Holland Reporter

Congressman Bill Huizenga has announced the inclusion of funding for several Michigan harbors in the Army Corps of Engineers' FY 2025 Work Plan. The plan allocates resources to Holland, Saugatuck, St. Joe, and South Haven harbors, aiming to support economic activity in these areas.

"Our harbors and rivers are an enormous source of economic activity for communities across Michigan," said Congressman Huizenga. "This funding will help ensure that Holland, Saugatuck, St. Joe, and South Haven, as well as portions of the Kalamazoo River are properly dredged, and communities along the Lakeshore are able to reach their full economic potential. I want to thank the Army Corps of Engineers for their work and for prioritizing harbor communities up and down the shores of Lake Michigan."

The financial breakdown includes $20,338,000 for Holland Harbor to cover operations, maintenance work, dredging, critical structure safety maintenance, repairs to North revetment, dredged disposal area maintenance, and engineering design for weir repair at a dredged material placement site. Saugatuck Harbor/Kalamazoo River is set to receive $385,000 for operations and maintenance work including assessments and sediment sampling.

South Haven Harbor is allocated $1,740,000 for operations and maintenance alongside dredging efforts. St. Joe Harbor will receive $3,309,000 covering similar needs plus beach nourishment monitoring and sand placement.

Additional funds have been earmarked for other communities: Grand Haven ($13,638,000), Ludington ($2,078,000), Muskegon ($4,372,000), New Buffalo ($1,475,000), and Pentwater ($2,218,000).

Huizenga has been recognized as a bipartisan advocate ensuring federal accountability towards lakeshore community commitments regarding harbor dredging. He has also played a significant role in efforts to restore funding through the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund which benefits Great Lakes ports.