Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt announced the inaugural grants from the PROTECT program, aimed at bolstering transportation infrastructure resilience nationwide. Kalamazoo secures a significant portion, nearly $38 million, to fortify its stormwater infrastructure along Arcadia Creek. This initiative aims to mitigate flooding risks downtown, removing structures from the floodplain and enhancing infrastructure resilience against climate-related hazards. The multi-year project will progress in phases, potentially completing by 2028. Kalamazoo's grant, the largest of 80 nationwide, receives additional funding from arena developers, signaling collaborative resilience efforts.