State officials gathered to mark the start of construction on a new lab testing facility just southwest of Lansing. This cutting-edge center will bring together lab space for several key state departments, including the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Laboratories is currently conducting nearly 7 million tests per year, making it one of the top seven state public health laboratories in the country. Examples of testing include infectious diseases in humans, potential bioterrorism and chemical terrorism specimens, and newborn baby screening for potential life-threatening disorders.
The new 300,000-square-foot facility, set to be completed in 2026, will provide expanded testing facilities for state health and environmental agencies. The director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Elizabeth Hertel, stated that the new building will allow for increased testing capacity and modernization of testing methods.
Funding for this $326 million project is primarily coming from the state’s portion of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. This investment will enable state officials to enhance public health testing capabilities and improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process.
