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Peoria to tackle EPA sewer mandates with $1.5M grant

The city of Peoria is hoping to tackle its aging combined sewer overflow system with the help of a new grant. The city announced Monday it’s receiving $1.5 million dollars through the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Innovation Teams program. The money will be dispersed over three years for Peoria to create a so-called innovation or i-team. 

Assistant Peoria City Manager Chris Setti says the team will help the city come up with innovative ways to deal with the sewer system while also helping to improve parts of the community most impacted by the aging infrastructure:
“If you could put $1,000 into building an underground pipe that nobody could see, or $1,000 on a community garden, it solves the same problem, but gets you something else. That’s what we’re looking for.”

Peoria is one of 12 U.S cities chosen for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Innovation Teams program. I-teams throughout the country are expected to begin their work in the spring.