April 30, 2009
LANSING - Lt. Governor John D. Cherry, Jr. today announced that Michigan will receive $65 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) grants and loans to fund 17 rural water and wastewater projects, creating or retaining an estimated 1,500 jobs. The funded projects span the state from Shiawassee County in mid-Michigan to Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula and will allow rural communities to provide safe drinking water and improve wastewater treatment facilities for their citizens.
"Michigan's water is a precious commodity," said Cherry. "These dollars will create hundreds of jobs while making sure our rural communities have a plentiful supply of clean water and adequate wastewater systems to protect our water as well as the people and businesses that depend on it."
According to Frank J. Tuma, acting state director of the Michigan Office of Rural Development, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), these 17 projects represent the first round of USDA-administered Recovery Act funding for rural water and wastewater infrastructure, and he expects the state will receive additional funding for shovel-ready water projects in the coming months.
"Adequate water infrastructure is vital to the economy of rural Michigan," said Tuma. "With these dollars, we will be able to provide a key element in the continued economic health of our rural communities."
Michigan's 17 rural water projects funded through Recovery Act grants and loans include:
- Adams Township, Houghton County will receive a $672,000 loan and a $2,281,000 grant for a total of $2,953,000 for sewer projects;
- Bergland Township, Ontonagon County will receive a $2,178,000 loan and a $2,096,000 grant for a total of $4,274,000 for sewer projects;
- The village of Breckenridge, Gratiot County will receive a $2,756,000 loan, a $1,142,000 grant, for a total of $3,898,000 for water projects;
- The city of Crystal Falls, Iron County will receive a $5,307,000 loan and a $3,073,000 grant for a total of $8,380,000 for water projects;
- Two projects in the city of Ironwood, Gogebic County will receive $2,133,000 in loans and $6,364,000 in grants for a total of $8,497,000 for water and sewer projects;
- Ironwood Township, Gogebic County will receive a $808,000 loan and a $275,000 grant for a total of $1,083,000 for sewer projects;
- The village of L'Anse, Baraga County will receive a $4,499,000 loan and a $3,000,000 grant for a total of $7,499,000 for sewer projects;
- Montcalm County will receive a $3,764,000 loan and a $2,000,000 grant for a total of $5,764,000 for sewer projects;
- Osceola Township, Houghton County will receive a $871,000 loan and a $2,613,000 grant for a total of $3,484,000 for water projects;
- The village of Owendale, Huron County will receive a $175,000 loan for water projects;
- Two projects in Portage Township, Houghton County will receive $590,000 in loans and $1,746,000 in grants for a total of $2,336,000 for water and sewer projects;
- Two projects in Rogers City, Presque Isle County will receive $7,581,000 in loans for water and sewer projects;
- Torch Lake Township, Houghton County will receive a $2,593,000 loan and a $3,876,000 grant for a total of $6,469,000 for water projects; and
- The village of Vernon, Shiawassee County will receive a $2,602,000 loan for sewer projects.
The USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Program provides loans and grants to ensure that the necessary investments are made in water and wastewater infrastructure to deliver safe drinking water and protect the environment in rural areas. More information about USDA Rural Development can be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov. Funding of individual recipients is contingent upon their meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.
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