Federal Funding to Help Create Jobs

Wayne County scored big in the recent allocation of funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

More than $40 million in federal grants will be used for projects throughout Wayne County, the largest annual HUD distribution the county has ever received.

Milestone in Detroit

In another milestone, Detroit will receive about $19 million in investment, the first time Wayne County money will be allocated in the city of Detroit. Projects are planned in all 15 Wayne County Commission districts.

What does it mean for our communities?

When I announced these projects, I said it was a great day for all of Wayne County, both for current residents and future generations.

I feel that way because these projects represent a sizeable investment in stabilizing neighborhoods, helping disadvantaged residents and stimulating local economic development. Most importantly, it means more dollars to help create sustainable, permanent jobs across Wayne County.

The projects, which were approved by the Wayne County Commission, will empower our non-profits, private developers and individuals with the tools necessary to make a difference in our communities. Projects include:

• Demolition of 450 blighted homes in Detroit

• Building of an emergency shelter with support services for veterans in Detroit

• An athletic center in the Dearborn Heights area

• A shelter for domestic violence abuse victims in Wayne

• An adult stem cell business development and commercialization center in Plymouth Township

Participation countywide

Those are just some of the larger projects. Community projects also are approved in Allen Park, Ecorse, Grosse Pointe Park, Garden City, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Highland Park, Inkster, Melvindale, River Rouge, Romulus, Van Buren Township and Wyandotte.

Partnerships are key to leveraging these dollars into more investments and job creation. For example, the stem cell commercialization center is a partnership with doctors from the University of Michigan. Other projects represent unprecedented partnerships between local governments, Wayne County, the state and federal government, private developers, non-profits and private citizens. This will truly be a team effort at improving our quality of life.

To ensure that Wayne County got the biggest bang for the buck, the county minimized administrative costs to less than 10 percent so more funds could be allocated for the projects.

The funding comes from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, HOME, Community Development Block Grant and CDBG special project.

As Wayne County fights to start a recovery from the economic downturn, projects like these are a big part of our future. They will stimulate the local economy while having the greatest impact on the most vulnerable.

That’s a win-win for all of Wayne County.

Robert A. Ficano is Wayne County’s Chief Executive