U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan Brandon Fewins today announced a $73.9 million investment in rural Michigan infrastructure.
“We are continuing to build rural Michigan back better with this historic level of infrastructure investment,” said Fewins. “From providing clean water and protecting the environment to enhancing public safety, USDA Rural Development is always ready to build new partnerships with our communities.”
A total of $66,892,000 in loans and $7,080,000 in grants are included in today’s announcement, which focuses on communities in central and southern Michigan.
Saginaw County will use a $159,000 loan and $171,000 grant to assist the Village of Oakley for improvements to their sewer treatment system. The project will construct a dosing and mixing system with chemical feed pumps and a mixer, piping to the effluent/interconnecting structure, and apply a coating to the interior walls and floor of the structure to protect against the corrosive nature of ferric chloride.
The Lakewood Wastewater Authority, in Ionia County, will use a $1.5 million loan to complete Phase 2 of wastewater collection and treatment system upgrades. The project overall will reroute the sewer main and upgrade the wastewater treatment facility including associated pump stations.
Also in Ionia County, the Village of Muir will use a $400,000 loan and $325,000 grant to make improvements to their water system. This funding will complete the project, which includes the replacement of approximately two miles of undersized water mains that were originally installed in the 1950's and have outlived their useful life.
Pointe Aux Barques Township, in Huron County, will use a $2.1 million loan to make improvements to the wastewater collection and treatment system. The project will rehabilitate the collection lines and pump station as well as add an additional 2,100 linear feet of collection line to the east of the existing pump station. New service will be provided to approximately 10 households. Old brick manholes will also be replaced with precast concrete manholes as a part of this project.
The Village of Pierson, in Montcalm County, will use a $304,000 loan and $909,000 grant to make sewer system improvements. The project will install 62 septic tanks with effluent pumps, add upgrades to the Neve St. lift station, facilitate abandonment of the existing grinder stations, install a new grinder station, and provide other appurtenances and restoration.
The City of Harrison, in Clare County, will use a $1,504,000 loan and $4,494,000 grant to improve its wastewater collection and treatment system. The project will address ongoing health and sanitary conditions of the system. Areas of targeted improvements have aged beyond their useful lives and will receive needed repairs and upgrades.
The City of Albion, in Calhoun County, will use a $16,854,000 Water and Waste Disposal Loan to improve to their wastewater collection and treatment system by upgrading the existing treatment facility mechanics that are beyond their useful lifespan. The goal of the project is to improve operational reliability and system efficiency.
Isabella County will use a $41,500,000 Community Facilities Direct Loan to construct a public safety and correctional facility to replace an undersized one that was originally built in 1959. The facility as completed will contain 187 cells and increase inmate visibility and security throughout the facility to meet regulatory standards. The facility will be located in Union Charter Township.
The City of Parchment, in Kalamazoo County, will use a $2,571,000 Water and Waste Disposal loan and a $1,179,000 grant to improve its wastewater collection system. The project includes 25,552 feet of cured in place pipe lining, spot repairs, 1,506 feet of line replacement and lift station improvements. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration,
USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.