By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
A Michigan Economic Development Corporation Community Development Block Grant, now approved, will help fund a $2.77 million project to improve Clare City’s water system.
The City of Clare is one of nine Michigan communities that will share $15 million in grants to upgrade water [and sewer] systems, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporations (MEDC), announced Tuesday.
The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) approved the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for vital public infrastructure projects across the state.
The CDBG Water-Related Infrastructure grants will fund necessary system improvements in several communities around the state including three — $755,250 awarded to the City of Evart and $2 million to Reed City – in this area.
“Quality, reliable water infrastructure is vital to the health of our residents and critical to the economic success of our communities,” the governor said.
A release from the governor’s office said, “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 infrastructures systems. Grants are awarded to eligible communities on a competitive basis and can be used to improved or replace water lines, water mains and related facilities and sanitary and storm sewer lines and related facilities.”
The City of Clare authorized the application for the grant in May, after City Manager Jeremy Howard said Jennifer Hodges, PE with City Engineering firm Gourdie Fraser (GFA) had reached out to him with the potential MEDC CDBG grant opportunity.
In May, Howard reported that he and the City Staff met with Hodges to discuss what could be done. He said, “The grant we will be submitting will be for water system improvements including the installation of a Type I Water Well (Well No. 10) and transmission lines, and upgrades to the Water Treatment Plant including electrical, high service pumps, SCADA, and Asset Management/Record drawings.
He reported that the total project cost for the water improvements would be approximately $2.77 million with $2 million funded by a grant and the City’s matching funds, $770,000, coming from funds left from the lead and copper funding in the water and sewer fund. “We have ample funds,” he told the Commissioners at the May meeting.
After hearing that the grant had been awarded this week, Howard said, “The City of Clare is very excited to receive this Water Related Infrastructure Grant which will allow the city to add an additional new well to our system in order increase supply and continue to provide clean safe drinking water to our residents. The funds will also allow us to update some of our aging infrastructure and pumps at the Water Treatment Facility to increase efficiency and take advantage of new technology. We are thankful to the State of Michigan and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for the funding and support of this grant.”
“The Michigan Strategic Fund 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,” the release added.
On September 19th, The City Commission approved a contractual agreement with Triterra related to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for an Environmental Assessment and SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) review for the Water Resource Infrastructure (WRI) grant. Cost for the work is $6,000 which will be paid out of MEDC funs once the grant is awarded, Howard said at that meeting.
Other Grant winners that will share in the $15 million across the state include: Dowagiac – $1,140,000; Hillsdale – $2,000,000; Imlay City – $1,768,013; Iron River – $1,363,800; Lapeer – $2,000,000; and Reading – $1,750,000.
Evart City Manager Pepper Lockhart said, “The city of Evart is grateful for the upgrades to our wastewater system that this funding will help implement. 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.”
Reed City Manager Rich Saladin said, “Reed City is extremely grateful to be selected for CDBG funding from the MEDC. 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!”
“Thriving communities and talent attraction are vital to our overall economic development strategy,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board. “Water is essential and we are fortunate to be near 20 percent of the world’s freshwater. 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.”