The federal Office of Management and Budget has decided not to change the definition of a metropolitan statistical area, meaning several communities in Michigan are no longer in danger of losing out on some funding. That includes Berrien County. The OMB announced a proposed rule this year that would have changed the population threshold for an MSA from 50,000 to 100,000. That would have meant the Niles-Benton Harbor metropolitan statistical area would cease to be recognized. Congressman Fred Upton wrote a letter to the OMB in March asking that not happen, telling us an MSA designation is a major benefit because the federal government tracks economic data in MSAs and that affects everything from advertising dollars to highway funds. The OMB announced this week it’s halted the proposed change. Upton’s office says the OMB’s latest decision means “vibrant communities across Southwest Michigan – particularly the Niles-Benton Harbor metropolitan statistical area – will continue to benefit from this important designation and the federal dollars that accompany it, in turn, spurring private investment, creating jobs, and bolstering the economy.”
