LANSING — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo is awarding a $2.7 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the city of Hancock, Mich., to provide flood resilient infrastructure for a new a business and technology park that will house technology and technology-driven light manufacturing businesses.

“As we continue putting Michigan back to work, this $2.7 million grant will allow us to continue building our economy back better from the pandemic and create good-paying jobs,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Michigan is grateful to the Biden Administration and Secretary Raimondo at the Department of Commerce for investing in our communities and helping us build up the industries of the future.”

The project will attract technological businesses through creation of an industrial park, stimulating the local economy. The project also invests in drainage infrastructure, preparing Hancock for future floods and making the community safer. The grant’s impact will aid recovery efforts from the 2018 flood, and attract businesses and private investment, which will create jobs and support the local economy.

“The City of Hancock would like to extend our appreciation to the Economic Development Authority for approving the grant application to proceed with the Hancock Business & Technology Park,” said Mary Babcock, city manager for Hancock. “The project has been a true collective effort between the City Council, WUPPDR, KEDA and OHM Advisors to spur economic development in this region. We appreciate the investment in our community by the EDA and are looking forward to starting the project.”

The EDA connected public and private stakeholders on the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission to lead this initiative. The Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission works to strengthen the regional economy and create jobs through public and private investments, including this 2.7 million grant.

This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019, which provided an additional $600 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery efforts for areas affected by major natural disasters that occurred in 2018 and 2019. Hancock qualified for this grant as a result of the 2018 floods.