City of Lansing sees major investments

shovel-safe220037
shovel-safe220037

The city of Lansing, once teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, has gotten a boost from millions of federal dollars.

The funds are a combination of national investment initiatives in Congress, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the Inflation Reduction Act. The money has been poured into projects like transitioning coal-fired power plants to natural gas, providing new equipment for first responders, and solar upgrades for school buses.

One major investment is electric vehicle manufacturing, with an $8 million grant, matched by $2 million in local investment. Lansing Mayor Andy Schor says it’s expected to create 1,700 jobs.

“It’s making sure that we’ve got people that are educated, that can build these batteries and cars and place these charging stations,” Schor said. “There’s lots of job opportunity, especially through our union employees, through our IBEW and UAW.”

Schor says they’re also using the tax credit provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act to help with infrastructure projects, including wastewater treatment. He’s hoping to land funding from the CHIPS Act as well, to revitalize an old General Motors plant.