|
|
Affected Communities
Madison County and the following municipalities within the county:
Alton
Collinsville
East Alton
Edwardsville
Glen Carbon
Granite City
Hartford
Madison
Pontoon Beach
Roxana
South Roxana
Venice
Wood River
St. Clair County and the following municipalities within the county:
Alorton
Brooklyn
Caseyville
Cahokia
Centreville
Dupo
East Carondolet
East St. Louis
Fairmont City
Sauget
Washington Park
Monroe County and Columbia
|
|
Southwestern Illinois is at an exciting stage in its economic growth with more than $9 billion dollars in its development pipeline. Recent years have seen significant new investments in commercial, office and institutional projects across the region while major industrial facilities are reinvesting in and expanding their operations in the Metro East. Public and private investment in our region’s infrastructure has created a transportation network that makes Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties prime locations for development, and their development potential will only be enhanced upon completion of the new Mississippi River Bridge.
While the stage is set for the region to enter a period of sustained growth, one significant challenge must be overcome in order for the Metro East to reach its full potential – the restoration of our levees.
On August 15, 2007, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced plans to change Southwestern Illinois’ flood insurance designation as part of its national Flood Map modernization process. Based on deficiencies identified by the Corps of Engineers, FEMA stated that it would no longer consider the region’s five levees to be certifiable at the 100-flood year level. New maps that are being redrawn would show the entire American Bottoms area - from the Mississippi River east to Bluff Road, from Alton to Columbia – as a special flood hazard area (SFHA). Residents and businesses within the SFHA would be required to purchase flood insurance and adhere to new elevation standards for construction of any new buildings.
In addition to its noteworthy development pipeline, the area is home to more than 150,000 residents, 4,000 businesses and 50,000 jobs. The stakes are high, and regional leaders have united to ensure that our levees can be restored and recertified in a timely manner to protect lives and property and so that existing businesses and developers can confidently continue to invest in our region.
|
