Clare and Evart are among nine Michigan communities in line to share $15 million in state-funded water system improvements.
Clare and Evart are among nine Michigan communities in line to share $15 million in state-funded water system improvements.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to announce nine communities around Michigan have been awarded nearly $15 million in Community Development Block Grant Water-Related Infrastructure grant funds to make necessary water-related infrastructure improvements to help continue to drive economic growth and vibrancy.
“Quality, reliable water infrastructure is vital to the health of our residents and critical to the economic success of our communities,” said Governor Whitmer. “Today’s nine projects totaling $15 million in infrastructure upgrades will support good-paying jobs, protect access to safe drinking water for residents, and lower costs for households and small businesses. When we work together on the fundamentals, including water infrastructure, we create a solid foundation for economic growth. I will work with anyone to ensure every Michigander has the resources they need to thrive and every community has the infrastructure to support job-creating projects.”
The CDBG Water-Related Infrastructure program assists low- and moderate-income communities in making improvements or upgrades to their existing water, sewer, and wastewater public infrastructure systems. Grants are awarded to eligible communities on a competitive basis and can be used to improve or replace water lines, water mains and related facilities, and sanitary and storm sewer lines and related facilities.
The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) also approved up to $450,000 in CDBG funds to provide administrative services to assist the communities with the compliance and administrative requirements of the awards.
In Clare, $2 million in state funding will be matched with $770,000 in local funding and for Evart, $755,250 will be matched with $251,750.
“The city of Evart is grateful for the upgrades to our wastewater system that this funding will help implement,” said City Manager Pepper Lockhart. “It will ensure that we have backup power in the event of an emergency power outage for our treatment plant and will also provide much-needed upgrades to the city’s sanitary sewer collection lines.”
Dowagiac, Hillsdale, Imlay City, Iron River, Lapeer, Reading, and Reed City are some of the other cities that will being sharing the grant funds.
“Thriving communities and talent attraction are vital to our overall economic development strategy. Water is essential and we are fortunate to be near 20 percent of the world’s freshwater. It’s vital that we make investments in our infrastructure to support that growth and ensure a bright future for all Michiganders,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board. “From Clare to Dowagiac, to Hillsdale to Iron River, these grants will allow communities throughout our state to make the improvements needed to remain vibrant and attractive places, driving long term health and economic opportunity for Michiganders.”