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The Saginaw River would be dredged to 27 feet from the mouth to Saginaw.

SAGINAW GETS $$$: State Grants $1.7 Million for Arts, River Dredging Eyed

State Sen. Roger Kahn Advocates for Quality of Life Boosts

July 2, 2014       1 Comments
By: Dave Rogers

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Saginaw County is eying dredging of the Saginaw River to boost the area economy in the wake of two grants for quality of life projects.

The 2015 State of Michigan budget includes $1.7 million in funding for the Saginaw Art Museum and FirstMerit Bank Event Park, it was announced Tuesday.

This allocation supports two priority projects that impact the quality of life in Saginaw County and the Great Lakes Bay Region. The budget was signed into law this week by Gov. Rick Snyder.

The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce and Saginaw Future also are working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Army Corps of Engineers, City and County of Saginaw and Bay City on a Saginaw River Channel Dredging Feasibility Study that would examine the economic and environmental impact of widening and deepening of the Saginaw River Shipping Channel.

In a letter to county commissioners last year, Controller Robert Belleman explained that the proposed $594,000 project would deepen the entire river course to a 200-foot-wide and 27-foot-deep channel from the river mouth to the turning basin in Saginaw.

"Over the course of the budget process, I advocated for the Saginaw Art Museum, FirstMerit Bank Event Park, funding for the Saginaw River dredging pilot study and the Flint River Dike system -- a total of nearly $3 million," said State Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw.

"I am pleased that I was able to include all four of these priority projects into the coming year's budget," said Senator Kahn. "These projects will enrich our residents' lives through enhancement of the arts, improved access to outdoor entertainment, potential jobs related to increased river commercial traffic and preserving our safety through maintaining effective flood control in southern Saginaw County."

The Saginaw Art Museum will receive $1 million that will be used to continue the execution of its strategic plan which focuses on sustainability and efficiency. The museum's goal is to be a driving force in the quality of life for its constituents, and a champion for arts education in the Great Lakes Bay.

"We greatly appreciate and extend our gratitude to Governor Snyder and Senator Kahn for recognizing our efforts," said Stacey Gannon, Executive Director, Saginaw Art Museum.

"This support allows us to continue our mission of providing ?art for all? through education, exhibition, collection and preservation of art, and to maximize the impact of improving the quality of life in the Great Lakes Bay Region. I am excited about our future."

The FirstMerit Bank Event Park is a new outdoor entertainment venue in Downtown Saginaw across from TheDow Event Center that features national touring concerts, community events and festivals.

The $700,000 in State funding will support the project including construction of dressing rooms, restrooms, a mechanical and electrical room and a small office space. The 5,500-seat Event Park was opened in the Summer of 2013 and provides both pavilion and lawn seating.

"We are very appreciative of the State's support of the final construction phase for the Event Park," said Saginaw County Building Authority Chair and Saginaw County Controller Robert Belleman. "Public and private sector collaboration has led to the redevelopment of a large Saginaw parcel, helped revitalize Downtown and has provided our residents with a fantastic outdoor venue."

The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce advocated for the quality of life projects. Saginaw Future Inc. assisted the Building Authority and SMG, which manages the Event Park, with grant writing and administration, and is working with the Art Museum through the grant allocation process.

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Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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