City of Bangor among 11 Michigan communities receiving grants to upgrade water systems

BANGOR, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation today in announcing that 11 communities around Michigan have been awarded nearly $15 million in Community Development Block Grant Water-Related Infrastructure grant funds to make water-related infrastructure improvements.

“Improving and updating our infrastructure is vital to the health of our residents and critical to the economic success of our communities,” Governor Whitmer said in a statement. “These MEDC grants will support infrastructure improvements that will have an immediate impact and help ensure the long-term wellbeing of our residents and our communities. Today’s investments will help 11 communities across the state bolster access to safe drinking water.”

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 are able to be used to improve or replace water lines, water mains and related facilities, sanitary and storm sewer lines and related facilities.

Among the 11 communities receiving awards is the City of Bangor, which will receive $969,112. It also includes a total local match of $184,593.

A total of 61 communities applied for grants totaling $87.5 million. The applications were scored with an emphasis on percentage of low- to moderate-income residents and improvements or repairs related to health, sanitation and security, aging infrastructure, and capacity concerns.

To be considered for a grant, communities were required to have a locally approved Capital Improvements Plan, contribute a local minimum match of 10 percent of total project costs, demonstrate a maintenance plan for the project, and propose projects that benefitted the entire community.

All projects must be completed by December 31, 2023.

To learn more about the grants and what other communities received them, click here.