Kildee Applauds House Passage of Nearly $9 Million for Community Projects to Grow Economy, Create Jobs in Mid-Michigan

WASHINGTON-Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today applauded the passage of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that includes nine Community Project Funding requests, benefitting Genesee, Saginaw and Bay County residents.

Altogether, Congressman Kildee secured $8.8 million in funding for local projects, as part of Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills. This federal funding for local initiatives would support local economic development and job training projects, fund local after school programs, build a grocery store in the north end of Flint, provide affordable housing for low-income families and veterans, and clean up blighted properties in the community.

'All of these projects will make a real difference to grow our economy, strengthen neighborhoods and reinvest in our community,' Congressman Kildee said. 'I am pleased to secure millions in federal funds for Genesee, Saginaw and Bay County in the House of Representatives. As this critical funding moves to the Senate, I urge its swift passage. I also thank Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro and the Appropriations Committee for supporting these important local projects in mid-Michigan.'

This year, the Appropriations Committee created a new opportunity for Members of Congress to direct federal resources for certain projects with demonstrated community support. Each Member of Congress could submit up to 10 projects for consideration. Nine of Congressman Kildee's community project funding requests passed the House today. One project is a part of other appropriations bills that could be considered in the House soon. The nine projects that passed the House today include:

• $520,000 to the Saginaw-Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity and the Bay County Habitat for Humanity to undertake critical home repairs, including energy systems and roofs for veterans and low-income households.
  • 'We are very thrilled that funding will be available to serve income-limited families in Saginaw and Bay Counties! These dollars are a game changer for the coming year. An additional 60 or so families will get served between both counties when the funding comes through,' said Carmen Mora, Executive Director of Saginaw-Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity. 'We are grateful to Dan Kildee, the Appropriations Committee and the House of Representatives for believing that struggling homeowners need help with home repairs so they can continue to be successful homeowners.'

• $650,000 to North Flint Reinvestment Corporation to help build a consumer-owned cooperative that will operate as a full-service grocery store to improve access to affordable, fresh and locally sourced produce for Flint residents.
  • 'This is an incredible opportunity that's been opened for us with support at the federal level. It aligns with and supports funding we have received from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. For federal resources to be made available for healthy food in the black community is so important because access to healthy food, creation of jobs and food sovereignty are vital to the long-term health of the black community,' said Pastor Reginald Flynn, Project Manager of the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation. 'This funding is enthusiastically welcomed as we have sought support at all levels for this project since the Flint water crisis. We are excited for Congressman Kildee's support, consideration and selection of this project. As a U.S. Department of Agriculture recognized food desert, this funding will provide healthy and fresh food for the North end of Flint.'

• $1,500,000 to the Genesee County Habitat for Humanity for the Flint Home Improvement Fund to help Flint residents make home upgrades, including furnace and hot water heater replacement, roof replacement or repairs, kitchen and bath upgrades, deck and porch replacement, new siding and other home upgrades to address health and safety issues.
  • 'This funding will be a monumental step towards creating a system where all homeowners in the city of Flint can access resources to improve their homes,' said Thomas Hutchison, Executive Director of Genesee County Habitat for Humanity. 'By helping residents access capital with flexible and affordable repayment options, the Flint Home Improvement Fund will create strong neighborhoods where residents can maintain their homes while avoiding burdensome debt.'

• $1,000,000 to Genesee Intermediate School District to create a school nurse training pilot program.
  • 'We appreciate Representative Kildee's continued support of children in Flint and Genesee County, as evidenced yet again through this proposal for funding,' said Dr. Steve Tunnicliff, Superintendent of Genesee Intermediate School District. 'The pandemic has further highlighted the need for school-based health services. This funding will help fill important gaps in our community, bringing much needed support in the form of school nurses to Genesee County schools and leading to better health outcomes for student now and into the future.'

• $1,450,000 to Hurley Medical Center to purchase 46 new critical care beds.
  • 'Investing in high-level medical equipment ensures increased access to care for our most critical patients,' said Melany Gavulic, President and CEO of Hurley Medical Center. 'The Hurley Medical Center community thanks Congressman Kildee for advocating for this critical funding.'

• $600,000 to Presbyterian Villages of Michigan to create a workforce training program that will build a pipeline for direct care workers at McFarlan Home and Court Street Village senior living homes in Flint.
  • 'Presbyterian Villages of Michigan and our local affiliate in Flint, McFarlan Villages, would like to thank Congressman Kildee for his support for the direct care workforce and older adults. The direct healthcare workforce shortage is a well-documented national crisis. Before the pandemic, Michigan was facing a deficit of 35,000 direct healthcare workers and the pandemic exacerbated this crisis,' said Roger Myers, President and CEO of Presbyterian Villages of Michigan. 'Providing care is something to be revered and there is no better training ground for healthcare providers to learn the practice of care than working with older adults. This workforce development program will build a pipeline for direct healthcare workers in the greater Flint area and include a pathway to higher-paying jobs in clinical areas and leadership. We look forward to implementing this much-needed model program and to experiencing the multiple positive outcomes that will result for our community, along with the prospects of seeing it replicated by others elsewhere in Michigan and beyond.'

• $650,000 to Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village (SBEV) to create a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education program for students at SBEV's north Flint after school center. This will be done in coordination with Berston Field House's youth mentoring program for young adults ages 11 to 17.
  • 'The Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village would like to thank our Congressman Dan Kildee for his transformative impact on our organization and the youth we serve on a daily basis. Through his vision and support, SBEV will be able to continue to serve our community through our program foundation of academics, art, and athletics,' said Maryum Rasool, Executive Director of Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village.

• $750,000 to the Greater Flint Health Coalition to establish and expand a Community Information Exchange, which would improve mental health crisis prevention and treatment for residents.
  • 'Expanding local capacity to increase access to care and navigation of community health resources is a critical step to provide opportunities for improved health outcomes and mental health needs of our residents,' said Kirk Smith, President and CEO of Greater Flint Health Coalition. 'The Greater Flint Health Coalition is thankful for Congressman Kildee's leadership and advocacy to build this critical community capacity.'

• $1,750,000 to the Genesee County Land Bank Authority and the Bay County Land Bank Authority to demolish of 65 of the most hazardous vacant properties, based upon community input, and three vacant and abandoned former school buildings.
  • 'Demolishing vacant and deteriorated houses prioritized following resident input will make neighborhoods safer and healthier for residents and create new opportunities for investment. We appreciate that Congressman Kildee has continued to direct needed resources to Flint to address this resident priority,' said Michael Freeman, Executive Director of the Genesee County Land Bank Authority.

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