Cool & Connected: Lakeville Leverages Brownfield Efforts & Gains More EPA Help

Cool & Connected: Lakeville Leverages Brownfield Efforts & Gains More EPA Help

In Fall, 2016 Lakeville became one of 7 communities in the USA to gain EPA’s Cool & Connected technical assistance.  During a 2 day workshop (May 24 – May 25, 2017) technical advisors and EPA staff visited Lakeville to review the ongoing efforts at redevelopment and community re-invention after the shift of US31 a few miles from town.  After listening and learning the Cool & Connected advisory group plans to help the community chart a path of integrating broadband internet and integrated infrastructure enhancements into future redevelopment efforts. Awareness of this resource came out of Lakeville leaders’ tireless efforts and coordination with the South Bend Brownfield Coalition. Lakeville successfully applied to the EPA for inclusion in the 2016 Cool & Connected effort in Fall, 2016.

EPA’s Cool & Connected is a planning assistance program that helps community members develop strategies and an action plan for using broadband to create walkable, connected, economically vibrant main streets and small-town neighborhoods that improve human health and the environment.

Communities can combine broadband service with other local assets such as cultural and recreational amenities to attract investment and people, including young people, and diversify local economies. See this LINK for full EPA presentation by Matthew Dalbey (3/07/2018) on Cool & Connected effort, highlighting the work in Lakeville.