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LANSING -- The city of Iron River is among nine communities throughout Michigan sharing nearly $15 million in Community Development Block Grant Water-Related Infrastructure grant funds, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
Iron River will receive $1,363,800 with a local match of $455,000, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
"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," City Manager Rachel Andreski said.
The MEDC grant will allow the city to make these improvements without having to raise the city's customer rates, she said.
"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," Andreski added.
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.
"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," Whitmer said in announcing the grants Tuesday.
Other communities receiving assistance are the cities of Clare, Evart, Dowagiac, Hillsdale, Imlay City, Lapeer, Reading and Reed City, all in the Lower Peninsula.
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.