United Way of Southwest Michigan received $912,000 from the federal government to expand a 17-mile trail network that connects a number of Michiana communities, including Niles, South Bend and Mishawaka.

The $912,000 will be used to develop the first section of an eight-mile extension to the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail, a non-motorized trail network running through Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana.

This first section of the expansion will stretch through the City of Niles and Niles Township.

Money for the project comes from the federal 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in December 2022.

More than $23 million of the bill was allocated for United Way specifically, and United Way Worldwide staff provided the training to help 26 United Ways across the country eventually receive the funding.  

Efforts to ensure United Way received funding was supported by retired U.S. Rep. Fred Upton.

Work on the 17-mile trail began in 2008.

The eight-mile expansion project began in 2019.