AASHTO Journal, 13 December 2013
Michigan Department of Transportation announced last week that four counties in the state will receive a total of about $2.5 million in economic development grants to create or retain 563 jobs while simultaneously upgrading transportation infrastructure.
MDOT named the recipients of its Transportation Economic Development Fund (Category A) grants which fund highway, road, and street projects in the state that boost private investment, ultimately creating and supporting jobs. The TEDF grant program was first enacted in 1987 (and reauthorized in 1993) and allows MDOT, country road commissions, cities, and villages to apply for this funding. The $2.5 million in grants are expected to leverage $102 million in private investments—42 times more than the initial grants.
“This program represents a successful partnership between MDOT, local units of government and county road commissions that is focused on attracting major companies to invest and expand in Michigan and create employment opportunities for Michigan workers,” said MDOT Director Kirk Steudle in a statement.
Michigan counties receiving funding from TEDF Category A grants are:
- $405,233 for Ionia County, for Jordan Lake Road widening and other improvements to assist Cargill Kitchen Solutions (which is investing $10 million to increase capacity at its facility);
- $1.394 million for Monroe County, for the widening and lane additions on Steward Road to assist La-Z-Boy, which is investing $50 million to develop additional facilities;
- $210,000 for Saginaw County, for safety improvements and widening on roadways near the new Kremin Inc. facility, which is investing $1.2 million in a new manufacturing facility; and
- $439,972 for Tuscola County, to improve the deteriorating roadway by a Dairy Farmers of America site (as they are investing $40 million in a new processing plant that will create new jobs).
Additional information on Michigan’s Transportation Economic Development Fund is available here.