Contact: Cyndy Fuller
231-723-4325
For Immediate Release
$125,000 ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANT AWARDED TO MANISTEE COUNTY
Manistee, Michigan – The Alliance for Economic Success (AES) announced today that an energy efficiency grant of $125,000 has been awarded to Manistee County by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth to reduce the energy costs of governmental facilities and expand the Manistee County Recycling Initiative. The funding was provided through a state Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
On September 15, 2009, the Manistee County Board of Commissioners unanimously supported a resolution requesting the AES to seek the grant funds recognizing that “energy efficiency and conservation are of immense importance to the economic well-being and quality of life in Manistee County.”
Approximately $75,000 in grant funds will be allocated to complete energy audits of local government facilities in Manistee County and to help local units implement the audit findings to generate energy and cost savings. All local governmental units will be eligible to seek support under the grant program. The AES will issue a request for proposals for a qualified consultant to perform the energy audits. The AES will also issue a request for proposals to all local governmental units in the county so that they may pursue assistance under the program.
About $50,000 in grant funds will be devoted to implementing the county-wide recycling program that began in 2008 and now includes six of Manistee County’s 14 townships. Program funds will be used to help implement the program and monitor recycling sites within the six participating townships and to expand the program to other local units. Program funds will also support an information and education program that will be guided by a Manistee County Recycling Leadership Team to encourage waste reduction and recycling. The Team will also help develop ways to measure Manistee County’s progress in recycling materials.
“This grant will further support the shared vision of making Manistee County a destination of choice for families, visitors and businesses,” said Cyndy Fuller, Executive Director of the Alliance for Economic Success. “It will help our local governments reduce their energy consumption and cost of doing business while improving and increasing our re-use and recycling of materials and reducing waste. The grant will enable us to develop a systematic approach for identifying and implementing energy and cost savings that will be of value to government and business.”
“This grant is a perfect fit with the priority of our County Board of Commissioners and their Green Team to promote county-wide energy efficiency and conservation,” said Tom Kaminski, Manistee County Administrator. “The future of our County depends in no small measure on how well we lead in improving efficiency and reducing waste. This grant will be used a catalyst to achieve important energy savings and waste reduction throughout Manistee County.”