Governor Gretchen Whitmer today signed the Building Michigan Together Plan, a bipartisan plan to invest nearly $5 billion in Michigan’s infrastructure, grow the economy, create jobs, and benefit families in every region of the state. The historic plan will improve transportation, water, and high-speed internet infrastructure in every region of the state, building on progress achieved since Governor Whitmer took office by initiating dozens projects and supporting tens of thousands of jobs across Michigan.
“The bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan includes some of the largest investments in our infrastructure in Michigan history. With this plan, we’re building on our work to improve our roads, water, and high-speed internet. I’m particularly proud of the fact that this plan makes the single largest investment in Michigan history in our state and local parks, empowering hundreds of local economies,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “I am grateful to our congressional delegation for sending us these resources and proud that the Michigan Legislature and I were able to come together to get this done and ensure our infrastructure is reliable for generations to come.
In Grand Rapids, Governor Whitmer gathered with local and state officials, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and community members in downtown Grand Rapids to celebrate the plan’s record investment in Michigan’s local parks and recreation facilities.
The Building Michigan Together Plan’s will invest in several notable local parks project across Michigan, including $20 million to fund development of a variety of rural outdoor recreation projects, including a new ski jump at Copper Peak, in the Upper Peninsula.
In addition to these banner projects, the plan will invest $65 million, administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in grants to local community parks for infrastructure needs. The program will help support the 4,000+ local parks and trails across Michigan. The grant program for local park facilities will be especially meaningful to the more than 3,000 members of mPARKS, the statewide recreation and park advocacy association that strongly supported passage of the funding bill.
Parks and recreation facilities are a big part of Michigan’s economy, generating value for surrounding communities, creating jobs and helping sustain small businesses. Michigan’s outdoor recreation industry supports billions in state Gross Domestic Product and sustains 126,000 jobs and over $4.7 billion in wages and salaries in the state.
On average, every $1 invested in land conservation leads to $4 in economic benefit, meaning the Building Michigan Together Plan’s $200 million will yield $800 million in economic benefits for families, small businesses, and local communities.
“People’s need for nearby, welcoming outdoor places where they could safely spread out and stretch out during the COVID pandemic shined a very bright light on the tremendous value of parks, trails and green spaces everywhere in Michigan,” said Ron Olson, Chief of the Department Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division. “Unfortunately, the ability to invest in these recreation resources hasn’t always kept up with the demand and essential infrastructure needs and today’s record investment will help close that gap.”
Building Michigan Together Plan
The bipartisan Building Michigan Together Plan includes some of the largest infrastructure investments in Michigan history. The plan will protect clean drinking water, begin dozens of new road and bridge projects, build more affordable housing, expand high-speed internet, improve state and local parks, and support tens of thousands of jobs. More details can be found on Michigan.gov.
Grand River Greenway
The Grand River Greenway is a great illustration of the types of projects to be supported by the Building Michigan Together Plan’s record investment. Once complete, it will connect tens of thousands of residents to the Grand River and the area’s regional recreation system, which is built around the principle that a connected city and region – with more access to parks, housing, businesses and each other – is a thriving place.
Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. will work with local partners to guide investment of the funds and help achieve two critical community goals:
- Rehabilitating and expanding the public park system along the riverfront in the urban core.
- Building nonmotorized public trail segments that better connect people to riverfront parks and the regional trail system.
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