Peters Secures $22 Million in Federal Funding for Benton Harbor to Upgrade Flood Resiliency Infrastructure

BENTON HARBOR, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) secured $22 million in federal funding for the City of Benton Harbor's Riverfront Redevelopment Project. This funding will support the relocation of Riverview Drive, a major roadway which has been subject to unpredictable closures as a result of recent heavy rainfall and flooding. Additionally, the project will revitalize Benton Harbor's waterfront to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers.

Funding for the project comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. Peters secured funding for the BUILD program though the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and advocated for Benton Harbor's funding application.

"Michigan communities have experienced more severe storms and flooding in recent years that have threatened public safety and damaged property," said Senator Peters. "I was proud to secure this funding to help Benton Harbor invest in infrastructure upgrades that will protect residents, homes, and businesses from severe flooding while improving waterfront access for pedestrians."

Peters has long fought to help Michigan communities strengthen their infrastructure against severe weather like flooding. Peters passed into law the bipartisan Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act, which helps states establish revolving loan funds for local governments to carry out mitigation projects that reduce natural disaster risk and secured $500 million for the program to help communities address the impacts of natural disasters. Michigan has been awarded $22.5 million in federal funding through the program to date.

DOT's BUILD program awards federal funding on a competitive basis for projects considered to have significant local or regional impact. BUILD funding can support roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports or intermodal transportation projects. Peters helped create the BUILD program as part of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and has continued working to fund BUILD through annual government funding legislation.

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