Ishpeming working to get MEDC grant for infrastructure repairs

ISHPEMING — Late last week, Governor Rick Snyder announced that the state is moving swiftly to inform 32 communities in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula about their eligibility to receive a share of $7.5 million from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to assist in repairing infrastructure damaged by last year’s winter.

Ishpeming is one of the 26 U.P. communities eligible for assistance funds. The city was nominated to receive just shy of $1 million, the highest of any U.P. jurisdiction.

“We did have a lot of damage in Ishpeming, perhaps disproportionate to other communities, in part because I think the weather conditions here, part because of the age of our system and maybe just bad luck,” said Ishpeming City Manager Mark Slown. “We have about $2.5 million dollars worth of damage, so a million dollars isn’t going to make us completely whole, but it will help.”

The city plans to use the funding to replenish reserves that were spent repairing damage to water lines throughout town.

There are still steps that need to be taken before the grant process is a done deal. The city is busy providing detailed information to the MEDC about the costs incurred in order to fully qualify for the grant, which is expected to be doled out before the end of the fiscal year in October.