Rep. Mrvan Tours Federal Projects in Michigan City, Portage, and East Chicago with USACE
East Chicago, IN - Yesterday, Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, joined Colonel Paul Culberson from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Paul Labovitz, Superintendent of Indiana Dunes National Park, Fernando Trevino, Executive Director of the East Chicago Waterway Management District, and Tim Frame, Harbormaster of the Michigan City Port Authority to tour $49,603,000 in federally funded projects across Northwest Indiana.
Rep. Mrvan toured the Michigan City Harbor, Indiana Shoreline and Mt. Baldy, Burns Waterway Small Boat Harbor, and Indiana Harbor and Confined Disposal Facility.
“I thank Colonel Culberson for the opportunity to tour federally funded projects at work across Northwest Indiana. I am grateful for the ability to bring our federal tax dollars back to our district to invest in our local infrastructure,” said Rep. Mrvan. “When we invest in our natural resources, we have the ability to create good-paying jobs and economic opportunities throughout our region.”
“Today’s visits to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District project sites highlight the importance of the partnerships between our federal and local sponsors, the Corps, and the continuing efforts of Rep. Frank Mrvan in ensuring that these projects and others like them, continue to contribute economically and provide jobs and recreation opportunities to the people he represents,” said Col. Paul Culberson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“Indiana Dunes National Park appreciates the collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers in addressing a century-old challenge of a sand deficit along park beaches at Crescent Dune and Mt. Baldy west to the Town of Beverly Shores. Rep. Mrvan’s focus on this issue has helped provide better beach recreation opportunities for our visitors. Beach nourishment works and other areas in the National Park can hopefully receive similar attention,” said Superintendent Paul Labovitz, Indiana Dunes National Park.
“The Army Corps of Engineers has been an excellent project partner in the construction and maintenance of the CDF. The District was happy to write a strong letter of support for the funding of the CDF expansion,” said Fernando Trevino, Executive Director of the East Chicago Waterway Management District. “The CDF expansion project is important to our region’s economic success supporting uninterrupted viability of steel and other industries located along Lake Michigan, which are an important part of the local, regional, national and international economies.”
“The Michigan City Port Authority appreciates Rep. Mrvan’s efforts to secure funding for the USACE structures in Michigan City,” said Tim Frame, Michigan City Port Authority Harbormaster. “These projects help keep Trail Creek a viable Harbor for boating in Michigan City.”
Federally authorized projects under the jurisdiction of the USACE:
Michigan City Harbor
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – $7,000,000
Funding will support repairs to the detached breakwater to include the east pier superstructure around the lighthouse.
- 2023 Community Project Funding – $1,026,000
Funding will support operations and maintenance at Michigan City Harbor will support economic development within the City of Michigan City driven by its proximity to Lake Michigan and the availability of the harbor.
- 2022 Appropriations – $10,000
Funding will support shoreline nourishment at Mt. Baldy.
Indiana Harbor
- 2023 Appropriations – $8,654,000
Funding will support operations and maintenance activities in the federal harbor and as associated with the operations and maintenance of the Indiana Harbor CDF.
- 2022 Appropriations – $8,196,000
Funding will support operations and maintenance activities in the federal harbor and as associated with the operations and maintenance of the Indiana Harbor CDF.
- 2022 Appropriations – Indiana Harbor CDF $18,395,000
Funding will support the planned Phase II construction of the Indiana Harbor Confined Disposal Facility (CDF), which contains the backlog and annual maintenance navigational dredging.
Indiana Shoreline
- 2023 Community Project Funding – $2,700,000
Funding will support the movement of sand along the shoreline at Indiana Dunes National Park (IDNP) has been interrupted by harbor structures causing accelerated erosion of the beach and dunes west of these structures.
- 2022 Community Project Funding – $2,700,000
Funding will support the movement of sand along the shoreline at Indiana Dunes National Park (IDNP) has been interrupted by the Michigan City harbor structures causing accelerated erosion of the beach and dunes west of these federal harbor structures.
Burns Waterway Small Boat Harbor
- 2023 Community Project Funding – $922,000
Funding will support operations and maintenance at Burns Waterway Small Boat Harbor will support economic development within the City of Portage driven by its proximity to Lake Michigan and the availability of the harbor.
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