That proposed pedestrian bridge connecting the cities of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor over the Paw Paw River garnered a critical green light Tuesday when the Michigan Strategic Fund Board voted in favor of a performance based grant totaling more than a million dollars to help get the job done.
Cornerstone Alliance officials carried the water on this major project which has been approved by the City of St. Joseph, but been placed on hold by the City of Benton Harbor for further discussion.
State Rep. Kim LaSata spoke to the Michigan Strategic Fund Board yesterday in favor of the grant to build a 200-foot pedestrian bridge, spanning the Paw Paw River.
LaSata told authorities in Lansing, “This grant will be a key component in the revitalization of downtown Benton Harbor, and will help ensure that the Twin Cities remain vibrant communities.” She added, “Whether it is enabling people working at the Project Tech Center and Whirlpool Headquarters to easily travel between the two sites, or giving area residents and guests at the Inn at Harbor Shores the ability to walk or ride bikes throughout both cities, the result will be more people spending time outside and an increase in foot traffic for local businesses.”
The Michigan Strategic Fund Board ultimately approved the $1.2 million performance-based grant, which will coincide with a $35 million investment by the Whirlpool Corporation to construct a new state-of-the-art lab and office facility and renovations at the Project Tech location.
Cornerstone Alliance had requested approval of a $1.2 million Performance-based Grant from funds appropriated to the Michigan Strategic Fund. Cornerstone, in collaboration with Whirlpool Corporation’s anticipated improvements to its Tech Center in St. Joseph, intends to coordinate development and construction of the pedestrian bridge. The Grant will be funded using $1.2 million from the funds appropriated to the MSF for community and business development purposes.
The project is anticipated to include a 200 foot pedestrian bridge connecting the City of Benton Harbor to the City of St. Joseph over the Paw Paw River. Not only is it anticipated that the bridge contribute to the mobility for citizens that live, work and play in the Twin Cities, but it is anticipated to specifically improve non-motorized transportation for residential, commercial, recreational and commerce areas.
The bridge is anticipated to add connectivity for employees at Project Tech, the Benton Harbor Tech Center and the Whirlpool North American Headquarters. It is reported that connectivity will be greatly improved for guests staying at the Inn at Harbor Shores, and the new residential district of Harbor Village which will provide both single and multi-family housing opportunities.
Constructing the bridge is anticipated to leverage $24 million in new construction, and an $11 million major rehabilitation of 230,000 square feet for Project Tech with the Whirlpool Corporation. Whirlpool Corporation will fully finance the $35 million Project Tech improvements, which is home to the Dishwasher and Laundry product development engineering platforms. In turn, state-of-the-art office environments and laboratories is anticipated to enable business success and retain 700 high-skilled, wellpaid engineer and R&D positions. The project is anticipated to deliver new labs for continued strong performance in a global market and a winning workplace environment to attract and retain top talent.
For Whirlpool, Project Tech is one of the final pieces to secure Whirlpool’s Global Research and Development activities in the State of Michigan.
The Pedestrian Bridge work is a total of $1,200,000 dollars.
While not identical, the bridge to be built would be similar in style to the one shown in the photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market.com which shows industrial cranes placing the cart path/public walking trail bridge that connects the second green and the third tee at the Golf Club at Harbor Shores.
