Kildee Secures Federal Funding for 10 Mid-Michigan Community Projects, Flint Registry, Great Lakes in Annual Funding Legislation

Congressman Dan Kildee, Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today applauded the passage of bipartisan legislation, supported by Democrats and Republicans, in the U.S. House of Representatives to fund the government for the rest of the 2022 fiscal year. The legislation includes all 10 of Congressman Kildee's Community Project Funding requests, benefitting Genesee, Saginaw and Bay County residents. Additionally, the legislation increases funding for the Flint Registry and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and includes aid for Ukraine.

"Democrats and Republicans came together to pass a long-term government funding bill that will help grow our economy and lower costs for mid-Michigan families. I am proud that this legislation includes funding for local economic development projects that will make a real difference in mid-Michigan, growing our economy and strengthening our neighborhoods," Congressman Kildee said. "I am also pleased that this legislation increases funding for the Flint Registry, protecting the Great Lakes and supporting the Ukrainian people. In Washington, I will keep working to bring resources home to mid-Michigan."

Altogether, Congressman Kildee secured $9,638,000 in funding for 10 mid-Michigan community projects through this government funding package. This federal funding for local initiatives will 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.

Additionally, this government funding package provides $5 million for Flint's Lead Registry--a $500,000 increase year over year--allowing it to continue operations and plan for the future. Created and funded by Congress in 2016, the Flint Registry continues to play a critical role in the city's recovery from the Flint water crisis.

This legislation also contains $348 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative--a nearly $20 million increase over last year--to protect the Great Lakes from harmful chemicals and invasive species like Asian carp. It also provides $13.6 billion to support Ukraine as it defends itself against Vladimir Putin's unprovoked invasion.

Recently, 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 can submit up to 10 projects for consideration. All 10 of Congressman Kildee's community project funding requests passed the House yesterday. The 10 projects that passed the House 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 wholeheartedly thank Congressman Dan Kildee, who worked hard to have Appropriations Committee projects funded to benefit local communities he serves. Saginaw-Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity is so grateful for funding that will help low- to modest-income homeowners with grants to replace big ticket items such as furnaces, boilers, central air conditioners, water heaters and insulation they would otherwise not be able to replace without assistance," said Carmen Mora, Executive Director of Saginaw-Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity.
"We would like to thank Congressman Dan Kildee for being a champion in the 5th District of our families desperately needing help! With this funding, Bay County Habitat for Humanity will be able to help our veterans with critical home repairs that are needed to allow them to stay in their homes," said Brian Krause, Executive Director, Bay County Habitat for Humanity.
"Today I would like to sincerely thank Congressman Kildee on behalf of the city of Saginaw for securing a $520,000 investment for local Habitat for Humanity projects, said State Representative Amos O'Neal. Through this investment, Saginaw will be able to undertake critical home energy projects and roof repairs that will improve home quality for veterans and low-income citizens, making our community more prosperous."
$650,000 to the 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.

"The North Flint Reinvestment Corporation is delighted to receive much-needed funding to support construction of the North Flint Food Market," said Pastor Reginald Flynn, Project Manager of the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation. "I, along with the member-owners of our food cooperative, am grateful for the advocacy, hard work, and determination of Congressman Kildee and his staff to ensure residents have expanded access to healthy food in North Flint's Pierson Road corridor, which has been identified by the USDA as a food desert. We are elated!"
$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 enable us to implement a holistic strategy to neighborhood improvement by directly investing in the families who live here. It will give homeowners in the City of Flint access to critical capital for home improvements, who are often left out of traditional lending and federal resources. It's yet another way Congressman Kildee's office has taken a bold approach to supporting the communities they serve," said Thomas Hutchison, Executive Director of Genesee County Habitat for Humanity.
$1,000,000 to the 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, Genesee Intermediate School District Superintendent. "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 students now and into the future."
$1,450,000 to Hurley Medical Center to purchase 46 new critical care beds.

"We are very fortunate to have the support of Congressman Kildee and admire his ability to discern the necessary investments to ensure the enhancement of care for the patients served by Hurley Medical Center," said Melany Gavulic, President and CEO of Hurley Medical Center.
$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.

"Many thanks to Congressman Kildee for his championing of this important step to address the extreme challenge of staffing in senior living and services. This will also be a significant step in transforming the field to attract and support young leaders well into the future," said Roger Myers, President and CEO of Presbyterian Villages of Michigan.
$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 and Insight 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 has been 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.
"Berston would like thank Congressman Kildee for investing in the Flint community. With these funds we will be able to expand our much-needed mentoring program," said Bryant Nolden, Executive Director of Berston Fieldhouse.
$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 & 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.

"Blight is an environmental justice issue. Vacant and blighted structures attract dumping and other criminal activities, create health and safety risks to residents and depress the value of surrounding homes and businesses," said Michael Freeman, Executive Director of the Genesee County Lank Bank Authority. "Eliminating hazards in neighborhoods and commercial corridors is the first step to restoring value to neighboring homeowners, creating opportunities for residents to build wealth through homeownership and creating new opportunities for equitable investment and improvements in areas that have experienced significant hardship over the past few decades. We are extremely grateful for Congressman Kildee's support and advocacy in helping us secure the critical funding to make Flint and Genesee County a better community for all residents."
"Community project funding is a critical piece needed to address long-standing blight in our neighborhoods. The funding for the Bay County Land Bank would address targeted pieces of abandoned and deteriorating property to get the parcels back into productive use. This funding is essential to bolster and revitalize neighborhoods in Bay County, Michigan," said Shawna Walraven, Bay County Treasurer. "Congressman Kildee understands the importance of this issue and continues to be a leader on land use and revitalization. Thank you to Congressman Kildee for his leadership and tireless efforts for the people of Bay County."
$768,000 to Genesee County, including the Office of Genesee County Sheriff and the Genesee County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, for a collaborative partnership to create the Genesee County Justice Partnership for Reform to help reduce criminal justice costs, reduce recidivism, and build a stronger local economy by helping formerly incarcerated individuals secure jobs.

"When you're serious about fixing a broken system, give the people HOPE and a sense of value and watch what happens!" said Chris Swanson, Sheriff of Genesee County. "Today, Congressman Dan Kildee and his colleagues in the United States Congress gave that hope! They used the influence of their positions to pour into the forgotten and the sidelined. For that, this Sheriff is forever grateful!"
"I want to thank Congressman Dan Kildee and his staff for their strong efforts in securing federal funding for the proposed Genesee County Justice Partnership for Reform," said David Leyton, Genesee County Prosecutor. "This funding will allow us to provide reform to the local justice system through a restorative justice model which will help bring true justice to victims, reduce recidivism among offenders, address generational incarceration issues, and help offenders get on the right track in life and become productive citizens."
"Congressman Kildee has continued to be a tireless advocate and fighter for Genesee County. We are excited for these multi-million-dollar investments into our community that will have a transformational impact and will pave the way toward building a brighter future for Genesee County," said Domonique Clemons, Chairperson for the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.
$5 million to the Flint Registry, which continues to play a critical role in the city's recovery, identifying individuals exposed to lead during the Flint water crisis and connecting them to critical health care and other resources to improve their health and development.

"A huge "thank you' to Congressman Kildee for his tenacity and determined leadership to lead the efforts of the Michigan congressional delegation and other congressional supporters from across the country who refused to forget about Flint families impacted by the water crisis," said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, director of MSU-Hurley Children's Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative. "Successfully delivering this funding increase for the Flint Registry this year will help the Registry fully operate and support those impacted by the Flint water crisis for many years into the future."
$348 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to protect the Great Lakes from dangerous chemicals like PFAS, combat harmful algae blooms and protect against invasive species, such as Asian carp.

"The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has been extraordinarily successful in not only restoring the world's most important freshwater resource, but also in creating economic development and outdoor recreational opportunities for many communities," said Dr. Mike Shriberg, Great Lakes Regional Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation. "Continued funding for GLRI is essential for our drinking water, our fish and wildlife, and our economy. Thank you to Congressman Kildee and all of the bi-partisan supporters of this critical and unique initiative--the Great Lakes are the great uniters for Michigan and the region."
"We thank and applaud Congressman Kildee and other supporters of the Great Lakes in Congress for making Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding a priority in the House omnibus appropriations bill and in other pieces of legislation like the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act," said Bentley Johnson, Federal Government Affairs Director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. "It's so important to have Great Lakes champions who will stand up for our water at every opportunity."
"As the World leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation, Ducks Unlimited (DU) has successfully restored over 80,000 acres throughout Michigan, benefiting wildlife and people alike. Thanks to the stalwart support of Congressman Kildee for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, nearly $350 million has been included for this critical program in the recently released FY22 omnibus spending package," said Kyle Rorah, Regional Director of Public Policy of Ducks Unlimited. "This investment into Michigan's wetlands and associated habitats will help accelerate the conservation work that Michiganders expect. DU could not accomplish its mission without wetland champions like Congressman Kildee advocating for conservation programs like GLRI."
"Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) applauds Congressman Kildee's unwavering support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative," said Amy Trotter, Executive Director of MUCC. "Michigan's annual $2.3 billion recreational fishery is an asset we can't afford lose," Trotter said. "This GLRI money will help us cross the finish line on invasive carp, address nutrient levels in Lake Erie and clean up toxic hotspots that are poisoning to our fish and wildlife."

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