April 24, 2009
More than $2.4 million for conservation, rehabilitation projects
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that the U.S. Department of Interior and the National Park Service (NPS) will invest more than $2.4 million in Recovery Act funds in two of Michigan's national parks: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Isle Royale National Park.
"Sleeping Bear Dunes and Isle Royale are absolute gems, containing some of the rarest species and landscapes in the country," said Granholm. "Recovery Act dollars will help protect and maintain these unique places for the world to enjoy today and tomorrow."
Almost $2.25 million of the $2.4 million total will fund efforts at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to:
- rehabilitate the historic village of Glen Haven;
- eradicate invasive plants in critical Piping Plover habitat; and
- repair deteriorating hiking trails.
An additional $158,000 will go to Isle Royale National Park for rehabilitation of backcountry trails.
"This funding will not only stimulate the local and state economy, but will help provide an improved experience for the 1.2 million visitors to the park each year," said Dusty Shultz, superintendent of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
The National Park Service will invest $750 million in Recovery Act funds in nearly 800 projects nationwide to stimulate the economy. The NPS projects will preserve and protect national icons and historic landscapes, improve energy efficiency and renewable energy use, remediate abandoned mine lands, and provide $15 million in grants to protect and restore buildings at historically black colleges and universities. Additional funding through the Federal Highway Administration will improve park roads for millions of visitors.
All projects are NPS priorities and meet the Recovery Act's rigorous criteria of addressing highest mission needs, generating the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time, and creating lasting value for the American people.
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