Bill Marx hopes adding two electric vehicle charging stations to the city of Buchanan will put a charge into downtown business.

The city manager confirmed Wednesday that Buchanan will receive a $6,500 grant from ChargePoint America to help fund the installation of two charging stations in the parking lot near Pears Mill.

The city commission voted to accept the grant at this week’s meeting.

The city will need to come up with the balance of $4,500 to make the stations a reality. Marx said the city is already looking for other grants and funding sources.

Buchanan would be one of the first cities in the area to get a charging station.

“There is an initiative out there to get charging stations across the state and even across the country,” Marx said. “We wanted to jump on board and make sure we are part of that network.”

Marx said given Buchanan’s location, situated near Chicago and South Bend, charging stations would help make the city a stopping point for travelers.

“We’ll be one of those points where people can stop and take some time to take advantage of our nice community and our downtown while their car is charging,” he said.

If the city is able to get all of the necessary funding, Marx hopes to have the stations installed by late summer or early fall, in line with when the Chevy Volt is to be released.

ChargePoint America grants have already helped install charging stations in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor and Detroit.