Governor Granholm's administration will announce this week the first projects to be paid for with federal stimulus funds. The Granholm administration has identified 16 projects to expand or rebuild water filtration plants, or lay down water pipes. These are projects that are ready to go, but have been waiting for state money to get started. The $66-million is the first infusion of money from the $850-million earmarked for Michigan in the stimulus package.

The governor's office will also announce an unnamed number of sewer system improvement projects this week. Local officials say they'll be glad to get the money. But they say $66-million is a just a down payment on the state's water infrastructure needs. They say Michigan needs more than $3.5-billion in water system upgrades and repairs.