House members voted 407-19 to approve the Fiscal Year 2001 Energy and Water Appropriations bill H.R. 4733, which includes the $600,000 appropriation that will help provide an invaluable base for the relocation of the Annis Water Resources Institute and revitalization of the Muskegon waterfront.
The $600,000 will go toward completing the planning and designanalysis and to initiate construction on the Lake Michigan Center, whichwill house GVSU's Annis Water Resources Institute.
This funding helps keep the project on track, said U.S. Representative Peter Hoekstra, R-Holland. Just three weeks ago, the university broke ground for thisfacility, which will be an important contributor to the community.
Hoekstra noted that the House's action must be confirmed by the U.S.Senate and signed into law by President Clinton, but that he does notexpect any problems. Last year, Congress appropriated $100,000 for theinitial planning of the project.
When completed, GVSU's Annis Water Resource Institute will be a $5million, 20,000-square-foot research facility with laboratories,administrative offices, conference rooms and classrooms. The facility willalso be the homeport for one of the institute's research vessels, the W.G.Jackson.
Hoekstra added that the bill also includes another $5.9 million tothe Army Corps of Engineers for operation and maintenance of shippingchannels at Grand Haven, Holland, Ludington, Manistee, Pentwater, PortageLake and White Lake.
