The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has announced that small urban areas in 36 Michigan counties will receive nearly $23 million in fiscal years 2012, 2013 and 2014 for projects that range from rebuilding roads to purchasing buses. The federal funding is awarded at a maximum of $375,000 per project to small urban areas with a population base of 5,000 to 50,000. Agencies receiving federal dollars must provide a 20 percent match in funds.
Communities to receive federal funds in 2012-2014 include: Adrian-Tecumseh, Albion, Allegan, Alma, Alpena, Au Sable, Belding, Berrien Springs-Eau Claire, Cadillac, Caro, Charlotte-Potterville, Coldwater, Durand-Vernon, Eaton Rapids, Escanaba-Gladstone, Fremont, Greenville, Hastings, Hillsdale, Houghton, Ionia, Iron Mountain-Kingsford, Ishpeming, Lapeer, Laurium, Lowell, Ludington, Marquette, Marshall, Menominee, Mt. Pleasant, Paw Paw-Lawton, Paw Paw Lake-Watervliet, Petoskey, Plainwell-Otsego, Sault Ste. Marie, South Haven, St. Johns, Sturgis, Three Rivers, Traverse City, and Williamston-Webberville.
The funding can be for a variety of uses, depending on each small urban area and what MDOT saw a need for. In Ludington, for example, the funds will be used to repave a section of Bryant Road between Lakeshore Drive and Rath Avenue. That work will be done in 2013.
"We're looking at pulverizing the existing road and resurfacing it," says Ludington city manager John Shay about the work that will eventually be done on Bryant Road.
The work in Ludington will receive the maximum $375,000 payout from the state coffers. More information on the Small Urban Program and a complete list of projects is
available here.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: John Shay, City of Ludington
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