FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE?

October 25, 2022?

Contact: [email protected] ?

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Gov. Whitmer Announces Nine?Michigan Communities Receiving Nearly $15?million to Upgrade Water Systems??

Michigan Strategic Fund approves CDBG funding for vital public infrastructure projects?

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LANSING, Mich. ? Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to announce nine communities around Michigan have been awarded nearly $15 million in Community Development Block Grant Water-Related Infrastructure grant funds to make necessary water-related infrastructure improvements to help continue to drive economic growth and vibrancy.?

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?Quality, reliable water?infrastructure is vital to the health of our residents and?critical to?the economic?success?of our communities,??said?Governor?Whitmer. ?Today?s nine projects totaling $15 million in infrastructure upgrades will support good-paying jobs, protect access to safe drinking water for residents, and lower costs for households and small businesses. When we work together on the fundamentals, including water infrastructure, we create a solid foundation for economic growth. I will work with anyone to ensure every Michigander?has the resources they need to thrive and every community has the infrastructure to support job-creating projects.???

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The CDBG Water-Related Infrastructure program assists low- and moderate-income communities in making improvements or upgrades to their existing water, sewer, and wastewater public infrastructure systems. Grants are awarded to eligible communities on a competitive basis and can be used to improve or replace water lines, water mains and related facilities, and sanitary and storm sewer lines and related facilities. ?

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The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) also approved up to $450,000 in CDBG funds to provide administrative services to assist the communities with the compliance and administrative requirements of the awards.?

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?Thriving communities and talent attraction are vital to our overall economic development strategy. Water is essential and we are fortunate to be near 20 percent of the world?s freshwater. It?s vital that we make investments in our infrastructure to support that growth and ensure a bright future for all Michiganders,? said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board. ?From Clare to Dowagiac, to Hillsdale to Iron River, these grants will allow communities throughout our state to make the improvements needed to remain vibrant and attractive places, driving long term health and economic opportunity for Michiganders.??

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2022 Water-Related Infrastructure Grant winners: ?

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QUOTES FROM COMMUNITIES?

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Evart?

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?The city of Evart is grateful for the upgrades to our wastewater system that this funding will help implement,? said City Manager Pepper Lockhart. ?It will ensure that we have backup power in the event of an emergency power outage for our treatment plant and will also provide much-needed upgrades to the city?s sanitary sewer collection lines.? ?

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Reed City?

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?The city of Reed City is extremely grateful to be selected for CDBG funding from MEDC,? said City Manager Rich Saladin. ?This much needed infrastructure removal and replacement will provide a system that is safe and reliable for our residents and businesses while addressing environmental concerns within the Muskegon River watershed. It is truly with a sigh of relief that we were able to be awarded this grant. Thank you!??

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City of Reading?

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?The city of Reading is incredibly grateful to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan Strategic Fund Board for this Water Related Infrastructure Grant and the investment that they are making in our community,? said City Manager, Clerk and Treasurer Kimberly Blythe. ?We believe that this partnership between the city, MEDC and the MSF board will enhance the quality of life in our community, while continuing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our residents and visitors by continuing to provide a water supply that does not fail, and streets and sidewalks that are safe to travel on.??

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Dowagiac:?

?The city of Dowagiac is excited for the opportunity the MEDC has provided to our citizens through the Water Related Infrastructure Grant,? said Assistant City Manager and Director of Human Resources Amanda Sleigh. ?This grant provides the city with the means to complete a project that will significantly increase our system functionality, safety and reliability as well as work to replace services in an area where lead service lines are extremely prominent.??

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Hillsdale:?

?The city of Hillsdale is very appreciative of the Water Related Infrastructure grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation,? said Economic Development Coordinator ?

?Kelly LoPresto. ?The WRI grant comes at a critical time when the city of Hillsdale has been diligently working on ways to fund street reconstruction and infrastructure improvements. The WRI grant will help move forward with projects that otherwise wouldn?t be possible.??

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Iron River:?

?This project will benefit the entire low- and moderate-income area by greatly improving the city's water distribution system by increasing and assuring healthy, safe, and secure potable drinking water to the residents of the city of Iron River,? said City Manager Rachel Andreski. ?The Michigan Economic Development Corporation provided the city with a much-needed grant in the among of $1,363,800 which will allow the city to make these improvements without having to raise the city?s customer rates.? The city of Iron River is a low- to moderate-income community and cannot afford another rate increase to make these improvements on their own.??

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