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State grant awarded to improve Atlas Cement Site

The City of Duluth in partnership with the Duluth Seaway Port Authority have received a $500,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Business Development/Public Infrastructure grant program for utility improvements and road construction into the site to allow future access for development. 

The Duluth Economic Development Authority purchased the former 62 acre cement site in 2003 with the goal of light industrial redevelopment. For over thirty years the land has been home to a blighted brownfield and contamination. DEDA has stepped up in recent years to conduct contamination assessment and remediation at the Atlas site, including the 11 acre IKONICS expansion project. 

Morgan Park was severely impacted by the closure of the U.S. Steel plant but development of the Atlas cement site is crucial to the revitalization of the community and will help attract businesses back to the neighborhood.  This grant is a significant step to redeveloping the property as an industrial park to foster growth in the manufacturing, technology, warehousing and distribution sectors. This project offers widespread future development opportunities and taps into an existing skilled labor force. 

“We appreciate the partnership and support of Minnesota DEED and the Port Authority. This project addresses environmental concerns, is shovel ready, and will help us move towards economic success and creating a sustainable future for the Morgan Park and Gary-New Duluth neighborhoods,” says Mayor Ness. 

The City hopes to begin construction in spring/summer 2011.