INDIANAPOLIS – The Association of Indiana Counties’ (AIC) has awarded Steuben the 2020 Local Government Cooperation Award for their Infrastructure Expansion for Economic Development.

Steuben County officials, officials from the Town of Ashley, and Region 3-A worked together to procure federal and state grants for this environmental economic development project. The town of Ashley was awarded a grant by the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to help expand water and sewer access for a new site being developed by Brightmark Energy.

Ashley was also awarded $1 million in Community Crossings money for a road, rail crossings and light for the Brightmark plant.

The new plant will recycle plastic waste back into usable energy. The innovative company will provide nearly 100 new jobs for the area.