WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) announced today that Michigan will receive $2,692,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The funding will help protect against and control the spread of the invasive species.

“Protecting Michigan’s forests from invasive species is a moral and economic imperative,” said Stabenow. “I am proud that this funding will protect our state’s natural wonders, while creating jobs here at home.”

“Invasive species pose a significant threat to the environment in Michigan and in particular to numerous native species that have been unable to adapt to their presence,” said Levin. “This federal economic recovery funding will help in Michigan’s important efforts to eradicate these pests, and I am hopeful it will help create and preserve jobs at the same time.”

This ARRA funding is designated for the Wildland Fire Management program. These allocations are part of a total $38 million distribution to 14 states to fund 19 projects.

For more information, please visit www.usda.gov