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Midland coalition seeks $20 million from state as part of multi-year flood-resiliency push
Summary
Midland business and community leaders outlined decades of flooding, described a combined strategy of short- and long-term projects including Army Corps studies, noted a $40 million grant (part ARPA) already secured, and requested $20,000,000 in the next cycle to advance levee, pump station and resiliency projects.
Business and civic leaders from Midland asked the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy for state support to accelerate flood-mitigation work in the Tittabawassee watershed.
Tony Stamas, president and CEO of the Midland Business Alliance, co-chairs of a community flood committee and other local leaders described repeating flood events (notably 1986, 1996, 2017 and the 2020 dam failures) and explained why Midland’s geography and many tributaries make downtown especially vulnerable. They said short- and midterm resiliency efforts are already underway and that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted hydraulic and hydrology work and has a general investigation (GI) study in process.
Leaders said the community has raised seed funds (more than $1.3 million) and helped secure a $40,000,000 grant, including $25,000,000 described as ARPA funds and a $15,000,000 allocation to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation that will support a levee and pump-station project among other priorities. Bill Schutte said the broader effort needs another $40,000,000 to solve the problem but requested $20,000,000 for 2025 with additional work to follow.
Presenters appealed to the committee to support a mix of midterm resiliency projects and long-term Corps-led solutions, saying both are necessary to protect health care access, homes and businesses and regional economic stability. The subcommittee did not act on funding during the meeting.
