WASHINGTON – Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI-03) announced that she submitted 15 community projects from across Michigan’s Third District for the chance to receive federal funding through the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025) appropriations process.
During the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process, Rep. Scholten successfully secured funding for all 15 projects she submitted from the Third District, totaling more than $11.5 million.
The FY2025 projects would tackle some of the greatest issues facing West Michigan, including updating outdated infrastructure, investing in clean energy projects, expanding access to affordable housing, and more.
“I made a promise to provide responsive leadership for West Michigan and make sure that every community across our district gets the investments they deserve. These are our tax dollars, and they should be coming home to our district to improve our community. Last year, I secured more than $11.5 million for projects across West Michigan. I’m excited to build on that success in Fiscal Year 2025. These projects will support a wide range of issues facing West Michigan – from infrastructure to housing to literacy – and I will be working tirelessly to bring home this much-needed federal funding to get these projects over the finish line,” said Rep. Scholten.
Project descriptions can be found here and below:
Tallmadge Township Water & Sewer Infrastructure Project
Sponsor: Tallmadge Charter Township
Location: 0-1451 Leonard St NW Grand Rapids, MI 49534
Requested Amount: $1,350,000
Description: This funding would be used to help replace water and sewer lines that have been contaminated with PFAS/PFOS chemicals, which are threatening the health of this rural community. The Township detected PFAS contamination at sites including a daycare facility and a subdivision of approximately 100 homes. These new water and sewer lines would give residents and businesses access to municipal water and sewer and protect the public health of Ottawa County residents.
Krause Memorial Library Expansion
Sponsor: City of Rockford
Location: 140 E Bridge St NE, Rockford, MI 49341
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Background: This funding would be used for the development and expansion of the Krause Memorial Library and would help provide improved library services to residents of the City of Rockford. This project supports a critical public good for a rural community that has doubled in size since the last expansion 35 years ago. It provides a safe place for students after school and meets the social, entertainment, and internet needs of many seniors, staving off isolation.
Kent County James & Shirley Balk Park
Sponsor: County of Kent
Location: 300 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503
Requested Amount: $900,000
Background: This funding would help the County of Kent preserve 125 acres of natural area as part of a greater park system that would connect rural communities with several parks and nature reserves throughout the County and West Michigan region. As demand for outdoor spaces grows, this project would help rural communities without major resources develop a quality park system.
Grand River Greenway Trail
Sponsor: County of Kent
Location: Central Kent County
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Background: This funding would be used to construct pathways for pedestrian passage that would connect the region’s largest population centers with rural communities along the watershed, serving as the main artery for the regional trail network that is under development. This project would include three pedestrian crossings that address significant barriers to pedestrian traffic, and it would also connect with two trails operated by the State of Michigan. The Grand River watershed is a major driver of the region’s outdoor recreation economy. By providing an alternative means of transportation throughout the area, the County will be able to protect the delicate ecosystem of the watershed while enabling residents and tourists to enjoy all that the region has to offer.
Patterson Avenue Resurfacing and Intersection Improvements
Sponsor: Kent County Road Commission
Location: Patterson Avenue
Requested Amount: $2,800,000
Background: This funding would help the County expand a planned spot repair project to include a longer lasting resurfacing project as well as intersection upgrades. These are needed improvements to accommodate the 12,000+ daily guests at the Gerald R Ford International Airport and the 32,000 vehicles a day that traverse Patterson Avenue. The project would result in fewer traffic interruptions in an expanding commercial and industrial area.
The Rapid’s Collision Avoidance/Pedestrian Alert System
Sponsor: Interurban Transit Partnership
Location: 300 Ellsworth Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Requested Amount: $1,261,000
Background: This funding would outfit the Rapid’s vehicle fleet with collision avoidance systems (CAS), which include advanced pedestrian alert systems (APAS). The CAS and APAS are advanced driver assistance systems that include a variety of safety tools, such as blind spot detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and pedestrian and cyclist collision warning. These systems can be fitted on all public transit vehicles in the Rapid’s fleet and are proven to reduce crashes or decrease their severity, particularly with pedestrians and cyclists. This would reduce injuries and fatalities involving transit vehicles and help the region move closer to its goal of zero traffic fatalities.
Grand River Neighborhood Enhancement and Accessibility Bridge
Sponsor: Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention Arena Authority
Location: From the corners of Watson and Front Streets, SW on the West side of the Grand River to Williams Street, SW on the East side of the Grand River
Requested Amount: $2,000,000
Background: This funding would be used to construct a pedestrian bridge that connects neighborhoods between busy roads and highways, improving safety and providing more transportation options for residents. This project would also increase accessibility for people with disabilities and mobility challenges, making it easier for all residents to access public transportation, schools, and other important services throughout the community.
Outdoor Therapy Center for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse
Sponsor: County of Kent
Location: 300 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2206
Requested Amount: $245,000
Background: This funding would be used to construct an outdoor therapy center for victims of child sexual abuse and their families. This center would provide an outdoor space for children to play, and utilize sensory elements to process their trauma, in addition to serving as a meeting place for clients. Construction would include acquiring a contractor and landscape architect, accessible play infrastructure, fencing, concrete pathways, all-weather bench seating, rubber and mulch landscaping, a rubber crumb court, and an in-ground basketball hoop.
Grand Rapids Water Resource Recovery Facility & Biodigester Improvement Project
Sponsor: City of Grand Rapids
Location: 300 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
Requested Amount: $3,500,000
Background: This funding would be used to replace the UV disinfection system to improve the city’s water treatment system, in addition to adding a skid for the biodigester that will increase the city’s ability to create renewable natural gas (RNG). This project would also enhance the city’s ability to utilize biodigesters to produce biogas. This biogas is sold as fuel for the Interurban Transit Partnership (the Rapid) and provides fuel for part of the public transit system. An additional cleaning skid would produce more RNG for fuel to close the gap in the Rapid’s current need and meet greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
Gerald R. Ford International Airport Terminal Improvement Process
Sponsor: Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority
Location: 5500 44th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Requested Amount: $10,179,270
Background: This funding would be used to construct new ticket counters for check baggage screening operations by the TSA at Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR). GRR served an all-time record of 3,794,915 passengers in 2023, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. This funding would support improved and sustainable checked baggage screening operations, which are nearing capacity and are in need of improvements in order to support community demand. Additionally, construction of new counters would provide construction jobs and support new airline and airport service jobs.
Harbor Island Water Treatment Remediation
Sponsor: City of Grand Haven
Location: 519 Washington Avenue, Grand Haven, Michigan 49417
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Background: This funding would be used to support cleanup efforts for PFAS and coal combustion residual contamination found at Harbor Island. Harbor Island is located in the center of the Grand River as it flows to Lake Michigan. Over the last hundred years, the island has served a variety of industrial purposes, all of which have contributed to the current environmental concerns. Since the closure of a power plant in 2020, the island has been monitored for contamination by the City of Grand Haven, unearthing PFAS contaminants and coal combustion residual contamination materials.
Literacy for All: A New Home for Read Muskegon
Sponsor: Muskegon County
Location: 2709 Peck St., Muskegon Heights, MI 49444
Requested Amount: $500,000
Background: This funding would be used to renovate an abandoned building in downtown Muskegon to create a community-centered literacy hub. This project would support individuals of all ages in improving their literacy skills, thereby increasing their likelihood of achieving academic success, as well as increasing employability and earning potential.
AMP Lab 2.0 – Bolstering Western Michigan University’s Workforce Pipeline Program
Sponsor: Western Michigan University
Location: 200 Ionia Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Requested Amount: $1,081,265
Background: This funding would be used to renovate a space owned by Western Michigan University, which would ultimately support its forthcoming workforce pipeline program to meet the demands for electrification, battery technology, and semiconductors.
Cherry Health Community Alternative Program: Housing for Returning Citizens
Sponsor: Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Location: 801 College Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Background: This funding would be used to renovate a property to relocate Cherry Health’s Community Alternative Program (CAP) and provide affordable housing units for individuals who are reintegrating into their communities after being released from prison. The project would not only renovate a new location for CAP; it will also convert the old CAP facility into affordable housing units. The project works to reduce recidivism rates and associated costs to taxpayers, including the costs of incarceration, court proceedings, and law enforcement.
I-96 Improvements for Non-Motorized Use
Sponsor: City of Kentwood
Location: Bridge over Interstate-96, South of 1830 Forest Hill Avenue and North of 1954 Forest Hill Avenue
Requested Amount: $2,500,000
Background: This funding would be used to establish a non-motorized, shared-use crossing over Interstate 96 at Forest Hill Avenue. provide greater intra- and inter-city, non-motorized access to Kentwood residents and neighboring communities. The crossing would additionally ease congestion to improve the daily lives of residents. Moreover, the project would ensure greater access to regions currently separated by the interstate, connecting the communities. The City’s project would ultimately enhance the accessibility and safety of transportation options for Kentwood residents, as well as throughout Western Michigan.
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