Freeport starting class on salvaging from blighted buildings

FREEPORT, Ill. (AP) - The city of Freeport will use a training program to teach about salvaging materials from blighted structures.

City Grant Coordinator Nick Jupin tells The (Freeport) Journal-Standard (http://bit.ly/1TYTIcN) that the program started when members of the community said they were concerned valuable materials may be in blighted structures that the city plans to tear down.

The city has helped demolish more than 50 structures over the last 2 1/2 years and has plans to demolish dozens more in coming months. That's thanks to two $525,000 forgivable loans from a state program.

Project Salvage's first class will start Tuesday. If it's successful another class could start in about six months. Rock Valley College is sponsoring the class and Rock River Training Corporation is paying for the 16 spots.

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Information from: The Journal-Standard, http://www.journalstandard.com/jshome.taf