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RDC authorizes applications for $1 million state grant, $900,000 loan and accepts $60,000 donation to close Marquette Greenway funding gap
Summary
The Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission authorized staff to apply for a $1 million Ready program grant and pursue a $900,000 loan, and approved seeking a $60,000 donation (including $50,000 for construction) to help fund the Marquette Greenway project, whose total cost is estimated at about $8.95 million.
The Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission on May 26 authorized staff to pursue a package of funding for the Marquette Greenway construction that combines a $1 million state grant request, a proposed $900,000 loan and private donations.
Tina, the RDC’s project lead, told commissioners the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Ready program invited the RDC to submit a $1 million request administered regionally by the Northwest Indiana Forum. "We will be requesting a million of that from the ready program," Tina said, outlining a project budget she described as about $8.95 million in total.
The commission voted to authorize Tina and the RDC to submit the Ready grant application. The Ready request will be paired with other match sources the RDC plans to show in the application: a $5 million Next Level Trails grant, the $50,000 portion of a proposed $60,000 Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation donation earmarked for construction, and a proposed $900,000 loan from the Northwest Indiana Growth Fund.
Commissioners discussed how the Ready program differs from a traditional single-stage grant award and emphasized that submission is an initial step in an iterative state review process. The RDC also voted to authorize staff to prepare and submit the loan application materials for the Growth Fund; final loan approval, the commission noted, would require town-council action because loans must be taken through the town.
Board members expressed urgency about aligning funding and project scheduling so construction can proceed. Project staff noted a recent, rainy but well-attended groundbreaking for phase 1B and said contractor schedules and easement timing make moving funding work forward a priority. The RDC voted to authorize grant and loan application work and to pursue the Cleveland-Cliffs donation; motions carried by roll call.
The commission’s approvals are authorizations to apply and recommend financing; none of the actions on Monday committed the town to accept loans or finalize grant awards. The Ready program and the Growth Fund will each complete their own review processes before any awards or loans are finalized.
