SAULT STE. MARIE — The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians has received a $19.8 million federal grant for transportation infrastructure.

The grant is part of the $2.2 billion infrastructure investment from the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Announced on Aug. 11, the RAISE grant program is funding 166 infrastructure projects across the country, including the Sault Tribe.

The grant will be used to fund the Ozhitoon Mino-Bimaadiziwin (Build for a Good Life ) Project. Through this project, the tribe will be able to invest in infrastructure, multi modal paths and a boardwalk throughout the city.

It will also include the redesign of the Shunk Road neighborhood by adding connecting corridors to increase resident mobility in the area.

This project was started with the intention of improving pedestrian safety and increasing mobility for residents of Sault Ste. Marie.

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The added infrastructure to Shunk Road, 3 Mile Road and the Marquette Avenue corridors is intended to encourage more use of the city's bike network and improve safety by separating pedestrians from vehicle traffic.

This grant is expected to allow the tribe to partner with the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Chippewa County Road Commission in a way that invests in the creation of local jobs.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, Congressmen Jack Bergman and Dan Kildee, and State Senators Wayne Schmidt and Ed McBroom all publicly supported the project.

“More and more people continue to seek alternative transportation options like walking, biking and public transit. These grant funds will ensure we can continue to invest in our community and the health and safety of our residents by improving the transportation options available to them,” said Sault Tribe Vice Chairperson Austin Lowes in a press release. “I want to thank our tribe staff and local leaders for their work in bringing this grant to our community.”

Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Sault Tribe receives $19 million grant for transportation