The Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania was launched with a groundbreaking ceremony August 8, 2006 at its future garden site in an area of former coal mines near Pittsburgh, PA. The 452-acre site in Settler's Cabin Park will be remediated by a contractor who will excavate the old mines, remove the acid-bearing material that pollutes a nearby stream, and then fill and compact the mine shafts, voids and sinkholes. The cleanup is expected to take three years. The Garden will receive a royalty for the minerals extracted from the site and apply the proceeds to site preparation and infrastructure costs. Construction will also be funded by the state and by a capital campaign. A $5 million grant from Pennsylvania's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program will help launch the project. An estimated 1,200 new jobs in local "green industries" will be created by the Garden. The goal is to open the Garden in 2008 for Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary celebration.