Watermain Key to Regional Economic Catalyst
Project Overview
What began as a local water supply redundancy issue turned into a regional economic catalyst. When the Township originally hired F&V for the project, it was to design the watermain improvements and permit the project through EGLE. It was going to be a shelf-ready project as it awaited funding.
Towards the end of the preliminary design, the Ford Motor Company’s Blue Oval Battery Park (BOBP) project was announced by MAEDA, the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance. During preliminary meetings, it was realized that the Park would need more water than Marshall could provide. With the Park needing additional water, the original Township project was redesigned to allow water from the Battle Creek system to satisfy the remaining BOBP need. The project pivoted to serve a massive industrial development, requiring coordination across multiple municipalities and agencies. Those included:
- Emmett Charter Township
- City of Battle Creek
- City of Marshall
- Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA)
- Calhoun County Road Department
- EGLE
- Consumers Energy
- Stantec Inc.
- Granger Construction
- Hoffman Brothers
- Rangeline Tapping Services
F&V served as the prime consultant for Emmett Township providing survey and preliminary design, and then as a sub-consultant to MAEDA for final design and construction engineering services.
By combining Emmett’s original watermain project with Ford’s BOBP, located in neighboring Marshall Township, the Township was spared the cost of a huge infrastructure project. Emmett was no longer paying for the project as it became a state-backed economic development initiative, while reaping all the benefits from the original Township project. Benefits include:
- A looped watermain system at FireKeepers Casino / Exit 104
- Future neighborhood connections and development opportunities
