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Sanford pursues grants for $300,000 pump track and reports $4.3M storm-sewer grant; FEMA balance raised
Summary
President Dolores Porte told the council she is pursuing multiple grants for a proposed $300,000 pump track and that MEDC-CDBG-DR funding of $4.3 million for a storm-sewer project has been signed; she also said the village estimates $600,000 still outstanding from FEMA.
Village President Dolores Porte used her report at the April 14 meeting to outline a multi-pronged fundraising strategy for recreation and historic-preservation projects and to update council on federal and state grant activity.
Porte said the proposed pump track is estimated at $300,000. She reported outreach to the Midland County Parks & Rec contact (who is awaiting DNR sign-off to transfer property), and multiple grant approaches: a Consumers Energy Foundation "Put Your Town on the Map" request ($25,000), applications to the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation and the Midland Area Community Foundation (next round June 2025), a letter of intent submitted to the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation (pending approval), and potential support from Rotary and Kiwanis. She said the village will follow up with DNR contacts and noted prior foundation commitments for other local projects.
On the Sanford Historical Society restoration project Porte recapped a $270,370 total project figure: a $75,000 commitment from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation (2024), a $55,000 application to the Strosacker Foundation (March 2025), and a $20,000 application to the Midland Area Community Foundation (April 2025), with a pending $120,370 LOI to the Dow Foundation.
Porte also reported that a $4.3 million MEDC-CDBG-DR grant has been signed enabling the storm-sewer project to proceed and that a $41,000 planning grant was expected shortly; she said the village is coordinating with consultant Spicer on the first step of a recreation plan (a community survey). She raised concern about funding for the Saginaw Road Bridge and said the MEDC would discuss potential coordination with MDOT but provided no guarantee of full funding.
On disaster recovery, Porte said Congressman John Moolenaar's office contacted the village and that the village estimated $600,000 still owed from FEMA; she said local senators and the congressman were working on the issue. Porte said she provided feedback to federal representatives on improving FEMA procedures.
Porte reported discussions with EGLE and the Midland Conservancy about grant opportunities for a kayak launch at the end of Cedar Street; no cost estimate was yet available. Matt Hall and Carl Hamann plan to attend an EGLE meeting April 28 about the NPDES MS4 requirements, which now include the village.
No formal council votes were recorded on the pump track, kayak launch, or foundation applications; those items remain in planning and application stages.
