Michigan’s Manistee and Benzie counties receive federal grant

According to UpNorthLive.com, a news website by WPBN serving Traverse City, Michigan, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development has awarded a grant of $35,000 to northern Michigan communities to improve recycling through a regional resource recovery strategy. 

The Alliance of Economic Success (AES), which provides economic development to Manistee and Benzie counties, will coordinate the project. Sarah Archer, president of Iris Waste Diversion Specialists, will be project manager, the article says. 

“This project is recognized by the Manistee Board of County Commissioners as a high priority in their strategic plan and with the County’s Green Team members, and we are grateful for their leadership and allocation of $5,000 to support the project,” Tim Ervin of the AES told UpNorthLive.com. “To maximize impact and be sustainable, we need to reach a critical mass of recycled materials beyond that generated in Manistee County. We are already hearing from neighboring areas that they are on board with the project that will be officially kicked off once we confirm partners and assess recycled waste volumes and composition.”

According to the article, AES will coordinate the project among partners that may include governments and businesses in Manistee, Benzie, Mason, Wexford, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and other Michigan counties.