LANSING – Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Pontiac and Saginaw will share in $100 million in federal funds to demolish blighted buildings, officials announced Thursday.
The funds will flow from the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s Step Forward Michigan program.
“This will be a major expansion of an ongoing effort by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and other state partners to aggressively address blight,” Governor Rick Snyder said in a statement announcing the funds. “We will be stabilizing neighborhoods with a large-scale demolition of the abandoned properties that foster crime and push down property values. Getting rid of these properties will encourage more people to stay in their homes and be part of the effort to improve their neighborhoods.”
U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) said freeing up federal money to revitalize and invest in cities would “strengthen neighborhoods and unlock greater opportunity for all homeowners.”
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said in a separate statement that he was hopeful Detroit would also share in the $100 million in TARP funds.
“This additional money will go a long way toward enhancing our blight removal program and increasing the number of vacant structures that we can knock down,” Mr. Bing said. “Currently, we are on track with our four-year-old demolition plan to tear down 10,000 dangerous structures by the end of this year.”
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