LANSING – State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) today announced that Hematite Township has received a $173,000 state grant to improve roads and encourage private investments in Michigan.
"We all know that the Upper Peninsula is a great place to live and raise a family," Lahti said. "We are working hard to create more good-paying jobs. This grant will help us put more of our residents to work and encourage more investment in our community."
The grant is part of a group of Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) Category A grants that will fund road projects in six counties across the state.
The TEDF provides funding for transportation improvements to encourage private investments in Michigan that will create or retain jobs. Such improvements will help accommodate increased traffic and provide commercial routes that are safe and more efficient for new and expanding companies.
The funds will be used to repair Corral Road, which is primarily a gravel surface road. Pine River Hardwoods, LLC is currently constructing a 40,000-square-foot sawmill on Corral Road to produce finished hardwood lumber for the global market. The mill will open in July and use the latest technology to optimize the use of the raw materials.
The paved portion of Corral Road has deteriorated and will not support increased truck traffic. In addition, the dust from the gravel portion will adversely affect the finished hardwood products. The project, between US-41 and The Grade, will consist of resurfacing the paved portion, paving, and adding gravel shoulders to the unpaved segment.
"This project will help to stimulate economic growth, create jobs and help improve our local economy by providing greater access to the new sawmill," Lahti said. "These improvements will also help make our community more attractive to companies that want to expand and grow their facilities here."