Relief is coming to to Arenac County

MID-MICHIGAN (WJRT) -- (11/19/09)--An area hard hit by a prison closing and cuts in funding from the state has gotten some good news for a change.

While lawmakers continue to cut funding to local governments and schools, a casino is providing some temporary relief.

Thursday the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe gave out more than $700,000 to 19 entities, a majority of it going to Arenac County.

The Standish prison is now closed, so this has been a tough time for the area. But those tough times took a backseat Thursday.

Au Gres got $25,000. Turner Township got $26,000. Pinconning Township got $108,000 for a water pipeline project.

"IIt's great because with the cuts in the funding, this money goes directly to the students," said Standish-Sterling Schools Superintendent Michael Dodge.

The city of Omer got money for a new library.

The 2 percent money is down just slightly from last fall, but officials say another big project is on the way for the area.

A gas station near the casino is expanding, and in the spring, they will start breaking ground on a hunting supply store.

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe will hand out $2.7 million to entities in the Isabella County area.

That money is coming from the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant.

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