Indiana Dunes Restoration Project Moving Ahead

An improvement project at Indiana Dunes State Park that already has won numerous engineering awards is moving into into phase 2 to repair damage from heavy rains last year.

The project will be funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is providing $1,401,602 through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds. FEMA funds totaling $140,759 also will be used. The bid amount was $2,047,000.

In Phase 1 of the daylighting project, the Dunes Creek stream channel and wetland were restored to their original location after removal of a parking lot under which a portion of the creek had been diverted into a pipe.
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AM General Lands $26 Million Defense Contract

AM General LLC, Mishawaka, IN., is being awarded a maximum $26,234,409 firm fixed price, sole source contract for the integrated logistics partnership contract in support of High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle requirements. Other locations of performance are Chambersburg, PA., and Texarkana, TX. Using service is Army.

There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This requirements type contract is for one base year and four possible one-year options periods. The date of performance completion is Jan. 2011.

Notes: Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal Dredging Prep Work Underway

The first dredging work in the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal in 35 years is scheduled for 2011.

Porter County officials have approved a $5.8 million addition to Liberty Elementary.

The New Prairie School Corporation’s Activity Center in LaPorte County was recognized by Indiana with a Spotlight on Education Award for its work on narrowing the gap between low- and high-income students.

The new Kentland-Jefferson Library suffered water damage after a water line to a refrigerator came undone after the building was closed for the evening.

The North Central Indiana Rural Crisis Center is working to educate are residents about its services.

Indiana has received about about $2.4 billion in Federal stimulus cash, roughly $780 million of which has been spent so far.