Politics & Government

Canal Corridor Association to Open Office in Lemont Metra Building

Village of Lemont will receive $100 per month from the CCA, which works to preserve the history of the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor and create tourism.

The Canal Corridor Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to preservation and tourism along the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, will open an office in the Lemont Metra Station.

The Lemont Village Board voted unanimously Monday to approve a one-year sublease with the CCA to use office space in the vacant Metra station, 101 Main St. Trustee Paul Chialdikas was absent.


The CCA will pay the village $100 per month to use a small portion of the building for administrative purposes and to be a headquarters for visitors. The association will be responsible for all utilities, according to the sublease agreement.

The village of Lemont leases the Metra Station, and for the last several years has subleased the office portion to the Lemont Area Chamber of Commerce. Earlier this year, the chamber moved out of the building to occupy an office in the newly renovated Village Hall, 418 Main St.

Metra has already signed off on the lease agreement, according to village attorney Jeff Stein.

Lemont Village Administrator George Schafer said the CCA has been looking to move from its LaSalle office, and representatives found the Lemont Metra Station to be a perfect fit.

"I think this is a great use for the building," Schafer said. "It will be great to bring visitors to town. It will also allow staff to work closer with the agency."

Only one employee is expected to occupy the CCA's new office. The association is expected to move into the Metra station in the coming weeks, Schafer said.

The Canal Corridor Association was founded in 1981 as the Upper Illinois Valley Association to advocate for the creation of the I&M National Heritage Corridor. Since then, the association has worked to preserve the corridor's history, protect nature and open space, and create tourism destinations.


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