Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Support for Bessemer and Laurium

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced support for Bessemer and the Village of Laurium. The funding comes through the USDA's Rural Development Grant program, which funds critical infrastructure within rural communities across the country.

The City of Bessemer will receive a $5,265,000 grant to upgrade their 100-year-old sewer system. The Village of Laurium will receive a $15,000 grant to help purchase a new police vehicle.

"With many rural Michigan communities facing serious budget cuts, this support is especially important," said Stabenow. "Today's announcement reinforces the partnership between our local communities and rural development, which helps to maintain the quality of life across Michigan."

"This grant is exciting news for the City of Bessemer," said Michael Uskiewicz, Bessemer City Manager. "The sewer project supported by this $5,265,000 grant will provide much needed maintenance, improve our infrastructure, and will go a very long way to enhancing the quality of life in Bessemer. We thank Senator Stabenow for helping make a lasting impact on the future growth and development of the community through this announcement. The City of Bessemer is focused on improvement, and today we can move forward and meet our goals."

Senator Stabenow is Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, which has jurisdiction over the USDA and its Rural Development program.