U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan announced 15 Community Project Funding requests he made for Indiana’s First Congressional District for fiscal year 2025.
The requests, which total approximately $11 million, have been included in the House Appropriations Committee bills and must be approved by Congress before being signed into law, according to a Tuesday release.
“I am grateful for the inclusion of these federal funding requests for transformational projects to create work and wealth throughout Indiana’s First Congressional District,” Mrvan said in the release.
The largest funding request is for $2.5 million for the Calumet Region Environmental Infrastructure that will ensure partnerships between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the communities in Lake and Porter counties to address water, sanitary sewer and stormwater sewer infrastructure improvement, according to the release.
For Gary, Mrvan submitted funding requests for $1.95 million for the City of Gary, the Gary Chicago International Airport Authority and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, according to the release.
The City of Gary’s $850,000 funding request would assist the Gary Redevelopment Commission with the demolition of the former Ivanhoe Elementary School, according to the release.
Workers ready the office facility for the launch of UPS’s cargo service in October 2020 at the Gary/Chicago International Airport. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, made a funding request of $850,000 to construct a heavy cargo logistics apron at the airport. (Carole Carlson / Post-Tribune)
Ivanhoe Elementary School, located in the city’s 3rd District, has sat vacant on 30 acres near West Side Leadership Academy, Gary’s only traditional high school where more than 1,000 students attend, since 2010, said Christopher Harris, Executive Director of Gary Department of Redevelopment, in a release.
“We are confident the removal of this blighted structure will remove deadweight in an otherwise relatively stable neighborhood within our city,” Harris said. “Demolishing this structure presents an immediate opportunity to add to the neighborhood’s attractiveness and offer the entire 30-acre site for responsible development moving forward.”
The Gary Chicago International Airport Authority’s $850,000 funding request would support the expansion and construction of a heavy cargo logistics apron to enhance increased airport operations, according to the release.
The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District would receive $250,000 toward phase I of the Multimodal Gary Metro Center Station on the South Shore Line to design a fully ADA accessible, high-level platform.
A man walks past a window in the Adam Benjamin Jr. Metro Center in Gary on Friday, January 25, 2019. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, has put in a $250,000 request for federal funds as part of the NICTD project to design an ADA-compliant platform at the Metro Center. (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said in a release the NICTD funding would complement funding he secured as a state senator to build a new multimodal station.
“I would like to thank Congressman Mrvan for his leadership and efforts to bring back resources to help move communities forward,” Melton said. “With his attempts on trying to secure these dollars, Gary will be able to complete three major projects if they are approved for the funding requests.”
A $1 million funding request would be awarded to the Crown Point Police Department to assist with the department’s radio replacement project to enhance operations and support swift, coordinated responses, according to the release.
Crown Point Police Chief Ryan Patrick said in a statement the city is grateful for its partnership with Mrvan.
“This grant would ensure our officers continue to have access to updated, state-of-the-art technology in the field,” Patrick said. “Our new radios will be tied into our CAD system, allowing officers to quickly and efficiently relay important information while in the field. Effective communication and new technology play a vital role in keeping our officers and the community safe.”
A $1.1 million funding request would be awarded to the Town of Cedar Lake to construct a sanitary sewer interceptor to increase capacity for the efficient management of sanitary flow and improve water quality, according to the release.
The Cedar Lake Town Hall is pictured. (Carrie Napoleon/Post-Tribune)
Another nearly $1.2 million funding request would be awarded to Purdue University Northwest to assist with the purchase of equipment for its Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation. The funds would also enhance the university’s initiatives to support cutting-edge technologies for the domestic steel and manufacturing industries, according to the release.
Kale Wilk, Purdue University Northwest Spokesman, said in a statement the university appreciates Mrvan’s continued support “for initiatives that advance technological innovation and support the domestic steel and manufacturing industries in Northwest Indiana.”
“We are optimistic about the potential impact this funding could have on our efforts to enhance our capabilities and drive innovation in these critical industries,” Wilk said. “We will continue to work closely with our partners and stakeholders to secure this funding and bring these advancements to fruition.”
Other 2025 community project funding request include:
- $670,000 for the Schererville Police Department’s Portable Radio Replacement Project to improve interoperability among officers and other first responders during emergencies.
- $500,000 for the City of Michigan City’s Westside Opportunity Hub Project to reconstruct a blighted structure into a community resource hub.
- $488,000 for the Hobart Police Department to equip patrol officers and detectives with body cameras.
- $400,000 for the Griffith Police Department’s Police Radio Upgrade Project to improve interoperability among officers and other first responders during emergencies.
- $400,000 for the La Porte Police Department’s Equipment and Technology Upgrades project to enhance police officers ability to protect and serve the public and improve efficiencies.
- $398,000 for the Valparaiso Police Department’s Portable Radio Upgrades Project to promote swift, coordinated responses.
- $306,000 for the Dyer Police Department’s Radio Communications Enhancement Project to ensure reliable and consistent communications between officers without frequency interruptions.
- $150,000 for the East Chicago Police Department to equip police officers and detectives with body cameras.
Mrvan thanked all the Northwest Indiana officials for identifying the projects and initiatives “that will support economic development, create good-paying job opportunities and increase public safety in our region.”
“I look forward to continuing to work with all of my Congressional colleagues to finalize these measures in an expedient and bipartisan fashion,” Mrvan said.
akukulka@post-tribune.com
