The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
Michigan’s Rural Communities Awarded Over $42 Million to Invest in Water Infrastructure
October 10, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2024
Contact: MichiganInfrastructure@michigan.gov
Michigan’s Rural Communities Awarded Over $42 Million to Invest in Water Infrastructure
Funding Will Improve Access to Safe Drinking Water for Thousands of Michiganders
LANSING, Mich.— The Michigan Infrastructure Office announced today that Michigan will receive more than $42 million in grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bring safe, reliable drinking water systems, state-of-the-art infrastructure and economic growth to the state’s rural communities. As a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, this funding will support projects that expand access to drinking water, sanitary waste disposal, and stormwater drainage while ensuring water infrastructure is sustainable and more resilient to the impacts of climate change and severe weather.
This funding is part of the USDA's Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program, totaling $1.3 billion to support projects in 30 states. The investments in Michigan are among 116 projects nationwide that will benefit millions of people living in remote areas of the country by providing reliable high-speed internet access, safe drinking water, and a range of support for rural families, agricultural producers, and small businesses.
“These USDA investments represent a significant step forward in strengthening Michigan’s rural infrastructure and enhancing the quality of life for thousands of residents,” said Zachary Kolodin, director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office and Michigan’s chief infrastructure officer. “This funding will help us build strong communities that can withstand the test of time while ensuring that every Michigander, regardless of where they live, benefits from modern, reliable infrastructure and safe drinking water.”
The communities in Michigan selected to receive Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture include:
- The City of Coleman has been awarded a $1,554,000 loan to replace undersized water mains to improve flow for fire prevention, reduce water main breaks, and meet maximum day and peak hour demands.
- The City of Ovid has been awarded a $1,531,000 loan to replace six miles of undersized water mains to improve flow for fire prevention and reduce water main breaks.
- The South Haven Area Water Sewer Authority has been awarded a $10,147,000 loan to replace a 100-year-old standpipe with an elevated storage to improve water pressure and system reliability.
- The City of Ironwood has been awarded a $3,348,000 grant and a $1,540,000 loan to replace sanitary sewer mains, storm sewer mains, and manholes within an economically distressed area.
- The City of Standish has been awarded a $2,225,000 grant and a $3,089,000 loan to help improve gravity sewer mains and manholes, valves and pumps throughout the system.
- The Village of Kingston has been awarded a $1,919,000 grant and a $2,346,000 loan to replace about 12,000 linear feet of aging pressurized pipes. This will extend the life of almost half of the distribution system by 100 years.
- The Village of Breckenridge has been awarded a $1,465,000 loan to provide a raw water well, liquid bulk brine tanks with an auto feed system, water meters, and a water tower mixing system. The project will also remove the remaining old, small-diameter water mains and dead-end mains to improve water quality and reliability.
- The Dryden Drain District has been awarded a $4,875,000 loan to address seasonal flooding and drainage backups. This project will add stormwater drains to ensure excess water is diverted from impervious surfaces and buildings. The drain will also reduce flooding, avoid spreading contaminants, minimize infrastructure damage, and preserve natural resources.
- Standish Township has been awarded a $3,309,000 grant and a $1,103,000 loan to complete the sewer connection for the Whites Beach Area along the shores of Lake Huron. This project will correct issues with the private septic system contaminating the beaches along the lakeshore.
- Marquette County has been awarded a $3,740,000 loan to make required updates to the water distribution system in and around the former KI Sawyer Air Force Base. This includes repairing three storage tanks, replacing around 6,000 linear feet of asbestos cement pipes, replacing and increasing the capacity of the generator, replacing and adding more valves, and upgrading or repairing well houses.
“Investments in Michigan rural communities are investments in our future. The infrastructure improvements made possible through these grants underscore the commitment of the Biden-Harris administration to improve services in rural communities while at the same time improving long-term climate resiliency,” said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring. “Along with other recently announced USDA investments, including the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative and $7.7 billion for climate-smart practices implementation on agriculture lands, the Biden-Harris administration is creating opportunities and long-term resiliency in our rural communities.”
“Access to clean water should be a right, not a privilege,” said U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee. “Thanks to the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Governor Whitmer, we are making critical upgrades to our water infrastructure to protect the health and safety of Michigan families and boost economic growth. In Congress, I will continue working to bring federal resources home to mid-Michigan.”
“As the Great Lakes State, Michigan is not just defined by our water but also by how we protect, preserve, and provide it for all our communities — urban and rural alike. This historic investment from the USDA will not only modernize our water infrastructure, ensuring clean drinking water and efficient waste disposal systems, but will also strengthen the economic foundation of our rural areas,” said state Senator Sue Shink (D-Northfield Township), chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee. “By prioritizing sustainability and resilience to combat the impacts of climate change, we are safeguarding the health and prosperity of future generations. These grants are an investment in Michigan’s future, making sure that every community, no matter how remote, has the resources needed to thrive.”
“As chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, I’m pleased to see these grants investing in rural communities,” said state Representative Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Township). “Whether they live in the heart of the city or out in the country, every person should have access to clean, safe and affordable drinking water. These infrastructure investments in rural Michigan will provide safeguards for drinking water, protect public health and help preserve the environment.”
“Clean water investments are essential for ensuring rural parts of the Upper Peninsula have access to clean, reliable water systems that meet modern safety standards,” said state Representative Jenn Hill (D-Marquette). “The central U.P.’s aging infrastructure has long needed attention. This funding will allow us to address needed repairs and improvements, and support family-sustaining jobs in the construction industry.”
Michigan continues to lead the nation in bringing home federal funding investments to support infrastructure projects that will create thriving communities for generations to come. To date, Michigan has received more than $13 billion from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve infrastructure outcomes across the state while creating good-paying jobs, building climate resiliency, and lowering costs.
For more information about the Michigan Infrastructure Office, please visit www.michigan.gov/whitmer/issues/michigan-infrastructure-office.
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN INFRASTRUCTURE OFFICE
The Michigan Infrastructure Office is responsible for organizing and executing Governor Whitmer’s vision for infrastructure, coordinating across state government, marshaling resources, and partnering with local officials, federal partners, and outside stakeholders to ensure resources sent to Michigan through BIL, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), are used efficiently and effectively.
Author: