LANSING, Mich., Oct. 5, 2022 — The Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) has announced a commitment of $60 million in Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) funding to go toward the Southeast Regional Force Main Project. This is an exciting economic win for the Muskegon community.
“It’s been at least a decade in the making for this project to receive the comprehensive funding it deserves, and I want to send a huge thank you to MEDC and the Southeast Regional Force Main team for their efforts in making these community-changing funds come to Muskegon county,” state Rep. Terry Sabo (D-Muskegon) said. “The funds are going to bring many advantageous changes to our area. These pivotal investments will have immediate and long-term positive impacts — they’ll create and retain good-paying jobs, stabilize sewage rates for homeowners and businesses, and increase environmental sustainability.”
Over 10 years ago, when he was chair of the Muskegon County Commission, Sabo recognized the need for this kind of investment and has been fighting for it ever since. The Muskegon Wastewater System is Michigan’s largest, and perhaps one of the nation’s largest, with 11,000 acres of settling ponds, surrounded by open fields.
The $60 million project will:
- Connect a wastewater treatment pipeline to the Muskegon County Wastewater Treatment Facility (MCWWTF) from Coopersville to MCWWTF in central Muskegon County.
- Stabilize wastewater treatment user rates for residential homeowners throughout Muskegon County.
- Increase the volume of wastewater treatment capacity for over a dozen private and public users.
- Create about 150 high-wage jobs over the next three years.
- Garner support from numerous agribusiness organizations.
- Improve environmental sustainability across the county.