Background
For over a decade, Ottawa County and Muskegon County’s municipalities and business communities had been working together to fund a wastewater line connecting the Coopersville area in Ottawa County to the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center wastewater treatment facility in an effort to increase the production capacity for local agricultural businesses.
While water in the city of Coopersville had reached its processing capacity, the Muskegon County facility was only utilizing around 30% of its available flow. Directing water from Coopersville to Muskegon County would promote growth for the area’s agricultural products, but the counties struggled to acquire the necessary state and federal funds to connect their facilities.
We were able to help overcome these funding challenges and collaborate with decision makers to reach an agreement that is vital in unrestricting growth for the businesses in that region.
Challenge
Because this project crossed county lines and municipal boundaries, it was important to help unite sectors of local government and organize an effort at the state level to prioritize this region and sign off on necessary funding for the solution to the problem that it was having with wastewater.
Solution
- Worked with the state administration to guide this project through the Strategic Outreach Attraction Reserve (SOAR) funding process and position Muskegon County as the grant recipient
- Developed a strategy for legislative approval that included appearing before the Appropriations Committees to ensure a high enough vote count for acceptance
- Coordinated with partners in legislature to ensure that leadership (including the Speaker of The House, Senate Majority Leader, and Chair of the Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate) was willing to add this item to an agenda and make sure it was prioritized
Let’s Work Together
Contact Us
