By Mary Drier (Contact / Staff Bio)
October 7, 2009 - 11:43 a.m. EST

GAGETOWN — Two towns in Tuscola County received some good financial news this week.

According to State Representative Terry Brown (D-Pigeon), the villages of Gagetown and Millington have received about $950,000 in federal grants for road, water and sewer improvement projects that will help create local jobs and stimulate economic development.

This is very good news for the two villages which have wanted to do upgrades for several years but have not had the resources until now to do so.

“We’ve looked at this project for awhile. We are just waiting to hear if we get the grant money,” said Gagetown Village President Chuck Wright last week.

And, on Monday, the official word on the grant money was given.

Gagetown Village will receive about $520,000 in federal grant money, and will have to contribute about $130,000 of its own money toward the water and street improvements they want done.

“The work also includes replacing some water lines,” noted Gagetown Village Clerk Joan Koch. “Several lines need to be replaced, and then the street work will need to be done after that.”

The water lines along State Street from the park to Dodge Road will be replaced, and from the light downtown along Lincoln Street to the fire hall.

Even though the money has been approved, it might take awhile for the work to be completed

“We won’t have the check tomorrow, and it’s a step-by-step process,” said Koch.

The water lines have to be replaced first. Once the ground has settled from that, then the street work can be done.

Millington Village will receive about $428,200 federal grant money, and will contribute nearly $50,000 of its own money for water and sewer improvements.

Brown said he feels it is important to invest in infrastructure because it helps create jobs and benefits the economy.

The grants are part of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Infrastructure Capacity Enhancement (ICE) program, which is designed to accelerate economic development and assist communities in making necessary improvements or upgrades to existing public infrastructure.

Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.