U.S. Rep. Lawrence Secures 15 MI-14 Community Project Requests, Totaling Over $17.7 Million, in House Appropriations FY 2023 Funding Bills

Washington, DC- U.S. Representative Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, secured all 15 Community Project Funding (CPF) requests-totaling $17,754,533-for Michigan's 14th Congressional District in the FY 2023 House Appropriations funding bills. The recipients of the funding include Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation, City of Hamtramck, Oakland County Water Resources Commission, Sanctum House, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Grosse Pointe Farms, Detroit Police Department, City of Southfield, Wayne County Community College, LIFT, City of Detroit, Friends of the Children - Detroit, Friendship Circle, Invest Detroit Foundation, Metro Solutions Inc., and Micah 6 Community. The funding bills were passed by the House Appropriations Committee this week.

A full list of CPF requests and the funding secured is listed below.

"As the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I'm thrilled to have secured all 15 Community Project Funding requests for Michigan's 14th Congressional District. These investments- totaling over $17.7 million-will help improve the quality of life in Southeast Michigan," said Rep. Lawrence. "With this funding, we're addressing important local issues, including community safety, workforce development, water infrastructure, and so much more. I'm proud to have championed these projects, and I look forward to passing them through the House."

"The City of Hamtramck is grateful for the continuing support of Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence. This project to eliminate lead service lines will support Hamtramck's efforts to provide for safe drinking water for our children, families and businesses," said Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib.

"Working to improve the Charter Township of Royal Oak's water system is of the utmost importance to my office," said Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash. "With this funding we will be able to make the necessary repairs the system so badly needs and continue our efforts to deliver the highest quality service to the residents while implementing our affordability programs with community partners."

"The Detroit Police Department was one of the first in the country to test and implement fully integrated body and squad car cameras," said Detroit Police Department Chief James E. White. "It is, without a doubt, one of the most important and transparent tools a police agency can employ. It offers true insight into what officers face every day. But, most importantly, body-worn cameras increase community trust and faith in our officers. I can't imagine a department functioning effectively without them."

"On behalf of the Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation, we are extremely grateful and honored that our Child Care Innovation Fund was included in the House's FY2023 Community Project Funding bill. This vital funding would be used to expand pilot projects across Michigan that accelerate innovation on a key issue that remains a barrier to employment for many working families: child care. We are so thankful for the continued leadership of Congresswoman Lawrence in supporting the Child Care Innovation Fund, which serves as the state's child care business accelerator," said Dawne Bell, CEO, Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation.

"Sanctum House is a long-term (24 month) residential program for victims of human trafficking. We are proud that we serve victims from across the country in our program. We offer comprehensive and integrated care which includes mental healthcare, physical healthcare, substance use disorder support, legal support, life skills training, education and employment. We are currently at capacity with a waiting list. This funding would help us triple the capacity of the victims we are able to serve. This opportunity will change many lives," said Karen G. Moore, Sanctum House Executive Director

"Friendship Circle is honored to have our Lessons for Life program considered for the FY23 Community Project Funding and would like to thank Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence for supporting this initiative," said Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Director at Friendship Circle. "Lessons for Life teaches life skills in a realistic and safe setting at Friendship Circle to promote the independence of students with disabilities. The program serves approximately 2,000 unique students from more than 70 public and private schools in Southeast Michigan annually. The skills practiced and learned during Lessons for Life are transferable to the real-world and are necessary for students to successfully participate in their communities. This project will enable Friendship Circle to enhance and expand the program's curriculum while also breaking down barriers to participation by creating a school transportation fund and virtual lessons."

"DLIVE is grateful and humbled by the opportunity to strengthen its service mission in advancing the health outcomes of adults who've sustained Community Violence trauma injury. Congresswoman Lawrence's unwavering support and advocacy for this work directly translates to the advancement of health equity that has been elusive for too long for young adults who've been left to navigate the devastating cycle of Community Violence. On behalf of the young adults that DLIVE serves, we are full of gratitude and inspired to continue growing as that essential healing and transformation hub," said Tolulope Sonuyi MD, Director of DLIVE.

"Friends of the Children- Detroit is thankful for Representative Lawrence's support as we look to address youth trauma and the mental health crisis that is facing our nation. Friends of the Children- Detroit provides paid, professional mentoring services to children and families who have been exposed to trauma and face systemic obstacles. We work tirelessly to empower the youth of Detroit and the Wayne County community. These federal funds will enhance mental health and well-being supports for youth and families in our program," said Brittany Merritt, Interim Executive Director/National Chief Development Officer

"We'd like to thank Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence for her support and being a champion for the CDFI community here in Detroit. As we continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this funding will be incredibly helpful to our efforts to support Detroit's small business and entrepreneur community," said Jennifer Hayes, Senior Vice President, Operations & Policy, Invest Detroit.

CPF REQUESTS

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Advanced Manufacturing Talent Showcase and Sandbox

• Amount Secured: $1,250,000
• Intended Recipient: LIFT, 1400 Rosa Parks Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan, 48216
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because limited awareness about the socioeconomic advancement available through skilled trades careers among youth remains a barrier that LIFT seeks to overcome. Specifically, this funding will help the youth of southeastern Michigan gain new abilities and enhance their skills within advanced manufacturing. This showcase and sandbox will arm teachers and schools with current curriculum and a place to ideate on future curricula to educate the future advanced manufacturing workforce to align regional professional development experiences between current industry employers and the educators who will train their emerging workforce.

Building Mental Health Services Capacity with a Professional Mentoring Model

• Amount Secured: $150,000
• Intended Recipient: Friends of the Children- Detroit, 2470 Collingwood, Detroit, Michigan, 48206
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because Friends of the Children- Detroit's trauma-informed approach impacts generational change, empowering youth facing the greatest challenges through relationships with professional mentors called Friends. Even before the pandemic, youth and families served by Friends Detroit faced barriers to accessing culturally responsive trauma mitigation and behavioral health supports. This pilot program will support the increase in demand for salaried, professional mentors to provide intensive wraparound and mental health support services, including system navigation, to underserved youth and their caregivers in the Detroit community.

Lessons for Life

• Amount Secured: $364,009
• Intended Recipient: Friendship Circle, 6892 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, 48322
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the Lessons for Life curriculum currently provides 20 unique lesson plans that facilitate the development of functional life skills that promote independence and responsibility for students with a range of cognitive, social, and physical disabilities. In the 2019 - 2020 school year, the program served approximately 2,000 students (unduplicated visits) from 71 public and private schools in 41 school districts in Southeast Michigan.

Michigan Childcare Accelerator

• Amount Secured: $2,000,000
• Intended Recipient: Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation, 8164 Executive Court #A, Lansing, Michigan, 48917
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because ECIC's mission is to be a childcare business accelerator that pilots community-driven solutions to recruit and train the workforce needed to expand access to quality, affordable childcare for working families. Even pre-pandemic, Michigan's supply of high-quality childcare was insufficient to meet the needs of working families. In too many Michigan communities, care is hard to find and unaffordable; this investment will help reverse that trend.

Pipeline to Mobility Careers

• Amount Secured: $212,400
• Intended Recipient: Wayne County Community College District, 801 W. Fort Street, Detroit, Michigan, 48226
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will increase employment opportunities and provide a pipeline of qualified personnel in the automotive industry. The funding will be used to create a Mobility Certification program focused on Automotive Electrification and Testing that will serve the needs of the three largest automakers in the region and their suppliers. Given the increase in electric, battery electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the automotive industry has identified an increased need for service technicians that can work on the range of vehicle types.

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

BWC for Detroit Police Department

• Amount Secured: $1,000,000
• Intended Recipient: Detroit Police Department, 1301 Third Street, Detroit, Michigan, 48226
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the City's body-worn camera project will improve agency accountability, improve community perceptions through transparency, and enhance officer safety.

DLIVE Violence Intervention

• Amount Secured: $409,000
• Intended Recipient: Metro Solutions Inc., 18000 W. 9 Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan, 48075
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because DLIVE is committed to halt the vicious cycle of community violence and transform it to a virtuous cycle of health and wellness, especially in young people aged 15 to 34. DLIVE's Healthy Minds and Wellness program is a key anchor in facilitating DLIVE's mission of advancing better health outcomes in Detroit.

Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies

Grosse Pointe Shoreline, Section 103 Storm Damage Reduction

• Amount Secured: $100,000
• Intended Recipient: United States Army Corps of Engineering- Detroit District, 477 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, 48226
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it would fund a feasibility study for making critical repairs to the Lake St. Clair Concrete Seawall along Lakeshore Drive. The existing seawall is extensively degraded, such that failures compromise critical utility infrastructure. Failure of the seawall would impact sanitary sewers and storm sewers, which could result in the loss of sanitary sewer service and severe basement flooding in the Grosse Pointe communities north of Detroit.

Financial Services and General Government

Invest Detroit

• Amount Secured: $600,000
• Intended Recipient: Invest Detroit, 600 Renaissance Center, Suite 1710, Detroit, Michigan, 48243
• Explanation of Request: Invest Detroit requests operations funding to support the technical assistance (TA) as part of their work to ensure equitable access to capital for Detroit small businesses and Michigan's startup entrepreneurs. Grant funds will support personnel and supportive technology to provide thousands of hours of TA guidance for nearly 300 small business owners and entrepreneurs annually, many of whom are launching a new business or startup and/or applying for financing or venture funding for the first time. Their TA ranges from business plan feedback, budget analysis, and partner referrals, to educating small business owners on the loan process and assisting new developers to navigate city approval/permitting processes and manage predevelopment, to supporting new tech entrepreneurs with board and governance formation and additional fundraising.

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Royal Oak Township Water System Improvements

• Amount Secured: $1,600,000
• Intended Recipient: Oakland County Water Resources Commission, One Public Works Drive, Building 95W, Waterford, Michigan, 48328
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the award of grant monies would help the Royal Oak Township replace water mains critical to ensuring that residents have access to clean, safe, and reliable water. A majority of the Township's 11.6 miles of water mains were constructed almost a century ago and are reaching the end of their useful life. There are many main breaks that disrupt water service for residents. The water mains are undersized, which results in low water pressure and fire flow far below the recommended level for fire protection. There are lead service lines within the system, and the system exceeds the lead action levels. The water system serves a disadvantaged population of approximately 2,400 people with a median household income of $24,451. Approximately 57% of households in the Township have water and sewer bills above EPA's affordability guideline. The water system improvements will provide a public health benefit, improved water quality, and better reliability.

Hamtramck Water System Improvements

• Amount Secured: $3,452,972
• Intended Recipient: City of Hamtramck, 3401 Evaline Street, Hamtramck, Michigan, 48212
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it would provide safe, clean drinking water to the residents of the city. In October 2021, the state of Michigan found elevated lead levels during regular testing of the drinking water, forcing residents to quickly find water filters to protect themselves and their families. While there are steps that residents can take to reduce their risk, the best course of action is to replace the aging infrastructure and remove the lead pipes.

Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Joe Louis Greenway

• Amount Secured: $3,920,000
• Intended Recipient: City of Detroit, 115 Erskine, Detroit, Michigan, 48201
• Explanation of Request: The Joe Louis Greenway (JLG) is an initiative to unite 4 municipalities in Southeast Michigan with a 29-mile bicycle and pedestrian loop, bringing vibrant public space in support of economic opportunity to the region. The Hamtramck Drive Connector, a ¾ mile segment of the JLG, is a shared-use path, connecting Dequindre Cut Greenway with Joseph Campau Avenue. The construction of the Hamtramck Drive Connector will dramatically expand bicycle and pedestrian connectivity and spur economic development. The Hamtramck Drive Connector will provide nonmotorized transportation away from the GM Factory Zero truck traffic, which is separate from the main road, making it safer for freight, pedestrians, and bicyclists alike.

Sanctum House Facility Acquisition

• Amount Secured: $1,400,000
• Intended Recipient: Sanctum House, 28175 Haggerty Road, Novi, Michigan, 48377
• Explanation of Request: The project would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the acquisition of two buildings will allow Sanctum House to expand its services to survivors of human trafficking. Sanctum House is the only facility in southeast Michigan providing this exceptional, specific, and impactful service to women who have survived sex trafficking. Currently, Sanctum House fields frequent requests for services from survivors; referrals from law enforcement personnel; crisis response advocates; and other partners routinely come in, along with direct requests from survivors and people seeking immediate help to escape traffickers.

Southfield Home Improvement Program

• Amount Secured: $750,000
• Intended Recipient: City of Southfield, 26000 Evergreen Road, P.O. Box 2055, Southfield, Michigan, 48037
• Explanation of Request: The City of Southfield currently operates the Southfield Home Improvement Program (SHIP) designed to assist income-qualified homeowners with needed maintenance and repairs to their homes. Their partner, Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, has an existing program that is designed to provide a hand-up to low-income homeowners who are in need and unable to perform repairs independently. The proposed program will primarily focus on the maintenance of existing homes to meet health, safety, and welfare requirements/minimum housing codes.

Webster Community Center

• Amount Secured: $546,152
• Intended Recipient: Micah 6 Community, 32 Newberry Street, Pontiac, Michigan, 48341
• Explanation of Request: The Elmer R. Webster Community Center project of Micah 6 would be a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the funds will be used towards restoring and preserving the building as a national historic site. Webster Elementary School was built in 1920 and shuttered in 2008. Using the existing structure, Micah 6 Community is renovating the building to become a mixed-use community center featuring a collection of local nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and community-based organizations that will bring much-needed resources to the City of Pontiac's low to moderate-income population.

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