Local business leaders and Midland’s mayor have praised efforts from State Representative Bill G. Schuette to secure critical infrastructure funding for the area as part of a signed state budget agreement.

Schuette fought for $10 million within the state budget plan to protect residents, families and job providers in the city of Midland through flood reduction infrastructure and another $9.8 million for the Four Lakes Task Force as they continue efforts to repair dams that failed and led to catastrophic flooding across the area in 2020.

“Our community was dramatically impacted and thousands of people had their lives and livelihoods upended,” said Midland Mayor Maureen Donker. “Because of the city’s unique geographic characteristics, addressing flooding in Midland through infrastructure improvements is incredibly important to ensure the catastrophic damage that we saw does not happen again. I want to thank Representative Schuette for his efforts to bring these resources to the city of Midland.”

“With this funding, Midland can build back stronger and further position our community as a great place to live, work, start a business and raise a family,” said Midland Business Alliance President and CEO Tony Stamas. “We represent over 3,000 businesses in the Midland area, and many were impacted in some way by the floods. Some lost everything. Representative Schuette understands how important these resources are to our community and worked to include them in this state budget, and we are thankful for his tireless commitment to job providers and workers throughout our area.”

Lee Ann Keller, who serves on the Midland Business Alliance’s Committee on Infrastructure and is the President and CEO at Omni Tech International in Midland, echoed the impact the additional investments will bring. The two allocations for Midland and the Four Lakes Task Force were among the largest for individual projects within the state budget plan.

“Other areas of the country have implemented new technologies to address flooding concerns and make their states and communities more attractive and competitive,” Keller said. “This investment is a gamechanger for Midland going forward and shows our community, our local businesses and our hardworking employees are a priority in Lansing.”

Schuette voted last week in favor of the budget agreement, which makes historic investments in local roads, public safety, support for students and more while right-sizing government spending to respect taxpayers, before it went to the governor for her signature.

“We are grateful for Representative Bill G. Schuette’s leadership on securing this funding for our region,” Four Lakes Task Force President Dave Kepler told the Midland Daily News following the Legislature’s approval of the $9.8 million infrastructure funding. “We also would like to thank our representatives Mike Hoadley and Senator Roger Hauck for voting for a budget that will secure funding to repair the dams. … This funding would help lower the burden on property owners for bringing back the lakes and restoring the dams.”

Schuette also proposed legislation this term that would help impacted individuals in Midland and Gladwin counties by re-establishing Michigan’s Special Assessment District Tax Deferral program for individuals 65 years and older, or those who are permanently disabled, with incomes of $34,900 or less. The legislation provides commonsense reforms for vulnerable groups across Mid-Michigan who often struggle to pay for special assessments on their homesteads, while making sure needed improvements that benefit or rebuild their areas are still funded. House Bills 4079-80 were advanced by the House Finance Committee earlier this year and are under consideration in the Michigan House.

“In two terms representing workers and families in Midland and Gladwin counties, I have heard from countless people on these issues,” Schuette said. “Our area was front and center on the national news for what we went through. It was devastating and heartbreaking. People are still working to get their lives back after one of the worst natural disasters in the history of our state. I remain committed to doing everything I can to help us build back better and stronger, and these crucial investments are a key step.”