Niagara, Wisconsin is hoping to receive funding.
NIAGARA, WI -- Money from the stimulus package could mean major improvements for cities across the country. In Wisconsin, Niagara is hoping some of that money will come their way for several costly projects that they have planned.
U.S. Highway 141, which runs through the town, is going to be getting a facelift in the next two years due to deterioration of the infrastructure. Most of the funding for the construction is coming from the Department of Transportation. The city is only paying for ten percent of that project. However, before construction on the road begins, they have big plans for what lies beneath.
They want to put in new water mains and sewer lines along that entire stretch.
"You can't justify putting a new highway over the top of an 80-year-old system," said Don Novak, city administrator.
The projects are expected to cost the city around two million dollars, which means they're looking for help from the government.
The road project is not the only thing on their plate--the city also wants to use stimulus funding to determine a reuse plan for the NewPage Niagara mill if the facility isn't reopened or sold. Officials feel that there could be many uses for the land.
"There's over 300 acres that can be developed, so we've applied for that also," Novak explained.
Currently, there has been interest in developing the mill into a biofuel production plant.
Even without stimulus funds, the city expects to be able to get enough money through grants and other programs to be able to go forward with the water and sewer projects.
They hope to begin installing water mains later this year and will have the entire project completed by 2011, when the road construction will begin.
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