Rep. Scholten Holds Press Conference Celebrating Major Development In Project To Dredge Grand Haven Inner Harbor

GRAND HAVEN, MI - Today, U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten held a press conference at Central Park Place in Grand Haven to celebrate the awarding of a contract to dredge the Grand Haven Inner Harbor. After months of delays and relentless advocacy from Rep. Scholten, the dredging is now set to begin imminently, avoiding lengthy delays that could have held up supply chains, increased costs for consumers, and been catastrophic for Michigan's economy.

"A missed dredging cycle would have been catastrophic for West Michigan," said Rep. Scholten. "But I convened stakeholders and we rolled up our sleeves and got to work finding a solution that balanced the need to keep our passageways open while also protecting our waters and our communities from PFAS contamination. I am thrilled that this dredging is finally moving forward, and I will keep working to get things done for West Michigan."

Rep. Scholten was joined by Mayor of Grand Haven Bob Monetza; State Representative Luke Meerman; Ottawa County Commissioner Josh Brugger; Grand Haven City Manager Ashley Latsch; and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

"The City of Grand Haven is grateful for the collaborative efforts of Congresswoman Scholten, our State Representatives, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and EGLE in working toward a balanced solution that addresses both regulatory and environmental concerns surrounding dredging in our harbor," said Ashley Latsch, Grand Haven City Manager. "This partnership has been essential in taking meaningful steps to ensure dredging can continue in a way that supports both our local economy and the health of our waterways. While important work remains, today's press conference highlights the progress we've made and reinforces our shared commitment to moving forward together."

"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, appreciates the attention and dedication from the members of the working group, stakeholders, and elected officials to develop a fast solution to keep Grand Haven Inner Harbor safe and navigable," said Liz Newell Wilkinson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Grand Haven Office operations manager. "This success illustrates a commitment to public safety, our industry partners, and the environment while we connect Michigan's harbors and federal channels to the Great Lakes."

"This is a great day. Not only for Northwest Ottawa County because the Grand River Harbor will be open and navigable, but it is a great day for everyone who believes as I do, that when we set aside partisan bickering, when we turn off social media and its keyboard warriors, when we're willing to work across the aisle for the common good; that's when actual work can get done," said Ottawa County Commissioner Josh Brugger."While news from Washington is filled with rancor and spite, in West Michigan, our people take the high road and get the job done. I couldn't be more grateful to all who were involved."

"The regional economy relies on the commercial traffic coming through the Grand Haven Harbor," said Michigan State Rep. Luke Meerman. "Each year, over 100 cargo ships travel through the Great Lakes into Grand Haven, and without harbor access, people will undoubtedly see increased costs, and there will be an adverse impact on the regional economy. Dredging the Grand Haven Harbor is as important to our critical infrastructure as our roads."

A delay in the dredging project would have threatened serious consequences, as Grand Haven's harbor is an economic powerhouse. This small harbor supports over 450 jobs and generates $88.8 million annually in regional economic impact. A missed dredging cycle could have increased shipping costs by 25 to 30%, disrupted road and agricultural supply chains across Michigan, and resulted in an estimated $3 to 5 million in additional costs that could ultimately fall on consumers.

The dredging of Grand Haven's Inner Harbor is also vital for delivering aggregate materials used in construction and agriculture across the state. Without dredging, nearly 2 million tons of materials could have gone undelivered this year, creating ripple effects across industries and potentially overwhelming nearby harbors unequipped to handle the volume. Ensuring reliable cargo shipping channels will help support ongoing construction efforts and keep projects on track.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan balances the need to dredge the harbors with environmental considerations by dredging the most critical parts of the harbor to avoid supply chain delays while circumventing areas with potential PFAS contamination to ensure that neighboring communities are not exposed to forever chemicals.

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