U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan Brandon Fewins today announced $32,789,000 in loans and grants for six rural communities across Michigan.
“USDA is working with communities across the state to improve rural infrastructure,” said Fewins. “The announcements over the past few weeks demonstrate the resources we can bring to bear to ensure clean water and healthier communities. Now is an excellent time to contact us to see how we can help your rural community.”
The funds are in addition to $2,575,000 for water and sewer improvements in the Upper Peninsula and $16,916,000 for Thumb area communities announced previously. The total statewide investment in this series of project announcements is $52,280,000.
The Village of Ellsworth, in Antrim County, will use a $2,081,000 loan and $5,528,000 grant to construct a wastewater collection and treatment system. Village residents are currently operating individual, on-site collection and treatment. This project is necessary to alleviate health and sanitary violations cited by the local health department. It will improve the community's resiliency against the impacts of climate change and is supported by the regional economic development plan.
The City of Albion, in Calhoun County, will use a $1,146,000 loan to update and modify its wastewater treatment system. The project includes new headworks screening, influent pumping, grit removal and ferric chloride systems. Control over aeration will be put in place to better manage energy costs, along with new high-efficiency blowers. The final clarifiers will be updated to allow better sludge blanket and solids draw-off controls. This investment will complete the funding package needed to support the project.
The City of Lowell, in Kent County, will use a $3,913,000 loan to replace approximately 4,825 linear feet of gravity fed wastewater collection mains. These mains are outdated in their age, useful life, and materials. The vitrified clay mains will be replaced with PVC mains (including 19 manholes and risers as needed). This project will also increase the distance between the drinking water and wastewater mains to at least 10 feet of separation, which will decrease the chances of a break to one line impacting the other. The project also will replace outdated and undersized water distribution mains along Washington, King, and Kent streets. The city is contributing funding to support the replacement of lead service lines identified during construction.
The Village of White Pigeon, in St. Joseph County, will use a $11,765,000 loan to support upgrades that will address cited deficiencies noted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The project will include the replacement of approximately 7,500 linear feet of drinking water mains that have outlived their useful lifespan and are undersized compared to current standards. The project will also refurbish outdated elements of two wells and a third will be replaced/redrilled and reinstated on the system, increasing firm capacity and resiliency.
The Village of Mendon, also in St. Joseph County, will use a $1,751,000 loan to complete a previously funded project that will make necessary improvements to the drinking water system in the community. The project will result in the conservation of drinking water as well as energy used to treat the water. These upgrades support increased resiliency towards the impacts of climate change.
The Village of Constantine, also in St. Joseph County, will use a $6,605,000 loan and $500,000 grant to complete the recommissioning of the shuttered wastewater treatment plant. In 1997 the plant was decommissioned in favor of connecting to a regional system operated by the City of Three Rivers. Since the treatment contract has expired, Constantine determined that it was better to return to their system than continue with Three Rivers.
USDA is financing these projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to help state and local governments, private nonprofits and federally recognized Tribes build and improve rural wastewater systems. The funding enables rural communities to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water, sanitary waste disposal and stormwater drainage.
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, 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.