U.S. Dept. of Agriculture State Director for Michigan Brandon Fewins today announced $8,628,000 in loans and grants for water and sewer improvements in Marquette and Gogebic Counties.
“The scope of these projects is impressive,” Fewins said. “When you look at the changes to KI Sawyer and the scope of our work in Ironwood, it really demonstrates what USDA can help Upper Peninsula communities achieve.”
Marquette County will use a $3,740,000 Water and Environmental Program Loan to make required updates to the water distribution system in and around the former KI Sawyer Air Force Base. Project outcomes include repairing three storage tanks that are showing moderate to severe structural degradation, replacing approximately 6,000 linear feet of undersized asbestos cement pipes, replacing and increasing the capacity of the generator, replacing and adding more valves to the system to reduce the impact on users when maintenance and repairs occur. Well houses will also be upgraded/repaired. The project will leverage $4,760,000 in funding approved through the State Revolving Fund. The project will impact 1,219 residential and 65 other users.
The City of Ironwood will use a $1,540,000 loan and $3,348,000 grant to replace deteriorating sanitary sewer mains, storm sewer mains and manholes. The project will improve services to 2,352 residential and 288 commercial customers within an economically destressed area. This project will increase long term resiliency towards the impacts of climate change by providing increased capacity and efficiency.
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