment, told commissioners, adding that Terracon is an "award-winning" firm with experience on municipal grant work.

Fan said staff and the city’s environmental consultant, Robertson Environmental, recommended subcontracting to Terracon to help prepare the technical materials required by the grant. He told the commission the grant timeline is uncertain while a federal government shutdown affected release schedules, but historically applications are due about 60 days after release and often fall in December.

The motion to approve the proposal and appropriate $12,000 from Downtown Allocation Area No. 1 passed by voice vote.

The commission also announced two public meetings as part of grant outreach: Oct. 27, 5:30–7 p.m., and Oct. 28, noon–1:30 p.m., both at Tolleson, where Roberts Environmental will present cleanup procedures and solicit input on potential end uses for the site.