Fraser Sinkhole: $100,000 Grants Available to Affected Towns

LANSING, MI — The latest news surrounding the Fraser sinkhole fiasco is that Gov. Rick Snyder is opening the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund to provide financial relief to impacted communities, according to a press release. The move affords affected towns the opportunity to apply for assistance grants of up to $100,000 to pay for Fraser sinkhole-related recovery costs ranging from shelter supplies to civil employees' overtime expenses. The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division will manage the grant and aid local governments with their fund applications, according to the press release.

“I commend the first responders and agencies throughout impacted communities for their dedication to ensuring the health and safety of the citizens who were affected by this incident,” Snyder said in a statement dated Feb. 3. The governor continued, “While progress is being made to address the situation, some of the local jurisdiction resources have been depleted. Money from this fund will help cover some of the costs incurred while responding to and recovering from this incident.”

The announcement comes just days after the state House and Senate, per Snyder's request, extended the state of emergency declarations through March 31 for Macomb County and Clinton Township. Macomb County and Clinton Township have been under a state of emergency since Jan. 5 and Jan. 17.

The state of emergency was sparked by a mammoth sewer break in Fraser on Dec. 24, 2016. The sewer line collapse triggered a roughly 250 feet long and 100 feet wide sinkhole in the area of 15 Mile Rd. and Hayes Rd. in Fraser. The 11 communities served by the sewer line have been greatly affected - both in their day to day lives and financially. A water restriction alert has gone into effect and residents are bracing for higher water bills, which will start this summer to help pay for sewer repairs. Officials estimate the total cost to repair the sinkhole could be over $100 million dollars.

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