Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation today in announcing that 11 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.
“Improving and updating our infrastructure is vital to the health of our residents and critical to the economic success of our communities,” said Gov. Whitmer. “These MEDC grants will support infrastructure improvements that will have an immediate impact and help ensure the long-term wellbeing of our residents and our communities. Today’s investments will help 11 communities across the state bolster access to safe drinking water.”
“The city of Escanaba is grateful to have been selected as a recipient of CDBG funding for improvements to our water plant,” said Escanaba Water-Wastewater Superintendent Jeff Lampi. “MEDC’s contribution will be of great help in providing safe, quality drinking water to our community. This grant has helped make this project possible at this time.”
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 are able to be used to improve or replace water lines, water mains and related facilities, and sanitary and storm sewer lines and related facilities.
A total of 61 communities applied for grants totaling $87.5 million. The applications were scored with an emphasis on percentage of low- to moderate-income residents and improvements or repairs related to health, sanitation and security, aging infrastructure, and capacity concerns. To be considered for a grant, communities were required to have a locally approved Capital Improvements Plan, contribute a local minimum match of 10 percent of total project costs, demonstrate a maintenance plan for the project, and propose projects that benefitted the entire community. All projects must be completed by December 31, 2023.
The Michigan Strategic Fund also approved up to $550,000 in CDBG funds to provide administrative services to assist the communities with the compliance and administrative requirements of the awards.
“As we accelerate Michigan’s economic growth, it’s absolutely critical 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. “Today’s grants will allow these communities throughout our state to make the improvements needed to remain vibrant and attractive places for businesses to invest and where talent wants to live, work, visit and play.”
2021 Water-Related Infrastructure Grant winners:
|
Applicant/Communities
|
CDBG Request
|
Total Local Match
|
|
City of Bangor
|
969,112
|
184,593
|
|
City of Escanaba
|
1,800,000
|
600,000
|
|
Village of Fowlerville
|
1,900,000
|
896,069
|
|
City of Hart
|
810,000
|
270,000
|
|
City of Hartford
|
1,835,900
|
319,850
|
|
City of Houghton
|
1,035,000
|
345,000
|
|
Village of Middleville
|
750,000
|
150,000
|
|
City of Morenci
|
2,000,000
|
478,452
|
|
City of Rogers City
|
1,200,000
|
400,000
|
|
Village of Shelby
|
637,500
|
212,500
|
|
City of West Branch
|
2,000,000
|
1,500,000
|
|
TOTAL
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$14,937,512
|
$5,356,465
|
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