GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – August 7, 2002 – Enhancement project applications submitted by engineering consulting firm Moore & Bruggink Inc., on behalf of several Michigan municipalities, received approval for grant monies recently and work has begun.

"People don't realize how much these special grants, distributed over the past four years, have impacted economic development and lifestyle in Michigan communities," says Gary Voogt, P.E., president of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based engineering consulting firm Moore & Bruggink, Inc. The engineering firm plans municipal sewer, water, road paving, and other infrastructure improvements.

"Smaller municipalities often face what I call the `But-For Challenge'". We could attract a company and jobs, but-for no road. We could attract more tourists, but-for the fact that our downtown sidewalks and streets are falling apart. We could provide a safer environment for our residents, but-for these two highways running through town."

MDOT TEA enhancement project grants and similar funding sources, which match state and county funding with community match funds, have made an enormous difference in the appearance of Michigan's landscape, creating economic development opportunity in towns that would generally be hard-pressed to raise improvement funds from tax dollars alone.

"Tying in above ground enhancements to infrastructure improvements is an approach that saves time and money," says Voogt, who guided the effort to develop three of the project applications MDOT selected to receive monies this year. 

The engineering firm has completed more than a dozen Transportation Enhancement-funded projects in recent years including projects in the Cities of Walker, Portage, and Ada Township. Further up the lakeshore are the downtown streetscape in Pentwater and downtown Beaver Island. 

The new projects include:

• Extension of Donegal Bay Trail on Beaver Island. St. James Township, through the Charlevoix County Road Commission is extending the Donegal Bay Trail on Beaver Island from a main town intersection to the St. James Campground to the existing trail system along Kings Highway and Main Street, which connects to the Gull Harbor Natural Area. The path overlooks Lake Michigan and Hog, Garden and Squaw Islands. 

• Village of Central Lake Downtown Streetscape Beautification. Includes new lighting, brick pavers, trees and steel furniture.

• 1.3-mile Pedestrian/Bike Path. Grand Rapids Township through the Kent County Road Commission is constructing a 10-foot shoulder for non-motorized use along a 1.3-mile section of Knapp Street in Grand Rapids Charter Township.

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