Pritzker Administration Awards $164,596 in Rebuild Illinois Capital Funding to the Village of Elmwood Park to Address Stormwater Runoff

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director John Kim announced the Village of Elmwood Park will receive almost $164,600 in Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunity (GIGO) funding to implement the Elmwood Park Stormwater Treatment Train project to increase stormwater infiltration and provide stormwater detention to help reduce flood impacts to local households.

Elmwood Park will construct a treatment train with an open-bottom detention basin, a rain garden, and new curb cuts with bioswales at Bloomingdale Avenue and 73rd Avenue in Elmwood Park. The open-bottom detention basin holds the water underground and allows it to soak into the soil.

"Protecting Illinois communities and businesses from persistent flooding and water damage is a top priority for my administration which is why the Rebuild Illinois capital plan has funding specifically dedicated to green infrastructure initiatives," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Through the Elmwood Park Stormwater Treatment Train project, the residents of Elmwood Park will have increased protection against excess stormwater and peace of mind that their homes and families are safe."

The site is in a residential area, predominately made up of single-family homes, approximately one mile east of the Des Plaines River. The homes within the area have been impacted by repeated localized flooding, with significant events in 2008, 2012, 2013, and 2020. Elmwood Park applied for a GIGO grant from Illinois EPA with a total project budget of $219,463, with Illinois EPA providing $164,597 in grant funds and Elmwood Park providing $54,866 in match.

"A treatment train using multiple best management practices will capture and treat stormwater, which will reduce flooding, improve water quality and provide multiple benefits for the community," said Director Kim. "This project will hold more rainwater in the rain garden and detention basin which will help reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality in the Des Plaines River."
 

"Elmwood Park is very excited to partner with the IEPA on this Green Infrastructure improvement at Bloomingdale and 73rd Avenue. Thanks to the IEPA, we will soon be taking our first step toward providing flood relief to the area," said Angelo "Skip" Saviano, Village President.

The GIGO Grant Program is a competitive financial assistance grant program established to help protect Illinois' water resources. The GIGO Program is funded through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan. The funds are used to implement green infrastructure best management practices to control stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff causes flooding and carries pollutants into waterways such as rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and even groundwater.

For additional information on Illinois' Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities Grant Program, please visit https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/water-quality/surface-water/Pages/green-infrastructure.aspx .