Three Livingston County projects are along 10 in the 8th Congressional District that will be funded following passage of an omnibus appropriations package this week.
The local projects were advocated for by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and include a new headquarters building for the Brighton Area Fire Authority, a Water Treatment/Radium Removal Plant in the Village of Fowlerville and a Multi-Modal Pathway and Connectors project in the Village of Pinckney.
Slotkin said the omnibus funding bill “was critical legislation to prevent the risk of a government shutdown and fund priorities like veterans’ medical care through the VA, our national defense, and the bipartisan infrastructure law, which will create thousands of jobs across Michigan,” she said.
Slotkin said getting funding for the projects has been a year-long effort that began when local governments submitted detailed proposals on a range of initiatives that would benefit communities across Mid-Michigan.
“We received over 50 submissions from communities across the District, and we selected 10 vetted projects – the maximum – where we could fight for federal support,” said Slotkin. “We expect these bills to be signed into law shortly, and our team will be working closely with our colleagues in local government to get the funds to our communities as soon as possible.”
The Brighton Area Fire Authority submitted a request to fund the construction of a New Fire Authority Headquarters. The Authority noted that, due to its age and the repairs needed, the existing facility ‘no longer meets the needs of the Brighton community.’ The proposal for a new fire authority headquarters building had broad community support, including letters of support from state and local officials and business leaders and a unanimous Brighton Township resolution of support for their project application.
The Village of Fowlerville’s new water treatment/radium removal plant will address ‘current poor water quality, greatly reduced levels of radium and improve the community’s quality of life.’ The proposal was backed by letters of support from the Livingston County Economic Development Council, the Fowlerville Local Development Finance Authority, and the Fowlerville Downtown Development Authority, as well as a village resolution of unanimous support.
The Village of Pinckney’s proposed project would create a “safe multi-use pathway along a high-traffic county road” connecting two schools, several subdivisions, Main Street, and trails. This project has been a “community priority for years, primarily due to the lack of a safe walkway” and “high risk to pedestrians, bicyclists, and to vehicles as well” but also because of the “health benefits of walkable communities.”
The proposal is also said to have broad community support, including letters of support from school and local government officials.
