The state of Michigan is handing out $75 million to help a dozen cities deal with blighted homes. $50 million is going to Detroit.
Mary Townley is with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. She says the federal grant dollars are intended to remove dilapidated homes and help neighborhoods.
“It’s just one more form of assistance for Michigan residents that have been struggling for a long, long time,” says Townley.
Other communities getting money include Lansing, Jackson and Muskegon Heights.
Previous blight grants have been used in several other Michigan cities, including Flint and Saginaw.
“This is another important step in Michigan’s comeback, which has become a national example for what can be accomplished when federal, state and city partners work together with a shared vision to solve a problem,” Gov. Rick Snyder said in a written statement. “As a result of this collaboration, these cities will be better places to live, work, play and invest.”
