WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
A member of Southwest Michigan First is urging St. Joseph County officials to assemble a Brownfield Redevelopment Board.
Cathy Knapp joined commissioners during their executive committee meeting Wednesday and said in addition to repurposing former industrial sites, brownfield-redevelopment projects tend to qualify for exclusive grant dollars.
Knapp said a meeting with county administrator Teresa Doehring and grant writer James Hissong led to the conclusion that a seven-member Brownfield Redevelopment Board should be comprised of: Doehring, Hissong, Sturgis City Manager Mike Hughes, Three Rivers City Manager Joe Bippus, St. Joseph County EDGE Chairman Ken Jones, Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett and a representative from Southwest Michigan First.
She said such a board features a good cross section of business, community development, county and municipal representatives.
Knapp said the board will remind banks and communities that brownfield funds are available.
Commissioners are expected to approve the recommended board members during Tuesday’s county board meeting.
