·CEDe asks
ci' y. residents
n tor support
.' By Ott Br I
Plans for rekIndling Bentpn
Harbor were presented to city
residents at the eigbborhood
Information and Sharing Ex­
change, (NISE), monthly meet­
ing, Tuesday, March 22, at the
First Congregational Church,
Pipestone and Bellview, Benton
Harbor.
Jay Van Den Berg, Vice
President of Public Affa�s,
Whirlpool and Vice Chairman
of Community Economic
Development Corporation
(CEDC), along with Michael
Lawson, Executive Vice Presi­
dent of CEDC, spoke to an
audience of about 50 residents
on the redevelopment of Ben­
ton Harbor.
Van Den Berg, started out by
telling the audience that CEOC
cannot succeed un ss 'Benton
Harbor people understand, ac­
cep and participate in these
projects."
"Without the entire corpor -
tion, participation of the com­
munity this project and aU these
projects e are Joking at, will
not work. Anything at all, that'
planned for any municipaliti
will not happen unless the
government officials in that
municipality are involved in th
project," he said.
Some of the plans, Van Den
Berg said, to redevelop Benton
Harbor are to:
- 'Redo orne basic services,
like improvements in some
streets, water and sewers .
- New development.
- 'ave jobs for onc that
. need work. I
"Benton Harbor is not the
only one in the area that needs
. attention," he said. "All seven
mun icipalities are involved in
the CEDC program."
The seven municipalities are:
Benton Harbor, cities of Benton
Harbo'r St. Joseph and· the
townships of Benton, L Joseph,
Hagar, Lincoln and Royalton.
�
Michael Lawson, gues
speaker for the evening, sal�
there' are four major develop­
ment cornerstones in the areas
of economic development in
Benton Harbor. They are:
-Industries Par Sy tem.
North of Main Industry Park
and Ross Field Industry Park.
- Recreation and
W�terrront Development. Ship
Canel, where tbey will widen it
to get 300-350 boat slip put in;
Riverview Drive - behind m
Riverview Dr., (Motor'S Pond).
Put in a 65 ft. bridge and put a
canel behind the pond; Ox
Creek Marina Project;' and
WhirlpooVSt. Joseph Water,
Property. Start demolition of
'Plants 5 and 6 of A�to Special­
ties.
-larras ct ID Oft-
• Reconstruct Business
hop
at nomer»
Sure
Cure
for an
ailing.
community
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Loop 94; Benton Harbor Water
Treatment and Distribution
System; Extend Royalton
Township Water Lines, along
Lakeshore; and Improve Sewer
System in cities of St. Joseph
and Benton Harbor.
- Bellvie eighborhood.
Relocate/replace water and
sewer lines; improve street
layout; and upgrade streets.
"We need your involvement
and we urge you to get involved
with your school board and city
commission, " said Lawson.
"There is a lot to be done and
it is essential that we get started
ASAP" said Van Den Berg.
Van Den Berg continued to
say, "this plan will not work un­
less everyone is, involved. "We
are looking at seven
municipalities, that means at
least seven are involved in help­
ing with the program."
"The program was started
with an offer from Whirlpool for
a $5 million donation. $1 million
a year for 5 years, to be matched
by others in the community."
"The fund raising effort was
started about two montps ago
and the goal for the first year
was reached and succeeded.
The money will be matched with
Whirlpool for a total of $2 mil­
lion, according to Van Den
Berg.
After the meeting Van De
Berg told reporters tftat CEO
was formed approximately a
year ago with Whirlpool offer­
ing to fund the CEO project
for five years, committing $1
million a y ar for 5 years. That
w uld be provided to the CEDC
if the money was matched by the
local community.
"We have just completed the
fund raising campaign, and all
types of individuals, profes­
sional people, businesses, in­
dustries, have m de plcdges f r
the first year. And ne area that
has don extremely well are the
banks," be said.
"The total for the first year
DOW has exceeded $1 million.
For with Whirlpool's $1 million
and the community's effort, we
have an excess of 2 million."
"The work plan for 1989 was
approved at CEDC's board
meeting and the investors are
excited and are waiting for
something to happen."
Shop in .:
your
commu�ity
and
.. ' watch it
gro
.)
. I