Press Release | Office of the Mayor | City of Westland Awarded $725K in Grants for Infrastructure Improvements

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

City of Westland Awarded $725K in Grants for Infrastructure Improvements

Westland, MI (February 5, 2018) - On February 4, 2019, the Westland City Council approved an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for rehabilitation services to begin on bridges located on Newburgh Road over Tonquish Creek and Ann Arbor Trail over the Middle Rouge River. The bidding process will be conducted through MDOT who will locate and provide contractors to complete construction on the existing structures.

The scope of service performed includes p atchwork on the surface of bridges, r epair to the approach and r epair of the bridge guard rail.

Work will also include the removal and replacement of concrete on Newburgh Rd. between the bridge and Warren and necessary repairs will be made to the pedestrian bridge on the east side of Newburgh Rd.

The majority of the project will be funded through a grant secured through MDOT for the amount of $500,000. The remaining $344,500 represents the city's cost and will be funded through the Major Road Fund.

Work is slated to begin in early May and reach completion in August 2019, weather permitting.

The City of Westland has also received a $225,000 grant through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to construct new sidewalks on the south side of Marquette between Newburgh and Wayne Rd.

Repairing this sidewalk will ensure the safety of residents and students attending John Glenn High School.

Work is set to begin mid-June and reach completion by the end of August 2019, weather permitting.

"We are excited to receive these much needed funds which will allow us to begin work during the upcoming construction season on two major Westland thoroughfares," commented Mayor Wild. "These projects will allow us to increase safety and accessibility for pedestrian and vehicular traffic as we work to revitalize our community's infrastructures."

"The Nocerini Strategy Group was very pleased to learn of these grant awards," commented Lisa Nocerini, who provides the City with grant writing services. "We are honored to have assisted Mayor Wild and the City Council in fulfilling their vision of enhancing the walkability of their community for its residents and visitors.

For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary at (734)467-3200

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Western Wayne Fire Association firefighters collaboratively serving the Cities of Wayne and Westland are licensed paramedics who responded to over 13,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best Schools in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

Westland's philosophy is that government should embrace good business principles. Providing oversight over the City's operating budget of $60 million dollars, Westland is the only community in Wayne County with a 3-year balanced budget and an approximately 10 percent budget surplus.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.