U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) has announced a proposal of $40.5 million to fund 15 projects within Bay, Midland, Saginaw, Genesee and Tuscola counties.
Nearly $4,000,000 would go towards helping with continued efforts towards flood mitigation and dam repair in Midland and Gladwin counties.
“These community projects will make a real difference in our community by strengthening our infrastructure, creating jobs, supporting public safety and boosting economic development in mid Michigan,” Kildee said in a press release.
If the funding proposals are approved, the money would arrive under the federal government’s 2025 fiscal year: October 1, 2024 to September 31, 2025.
The Four Lakes Task Force would receive $3,000,000 to continue to restore the Secord, Smallwood, Wixom and Sandford lakes that were destroyed when the Edenville and Sanford dams broke in 2020, causing catastrophic flooding.
In a statement to WCMU, Four Lakes Task Force President Dave Kepler said the funding “would offset the costs of dam restoration and ultimately reduce the lake level special assessment that property owners in the Four Lakes Special Assessment District have to pay.”
In addition to the task force, $600,000 has been proposed to be given to the City of Midland. The investment would allow water services to be available in the event of another natural disaster.
“It allows them to have water services without an interruption if you have a power outage, local emergency or natural disaster. Making sure we have the infrastructure in place, we’re well prepared when such circumstances arise again,” said Tony Stamas, CEO and president of the Midland Business Alliance. The Alliance is helping the city and Midland county install new flood mitigation infrastructure.
Other funding projects that were proposed by Kildee would go towards:
- Hemlock’s public school district
- The Ten16 recovery network, a substance abuse service
- Road projects in Bay County
- Water infrastructure upgrades in the city of Auburn, Saginaw and Bay County
- Vacant land issues in Genesee County
- The Bishop Airport Authority
- City of Saginaw community centers and police department
- Technology and equipment upgrades for Michigan State Police
- STEM education at the Boys and Girls Club of Flint
