The projects I have requested funding for FY26 are as follows: 


Project Name: Alpena Community College’s Natural Resources and STEM Innovation Center

Project Location: 665 Johnson Street, Alpena, MI 49707

Project Sponsor: Alpena Community College

Requested Amount: $4,250,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to renovate and repurpose Alpena Community College’s 39,520-square-foot Charles R. Donnelly Natural Resources Center. The project includes upgrading classrooms and the lecture hall with modern videoconferencing technology, creating a Life Sciences and IT Innovation Center for students, and completing major building improvements such as replacing HVAC and windows and installing a new roof. These upgrades will support expanded STEM programs, improve student and staff health and safety, and position the facility as a regional hub in science education and workforce development in Northeast Michigan.


Project Name: Village of Beulah Waste Water Treatment Improvement Project

Project Location: VOB Waste Water Treatment Plant, 7728 Commercial St., Beulah, MI 49617

Project Sponsor: Village of Beulah

Requested Amount: $2,000,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to support a $12.1 million wastewater treatment facility and system improvements project meant to bring the village into compliance with an Administrative Consent Order from EGLE. The project will upgrade critical infrastructure – including influent metering, a new headworks building, a mechanical treatment plant, and spray irrigation fields – and make necessary sewer line repairs. These improvements will serve both Beulah and parts of Benzonia, ensuring safe and reliable wastewater treatment for the communities. The new system will be modular and expandable to support future growth beyond the scope of this project.


Project Name: Reconstruction of the Houghton Canal Road, Stanton Township, Houghton County, Michigan

Project Location: State Roads S-553 and S-653G, Stanton Township, Houghton, MI 49931

Project Sponsor: Stanton Township

Requested Amount: $5,100,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to reconstruct 5.3 miles of Houghton Canal Road and 2.4 miles of North Superior Road in Stanton Township to improve roadway safety and accessibility for local residents and visitors, and support federal and state agency operations. These roads provide critical year-round access to the Keweenaw Waterway’s North Entry, serving the USACE, Coast Guard, Border Patrol, and EPA. The road improvements will also enhance public access to North Canal Park and nearby beaches, supporting recreation and visitation.


Project Name: Bates Township Hall Preservation

Project Location: 3070 E. Hwy U.S. 2, Iron River, MI 49935

Project Sponsor: Bates Hall Preservation Society

Requested Amount: $300,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to restore and renovate the historic 1907 Bates Township Hall to ensure it can continue its role as an essential community meeting space and event center. The Hall will be moved onto new foundation, upgraded for ADA accessibility, and enhanced with energy-efficient features, a renovated kitchen, and an improved entryway.


Project Name: Fife Lake Public Library Expansion Project

Project Location: 77 Lakecrest Lane, Fife Lake, MI 49633

Project Sponsor: Friends of the Fife Lake Public Library

Requested Amount: $250,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to build a two-story, 7,100-square-foot expansion to the Fife Lake Public Library to provide additional space for growing children's, teens', and adults' collections, dedicated areas for programming, a large meeting space, small study spaces, a Maker Space, a Library of Things, genealogical records storage, and staff work and storage areas. The current space limitations hinder the library’s ability to serve both the community and staff adequately. Additionally, the library plans to build a new parking lot to replace lost spaces and accommodate additional parking needs.


Project Name: Securing the Future of Great Lakes Education – Suttons Bay, MI

Project Location: 100 Dame St #218, Suttons Bay, MI 49682

Project Sponsor: Inland Seas Education Association

Requested Amount: $3,000,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to expand Inland Seas Education Association’s campus in Suttons Bay, MI, enhancing its ability to deliver year-round Great Lakes-focused environmental education to youth and adults alike. The project includes developing indoor learning spaces, a laboratory, and housing for interns and volunteers, alongside expanded outdoor learning areas on newly acquired properties. This effort will significantly increase program capacity, support regional partners, and strengthen environmental stewardship across the Great Lakes Basin.

Project Name: Hubbard Lake Community Center/Library

Project Location: 1561 Hubert Road, Hubbard Lake, MI 49747

Project Sponsor: Friends of the Hubbard Lake Center, Inc.

Requested Amount: $300,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to construct a new 6,500-square-foot Community Center and Library for the Hubbard Lake community. The center will include a 1,500-square-foot library – nearly doubling the size of the current local branch of the Alcona County Library – and provide dedicated space for children’s activities, educational programming, and computer access. Remaining space will serve as a community hub for local groups and social gatherings.


Project Name: PFAS Contamination Grayling Army Airfield

Project Location: 2090 Viking Way, Grayling, MI 49738

Project Sponsor: Charter Township of Grayling

Requested Amount: $10,000,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to complete the municipal water system necessary to address PFAS contamination from Camp Grayling Army Base, which has impacted 392 private wells and now threatens the City of Grayling’s public water supply, two schools, a hospital, 22 additional private wells, and the AuSable River. This contamination is advancing rapidly and has already reached one city well, putting more than 1,900 additional residents at risk. The project would ensure the delivery of safe drinking water to households and institutions currently ineligible for hookup under the Department of Defense remediation plan.


Project Name: Tawas City Dedicated Primary Transmission Main

Project Location: 550 West Lake Street, PO Box 568, Tawas City, MI 48764

Project Sponsor: City of Tawas City

Requested Amount: $1,950,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to construct a dedicated primary transmission main to deliver potable water directly to Tawas City – the only member of its regional water authority without such infrastructure. The city currently relies on a 1976 asbestos cement secondary main owned by another municipality, which is nearing the end of its useful life and whose potential repair costs exceed total replacement. This project will ensure uninterrupted access to clean, federally compliant drinking water and support critical infrastructure including the only hospital in Iosco County, all Tawas School District buildings, three assisted living facilities, and the county jail. The new main will span approximately 7,000 feet along US-23, coordinated with a 2027 Michigan DOT road reconstruction project.


Project Name: City Wide Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements

Project Location: Ludington Street, 2nd Street to 9th Street, Escanaba, MI 49829

Project Sponsor: City of Escanaba

Requested Amount: $1,875,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to support critical water infrastructure improvements in the City of Escanaba, including the replacement of valves, hydrants, and additional watermain and lead service lines in high-priority areas. These upgrades are essential to completing ongoing efforts by EGLE to modernize the city's aging water system and ensure safe, reliable service for residents.


Project Name: City of Escanaba Watermain Upgrade and Lead Service Line Replacements

Project Location: US-2/41 from North 30th to the intersection at M-35, then North to 14th Ave N, Escanaba, MI 49829

Project Sponsor: City of Escanaba

Requested Amount: $1,875,000

Member Certification Form

Description: Consistent with the State of Michigan’s Lead and Copper Rule, funds for this project would be used to replace seventy-seven lead-affected drinking water services, upgrade aging infrastructure, and ensure adequate fire flow throughout the City of Escanaba – primarily along US-2.


Project Name: Houghton County Patrol Vehicles Request

Project Location: 401 E. Houghton Ave, Houghton, MI 49931

Project Sponsor: County of Houghton

Requested Amount: $177,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to purchase two fully equipped patrol vehicles to replace aging units that are no longer reliable or cost-effective to maintain. These vehicles are essential for routine patrols, court and mental health transports, and mutual aid across a large, rural county with challenging weather and terrain. Replacing these units will enhance public safety, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure deputies can respond quickly and effectively throughout the County of Houghton.


Project Name: Iron Mountain Primary Care Mobile Unit

Project Location: 440 Woodward Avenue, Suite 101, Iron Mountain, MI 49801

Project Sponsor: Bellin Health Iron Mountain

Requested Amount: $670,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to purchase a mobile health unit to expand access to primary, specialty, and behavioral health care for residents of the UP. Stationed at Emplify Health by Bellin’s Iron Mountain clinic, the unit will serve surrounding communities, improving access to preventive services and chronic disease management while reducing reliance on emergency rooms. With patient-to-physician ratios as high as 1147:1 in Dickinson County, this mobile unit will bring essential care closer to home, addressing provider shortages and supporting healthier outcomes, all while demanding less capital and infrastructure than a single standalone facility.

Project Name: City of Alpena Aerial Fire Truck Replacement Project

Project Location: 208 North First Avenue, Alpena, MI 49707

Project Sponsor: City of Alpena

Requested Amount: $1,105,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to replace the City of Alpena’s only aerial platform fire apparatus, which is 31 years old and falling into disrepair due to age and extensive use. The vehicle plays a vital role in fire suppression, high-angle rescues, and other life-saving operations. As the only career fire department within 130 miles, Alpena’s fire resources are limited, and maintaining a reliable aerial apparatus is crucial not only for city residents but also for broader regional emergency preparedness through the Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MI-MABAS). Replacing this apparatus will enhance public safety and ensure continued protection for Northern Michigan communities in both daily emergencies and large-scale disasters.

Project Name: City of Menominee Circle Lane 3 Subdivision Infrastructure Improvements

Project Location: 2511 10th Street, Menominee, MI 49858

Project Sponsor: City of Menominee

Requested Amount: $1,178,000

Member Certification Form

Description: The funding would be used to complete infrastructure improvements at Circle Lane 3, a city-owned subdivision in Menominee, Michigan. The project will install roads, water mains, sanitary sewer lines, and stormwater systems to make 17 residential lots build-ready. These improvements are essential to addressing the region’s workforce housing shortage, which has hindered economic growth and employer recruitment in recent years. By developing these lots, the project will attract builders and expand housing options for moderate- and middle-income families in the region.