Mount Clemens Mayor Laura Kropp (center) is all smiles as she hears a presentation from state Rep. Denise Mentzer and Senator Kevin Hertel about funding for various projects. (MITCH HOTTS — THE MACOMB DAILY)

Mount Clemens city officials were happy to hear a presentation from their state legislators who have been able to secure more than $8 million for various projects in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2025 budget.

The funding is the largest Mount Clemens has seen returned on the community’s tax dollars in years, members of the City Commission said at last week’s meeting.

“I don’t believe in the history of Mount Clemens we’ve had that type of funding returned to our city,” said Mayor Laura Kropp.

Donning ceremonial green-colored hard hats to signify the construction yet-to-come at the commission meeting, Democratic state Rep. Denise Mentzer and Senator Kevin Hertel outlined three earmarks:

• A $5 million enhancement grant support downtown redevelopment for the demolition and eventual building of a  100-unit apartment building at the site of the dilapidated Victory Inn on North River Road.
• A $2 million grant for a riverfront revitalization project that will soon will be announced.
• And $1.5 million for updates on the city’s aging sewage treatment infrastructure.

The two lawmakers said the funding came down during the state Legislature’s marathon 19-hour budget session last month.

Hertel said he spoke with Kropp about ways to alleviate the tax burden on residents in a community where roughly 50% of the tax base is on non-taxable property. He said he is pursuing grants to increase the taxable value of the land.

By helping to support the Victory Inn housing project, Hertel said he hoped the development will provide more housing for residents interested in working downtown. Combined with a previous $5 million allocation, he has secured $10 million for the project.

“We want to make sure people are living here, playing here, and raising their families here,” he told the commission.

Mentzer, a former city commissioner before she went to Lansing, secured funding for the pump station, which needs a total of $3.4 million. It will be up to the city to pay for the remaining costs.

She also announced $2 million for waterfront revitalization, but didn’t include any details of the plan. The mayor is expected to make an announcement on that project in the coming weeks.

Kropp acknowledged she has had previous differences of opinions with Mentzer when Mentzer was a city commissioner. But the two have set their feelings aside to work together on behalf of Mount Clemens, she said.
“We have a common mission: we want to make our community to be awesome,” the mayor said. “So you can set that garbage aside and get the work done.’
Beyond the Mount Clemens borders, Mentzer also mentioned $15 million approved to support runway realignments for Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township to accommodate larger aircraft and $2 million for the Public Service  Institute via Macomb Community College.