Renewed NWI NWI’s urban and rural centers are places people want to come to and live in, and our environment is safe and healthy.

Spotlight Carmeuse Buffington Harbor Gary Site Wins Sustainability Award Carmeuse Lime & Stone’s Buffington Operation in Gary was recently awarded the company’s 2019 annual Sustainability Award, beating out 10 other finalist Carmeuse sites worldwide. The Buffington Harbor site specifically won the award for its Recycling Day program, a program in which it invited youth from a local Boys and Girls Club to tour the facility’s innovative recycling and sustainability efforts and showcased the careers in these fields. Finding recycling pickup expensive and difficult to arrange and not wanting to burden area landfills, the facility converts recycled materials into fuel. For more information about Carmeuse Buffington Operation’s 2019 Sustainability Award, see this article . One of the major initiatives from the NWI 2050 Plan is to plan for an engaged public and share best-practices. Carmeuse Lime & Stone Buffington Operation’s 2019 Sustainability Award for its Recycling Day program is one such example of active industry showing it can be a responsible environmental steward while engaging the public around a best-practice.

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Economy and Place

Environment

Mobility

Transforming Empty Big Box Stores for the Holiday Season The retailpocalypse has left the Region and the country scattered with empty big-box stores in many prosperous communities. While many former big-box stores remain empty and unused, some communities are taking the opportunity in creating temporary pop-up activities and events for the community. One of NIRPC’s 2050 Plan strategies calls for planning for smart land uses and quality of place. Schererville is doing just that, turning a former Ashley Furniture HomeStore into a Santa’s Winter Wonderland interactive pop-up for the holiday season. Read the full article here

Brownfields Investment Lifecycle Jesse D. Silverstein, founder of the Colorado Brownfields Foundation used data from many redevelopment projects to create the Brownfields Investment Lifecycle. His research shows that for a property with potential contamination issues, the value of the real estate decreases over time if there is no information available to help define the imagined risk.  However, as additional knowledge of the site is gained through assessment, cleanup planning, and negotiation with regulatory agencies, the value of the property increases as unknowns decrease.   ‌

West Lake Extension Chugs Along! Key communities along the proposed West Lake Corridor have ratified construction agreements. Hammond, Munster, and Dyer refused to be derailed in supporting the transformative commuter rail project. With the new agreements in place, construction is set to begin in 2020 and complete by 2024. More information about the ratification of the construction agreements can be found in this article from the NWI Times.

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NIRPC Environmental Management and Policy Committee Meeting January 9th  9:00 AM Lake Michigan Room, 6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 46368  Link for more information  Questions? Contact Candice Eklund at 219-254-2501 Can’t make it in person? Watch it on YouTube

FED: Food Expo & Discussion 2020 February 7th 8:00 AM - 6 PM County Line Orchard, 200 South County Line Road, Hobart, IN 46342  Link for more information

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NIRPC Technical Planning Committee Meeting January 14th  10:00 AM Lake Michigan Room, 6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 46368  Link for more information  Questions? Contact Mitch Barloga at 219-254-2518 Can’t make it in person? Watch it on YouTube

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NIRPC Full/Executive Board Meeting January 16th  10:00 AM Lake Michigan Room, 6100 Southport Road Portage, IN 46368  Link for more information  Questions? Contact Candice Eklund at 219-254-2501 Can’t make it in person? Watch it on YouTube

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