FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2022 Contact: [email protected]
Governor Whitmer Announces $321 Million Investment in 1,650 Michigan Communities Supporting Infrastructure, Economic Growth Federal funding from American Rescue Plan will help local governments deliver essential services
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced more than 1,650 communities in Michigan will receive more than $321 million to help them invest in infrastructure, grow their economies, and continue delivering essential services as part of the second batch of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund payments.
“This funding will empower over 1,650 communities across Michigan continue getting things done that make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Governor Whitmer. “As we focus on growing our economy and creating good-paying jobs, today’s over $321 million in funding will help counties, cities, villages, and townships across the state invest in local roads and bridges, support essential workers, and protect safe drinking water. Local officials have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make lasting investments in the kitchen-table issues that matter most. Let’s keep working together to get things done.”
The funding provided to counties, cities, villages and townships across the state can be used to respond to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, bring back jobs, provide premium pay to essential workers, make up for lost revenue or invest in water, sewer or high-speed internet infrastructure. Recipient local units of government have until 2024 to identify projects and obligate funds.
Previously, the first half of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund payments totaling more than $321 million was distributed to smaller communities within the last year. In total, ARPA provided more than $642 million in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to Michigan’s smaller communities.
The U.S. Department of Treasury is responsible for directly distributing $1.80 billion to 49 Michigan metropolitan cities and townships and $1.93 billion to all 83 Michigan counties. The state of Michigan is responsible for distributing Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds dollars to smaller cities, villages and townships.
The Michigan Department of Treasury worked with local government partners and local communities to provide technical assistance and education through webinars, phone calls and certified letters to ensure local officials would not miss the opportunity to claim their allotted federal funds.
“My team is ready to continue to assist local communities receiving this important aid,” said State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks. “Local officials are encouraged to reach out to our team if they encounter issues receiving a payment.”
The U.S. Department of Treasury is responsible for providing rules on how local units of government can spend their ARPA dollars.
Details about the first and second batch of state Treasury Department disbursements to smaller communities are available. To learn more about the program, go to Michigan.gov/ARPA.
Quotes from communities: “The village of Calumet has received $72,195.96 in American Rescue Act Plan funds,” said Amber Goodman, Calumet Village Manager. “These funds are vital to strengthen the community and will be offsetting costs associated with employee salaries. The America Rescue Act Plan funds have provided a needed boost to the community.”
“The city of Gaylord is utilizing its ARPA funds for a utility upgrade project,” said Kim Awrey, Gaylord City Manager. “Over the last few years, we have seen significant development on the East side of town. The Pines45 apartment complex is nearing completion and construction has started on a Luxury RV Park in the same area. The sanitary sewer line servicing this area is undersized and requiring an upgrade prior to the RV Park being able to open. Under normal circumstances, the city would have had to choose between this project and the proposed project laid out in our Capital Improvement Plan. The receipt of ARPA funds allowed the city to move forward with both projects this summer.”
“The infusion of ARPA funds will allow the city of DeWitt to extend sanitary sewer to several homes in DeWitt currently served by aging septic systems,” said Dan Coss, DeWitt City Manager. “The expansion of this critical infrastructure will aid in the protection of one of the most valuable assets in Clinton County and city of DeWitt, the Looking Glass River. In addition, a portion of the ARPA funds will allow DeWitt to increase our 2023 paving projects to include additional streets that would have otherwise been delayed to future years.”
“The village of Dansville is very thankful for the ARPA funds,” said Mike Stolz, Dansville Village President. “It will allow us to upgrade some of our technology and systems that we use and also help us with our infrastructure needs.”
“The benefit of ARPA funds in Buchanan Charter Township will be recognized in broadband expansion to our unserved and underserved areas,” said Malinda Cole-Crocker, Buchanan Charter Township Supervisor. “The economic boost to the community through broadband will be priceless.”
“While Allendale Charter Township is still in the process of narrowing down our list of uses, we see several needs in the community that can be addressed with our ARPA funds,” said Adam Elenbaas, Allendale Charter Township Supervisor.
“The ARPA funds have been used to provide a professional fire assessment study that, once acted on, will greatly improve fire suppression services in Harper Woods,” said John Szymanski, Harper Woods Finance Director. “Additionally, we are using the funds to make one time building improvements on behalf of our first responders and redesigning service delivery models to include 24-hour duty shifts for police officers that will effectively double the amount of visible patrols in the city.”
“The village received a little over $186,000 for our ARPA funds,” said Sue Kohn, Standish Village Treasurer. “We are engaged in a new water and sewer project in the White’s Beach area in Standish Township, Arenac County. We will have some extra costs for a Water Tower and a Lagoon, so those extra funds will take some burden off of the citizens in that area.”
“Bangor Charter Township has approved to spend $1.03 million of its ARPA funds to replace drinking water lines, including replacing cast-iron lines and the current four-inch lines with eight-inch lines,” said Glenn Rowley, Bangor Charter Township Supervisor. “This will ensure safe drinking water for our residents, and the replacement of undersized piping will guarantee proper pressure in the lines to the hydrants for fire suppression. The township board has also approved the purchase of two moist heat decontamination units, totaling $15,900, for our fire department.”
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$321 Million Investment in 1,650 Michigan Communities
