YPSILANTI – Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes (D-Lyndon Township) and Governor Jennifer M. Granholm along with Congressman John Dingell will present the city of Ypsilanti and the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse with a $500,000 check this Friday for a project to restore the historic freighthouse.
"I appreciate the Governor coming to Ypsilanti to present this check for a project that's so important to the community," Byrnes said. "It's fitting that these funds would go to restore the Ypsilanti Freighthouse, which played such a central role in the growth of Ypsilanti and transportation for Southeast Michigan and again will play a central role with the anticipated Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter rail. A restored freighthouse will stand as a symbol of resurgence and serve as a reminder of the link between economic prosperity and our investment in infrastructure."
The Ypsilanti Freighthouse, located at 100 Market Plaza in Washtenaw County, was one of several enhancement and rehabilitation projects that received funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"Buildings like this are truly community treasures and investing in them is important to our historical legacy and our future," Byrnes said. "Recently, this freighthouse has been a site for our friends and neighbors to gather on many occasions. It's vital that we take these steps to rehabilitate and preserve a building so intertwined with our cultural heritage."