Michigan Bill To Inject Nearly $5 Billion in Infrastructure, Housing

"Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill in Grand Rapids on Wednesday that uses billions of dollars in federal funds to improve state drinking water, sewers, parks, roads, dams and internet service, while helping renters and homeowners financially harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic," according to an article by Paul Egan in the Detroit Free Press.

The $4.7 billion bill relies largely on federal funding, with $572 coming from the state's general fund.

Egan details the projects funded by the bill, including $1.8 billion allocated to drinking water quality projects, as well as:

• "Nearly $383 million in emergency rental assistance to support low-income renters who have experienced financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic."  
• "Nearly $317 million for road and bridge projects, of which about $238 million is for state projects and $79 million is for local ones."
• "Just over $250 million to improve high-speed broadband service in underserved areas."
• "$250 million to improve and maintain state parks, recreation areas, and state-designated trails around the state, plus another $200 million for local parks and trails in Detroit, Grand Rapids and northern Michigan."

Of the nearly $5 billion in total investment, the bill includes just $66.2 million for public transportation projects.