Whitmer awards grants to 33 local governments and nonprofits to upgrade housing infrastructure across the state

On Tuesday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer awarded more than $1.7 million in Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) grants to 33 local governments and nonprofit groups to help residents make home repairs, energy efficiency upgrades, and neighborhood amenity improvements. The funding comes on the heels of an announcement from Whitmer to launch the first-ever Statewide Housing Plan to create or preserve 75,000 housing units, increase homeownership and reduce homelessness, and lower utility costs for residents by upgrading energy infrastructure in homes and apartments.

“Every Michigander deserves a safe, affordable place to call home and a vibrant community that they can be proud of,” said Whitmer. “Today’s Neighborhood Enhancement Program grants will help local officials and nonprofits complete home repairs, make energy efficiency upgrades, and fund neighborhood amenity projects. Since I took office, my administration has delivered on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to working families, including building nearly 12,000 affordable, attainable housing units, funding home repairs to improve efficiency, helping with utility bills, and more. Let’s keep working together to get it done.”

The governor’s Building Michigan Together plan includes a historic investment in Michigan’s infrastructure and allocated $654 million to Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to support the COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program and the Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF). Of the funds allocated, $50 million went to the Neighborhood Enhancement Program to expand energy efficiency and housing improvements across the state.  

The funding will be distributed to 11 local units of government and 22 nonprofit agencies serving both urban and rural communities. Each grantee demonstrated a level of need in their communities and proposed projects that will make a significant difference in the community while promoting and increasing neighborhood stability.  

“This funding is essential for communities across the state to deploy projects that will invoke positive change and improve the lives of residents,” said Tonya Joy, Neighborhood Housing Initiatives Division director.

The NEP provides funding for an array of small-scale single family home rehabilitation activities like roofs, siding, windows, doors, accessibility improvements. Up to 50% of the funding also can go toward public amenity activities like park improvements, basketball courts, and more.  

Residents of the communities can expect to see neighborhood improvements as early as this summer and fall as projects funded by the grants should be complete by December 31.

The grant awardees, county, and amounts are:

• Alcona County, Alcona, $75,000
• Allen Neighborhood Center, Ingham , $60,000
• Bridging Communities Inc., Wayne , $25,000
• Capital Area Housing Partnership, Ingham, $50,000
• Central Detroit Christian CDC, Wayne, $70,000
• City of Beaverton, Gladwin, $40,000
• City of Dowagiac, Cass, $75,000
• City of Eaton Rapids, Eaton, $75,000
• City of Hastings, Barry, $75,000
• City of Ironwood, Gogebic, $45,000
• City of Lapeer, Lapeer, $49,493
• City of Three Rivers, St. Joseph, $50,000
• City of Vassar, Tuscola, $50,000
• Court Street Village Non-Profit Housing Corp., Genesee, $50,000
• Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency, Gogebic, $30,000
• Grandmont/Rosedale Development Corporation, Wayne, $37,500
• Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley, Washtenaw, $25,000
• Hope Village Revitalization, Wayne, $50,000
• Jefferson East Incorporated, Wayne, $75,000
• LifeBUILDERS, Wayne, $75,000
• Metro Community Development Inc., Genesee, $75,000
• NCCS Center for Nonprofit Housing, Newaygo, $25,000
• Neighborhoods Incorporated of Battle Creek, Calhoun, $75,000
• New Development Corporation, Kent, $50,000
• New Hope CD Nonprofit Hsg Corp, Wayne, $75,000
• Sinai-Grace Guild Community Development Corporation, Wayne, $25,000
• Southwestern Michigan Urban League, Calhoun, $75,000
• Venture, Inc., Oakland, $22,500
• Village of Cassopolis, Cass, $75,000
• Village of Mancelona, Antrim, $30,000
• Wayne County Land Bank Corporation, Wayne, $50,000
• Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, Wayne, $50,000
• Woodbridge Neighborhood Development Corporation, Wayne, $60,000