After successfully bringing over $16 million in direct federal funding back to Michigan’s 8th District in the fiscal year 2022 budget, today U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) announced 15 community projects in Michigan’s 8th District that she will be advocating to receive direct federal funding from Congress through the spending bill Congress passes every year.
Of those 15 projects, the four in Livingston County include reconstruction of the Depot parking lot in downtown Howell, a new aerial ladder truck in Green Oak Township, trail connections, and power-loading ambulance equipment.
“My top priority in selecting these 15 projects was to look for real solutions to the issues facing communities across Michigan’s 8th district, and that means ensuring our police, firefighters, and first responders have the resources and tools they need to do their jobs, making sure our students are safe at school, and supporting and expanding access to clean water,” said Slotkin. “The projects I chose were all vetted and demonstrated broad community support. From here, these requests go through the Appropriations Committee in the House and Senate. It will be a long road and there are no guarantees, but my staff and I will be fighting for these projects at every step.”
In order to be selected, the project had to be from a state or local government or a public institution of higher education and located in Michigan’s 8th district. The proposal also had to demonstrate the project has robust community support, would have a significant impact on the community, and would be a good use of taxpayer dollars.
“This process demonstrates how government is supposed to work,” Slotkin added. “Local and state leaders identify priorities which are backed by the community, and we work on their behalf to put federal dollars to those priorities.”
Members of Congress are required to certify that neither they nor their immediate family benefit financially from the projects they submit for consideration. Transparency and allowing governments big and small to apply was of great importance to Slotkin. That’s why Slotkin had a full-time staff member dedicated to helping applicants navigate the process. Slotkin’s office received 90 proposals and ultimately selected the following 15.
The projects include 4 in Livingston County, 7 in Ingham County, and 4 in Oakland County, and are listed below by county:
Livingston County
Project Sponsor: City of Howell
Requested Amount: $1,180,000
Request Purpose: Depot Lot Reconstruction
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: The City of Howell has submitted a proposal for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Howell Depot Lot, to provide a safe and usable space including the addition of 40 spaces for visitors, for access to downtown businesses and community recreation activities, including a winter ice rink.
The proposal for the depot lot reconstruction has broad community support, including letters of support from the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.
Project Sponsor: Green Oak Charter Township Fire Department
Requested Amount: $1,371,740
Request Purpose: Aerial Ladder Truck
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: The Green Oak Charter Township Fire Department has submitted a proposal to replace a 27-year-old aerial ladder truck. The Township notes that the truck”is in need of replacement due to increased maintenance costs and decreasing reliability.”
The proposal for a new ladder truck has broad community support, including letters of support from neighboring township’s fire authorities.
Project Sponsor: Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority
Requested Amount: $900,000
Request Purpose: Livingston County Regional Trail Connections
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: The Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority has proposed an engineering design project for trail connections to improve the trail network throughout Livingston County and better connect secondary trails, recreation areas, and population centers into the primary Great Lake-to-Lake Trail. The would provide connections to four regional parks: Brighton State Recreation Area, Huron Meadows Metropark.
The proposal for the trail connections has broad community support, including letters from the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.
Project Sponsor: Livingston County Emergency Management Services
Requested Amount: $1,169,950
Request Purpose: Power Loading Ambulance Equipment
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: Livingston County Emergency Management Services’ has submitted a proposal for power loading ambulance equipment. Livingston County EMS notes that that one in four EMS workers suffers a career-ending back injury within the first four years of their employment, and that lifting a loaded cot into an ambulance can pose injury risks to patients. This project would preserve the wellbeing of the County’s EMS employees and increase patient safety.
The proposal has broad community support, including letters of support from multiple medical facilities, healthcare providers, fire and police agencies, and nursing facilities.
Ingham County
Project Sponsor: City of Lansing
Requested Amount: $3,963,425
Request Purpose: Advanced Life Support Ambulance Equipment
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: The City of Lansing has submitted a proposal for Advanced Life Support equipment for Lansing Fire Department ambulances to provide the highest level of patient care safely, effectively, and interoperably with partner agencies. The City notes that the Lansing Fire Department “is the busiest EMS agency in Ingham County, responding to 57% of all the requests for Emergency Medical Service in the County.”
The proposal for ambulance equipment has broad community support, including letters of support from the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Capital Region Community Foundation, Michigan State Representative Sarah Anthony, Michigan State Representative Kara Hope, Michigan State Representative Angela Witwer, Michigan State Senator Curtis Hurtel, United Way of South Central Michigan, and other local leaders.
Project Sponsor: City of Lansing
Requested Amount: $5,000,000
Request Purpose: Ovation Center for Music & Arts
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: The City of Lansing has submitted a proposal for a performance venue and space for residents to enjoy and create art in Downtown Lansing. The venue would also house live-work spaces for artists-in-residence, retail space, a film and video equipment library managed by the Lansing Public Media Center, Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center, All-of-the-Above Hip-Hop Academy, classrooms available to school groups, and community rooms available for public use.
The proposal for the Ovation has broad community support, including letters of support from the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Capital Region Community Foundation, Michigan State Representative Sarah Anthony, Michigan State Representative Kara Hope, Michigan State Representative Angela Witwer, Michigan State Senator Curtis Hurtel, United Way of South Central Michigan, and other local leaders.
Project Sponsor: Ingham County Fairgrounds
Requested Amount: $2,500,000
Request Purpose: New Grandstand
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: The Ingham County Fairgrounds has submitted a proposal for a new grandstand. The previous grandstand was demolished in 2015 due to structural deficiencies. Since then, the Fairgrounds has rented portable seating solutions that do not meet the demand.
The proposal for a new grandstand has broad community support, including letters of support from the County Board of Commissioners, the Ingham County Farm Bureau, the City of Lansing, the City of Mason, local business owners and residents, and others.
Project Sponsor: Ingham County Health Department
Requested Amount: $500,000
Request Purpose: Advance Peace Program
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: The Ingham County Health Department has proposed an Advance Peace initiative, a gun violence intervention program that aims to reduce urban gun violence. Advance Peace engages local communities through a partnership approach that involves multiple stakeholders including community leaders, social service providers, law enforcement, and health systems. The program model has been successfully implemented in multiple cities across the United States. This would be the program’s first interaction in Michigan.
The proposal for Advance Peace has broad community support, including Michigan State Representative Sarah Anthony, the Michigan Public Health Institute, Ingham County Prosecutor, Ingham County Sheriff’s Office, and Ingham County Board of Commissioners.
Project Sponsor: Ingham County Parks
Requested Amount: $2,750,000
Request Purpose: Holt-Mason Trail Connection
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: Ingham County Parkshas submitted a proposal for the final, 1.5-mile phase of a trail that will go along Cedar and Howell Roads from College Road to Kearns Road. The project would include a safe pedestrian crossing over the highway which will provide a safe route between Holt and Mason for trail users. It would also provide an alternative transportation route next to DART Container, a large employer in Ingham County.
The proposal for the trail connection has broad community support, including letters of support from the Michigan Department of Transportation and multiple surrounding townships.
Project Sponsor: Michigan State University Child Development Lab
Requested Amount: $2,187,500
Request Purpose: MSU Child Development Laboratories Community Expansion
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: MSU’s Child Development Lab has submitted a proposal to open a new Lansing-based site that would target the community’s most at-risk children and be designed to meet community needs first. It would help MSU produce more than one hundred teachers annually for the Lansing community and state, contributing to addressing the teacher shortage in Michigan.
The proposal has broad community support, including letters of support from Michigan State Representative Sarah Anthony, the Ingham Intermediate School District, and local residents.
Project Sponsor: Stockbridge Community Schools
Requested Amount: $2,500,000
Request Purpose: School-Based Area Health Center
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: Stockbridge Community Schools has submitted a proposal for a School-Based Area Health Center that will serve youth and residents of Stockbridge Stockbridge Township, the Village, and the five neighboring rural townships (White Oak, Bunker Hill, Waterloo, Henrietta, and Unadilla). The Center would provide direct medical and mental health care services to individuals and small groups, provide local access to laboratory services, monitoring and management of patient chronic diseases, annual health examinations, and specialty clinics for the needs of various patient populations.
The proposal for an Area Health Center has broad community support, including letters of support from state, county, and local village representatives, and residents.
Oakland County
Project Sponsor: Charter Township of Oxford
Requested Amount: $374,696
Request Purpose: Safety Path
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: Oxford Township has proposed the construction of a 5,100-linear-foot safety path for pedestrians along the west side of N. Oxford Road and the south side of Ray Road. The path will be a shared-use path that supports a variety of recreation and transportation opportunities for walkers, runners, cyclists, and individuals who use mobility aids. The November 30, 2021 shooting at Oxford High School illustrates the importance of the safety path. When students evacuated the building to head to a safe area, there was no safety path to protect them from traffic and provide them with a level, barrier-free walking surface.
The proposal for a safety path has broad community support, including letters of support from the Michigan Department of Transportation, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, local fire and police departments, school leaders, and Oxford residents.
Project Sponsor: Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
Requested Amount: $410,000
Request Purpose: Training Equipment
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has proposed updated equipment for its Training Center. Updated equipment is vital for effective law enforcement training. The equipment to be purchased includes physical fitness equipment for wellness programs, firearms training equipment, a defensive tactics mat room, and de-escalation/use of force training suits.
The proposal has broad community support, including letters of support from the Oakland County Tactical Response Consortium and the Oakland County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Office..
Project Sponsor: Oakland County Water Commission
Requested Amount: $1,000,000
Request Purpose: Sanitary Sewer Extension Design Engineering
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: Oakland County Water Commission has proposed an extension of the sanitary sewer from the Genesee County border into Oakland County, along Dixie Highway to Grange Hall Road, to serve Holly and Groveland Townships and eventually provide service to Brandon Township and the Village of Ortonville.
The proposal has broad community support, including letters of support from the townships and the village.
Project Sponsor: Orion Township
Requested Amount: $7,000,000
Request Purpose: Giddings/Silverbell/Brown Road Rehabilitation
Recipient explanation of request and justification for why it is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds: Orion Township has submitted a proposal for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of a 2.6 mile area on Giddings/Silverbell/Brown Roads. The Township notes that “the roads along this corridor are deteriorating rapidly and are in immediate need of repair.” The project would improve road surface conditions, re-establish connectivity, deliver reliability, and promote regional economic growth.
The proposal has broad community support, including letters of support from the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, the Road Commission for Oakland County, the General Motors Orion Assembly Plant, and other local groups.
Additional information about any of the above projects is available upon request.
