Earlier this year, you submitted one or more "shovel ready" projects to be considered for funding as part of the federal government's proposed economic stimulus plan. Following is an update on the status of the project list.

When Governor Granholm, and governors around the country, called for communities to submit their project ideas, the details of the stimulus plan were not fully known. However, every state wanted to be ready to put the dollars to work for their citizens as soon as they were available.  The response to Governor Granholm's call was extraordinary.  More than 17,000 projects totaling over $59 billion were submitted.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("Recovery Act"), signed into law by President Obama on February 17, outlined how the dollars will flow to the states.   Much of the funding will come through existing formulas that determine how much funding is available and the type of projects that qualify, including transportation, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and at-risk and special education funds for K-12 schools.  The remaining funding will come to Michigan primarily through competitive grants for which local communities, schools and non-profits will be eligible to apply.

Using existing formulas and programs will allow this funding to reach our citizens quickly and be infused into our economy in the most efficient way possible.  However, it also means that the vast majority of shovel-ready projects submitted to our inventory will not be eligible for state funding.

That does not mean that your community should abandon these priority lists.  The formula funds you receive may provide the funding needed for these projects.  In addition, dozens of competitive grant opportunities are available for funding for specific projects. I encourage you to click on the Grant Opportunities link on our home page to determine if your project might qualify for one of these additional funding sources. If your project does not qualify on its own for a specific grant, please think creatively about partnering with other organizations and/or agencies in your community to maximize your impact and strengthen your application.

The Recovery Act provides a unique opportunity for Michigan.  By aggressively pursing competitive grants and using the money we receive efficiently and effectively, we can create jobs, protect our families, and transform Michigan's economy.

Please don't hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions or if we can be of any assistance to you in your efforts to obtain Recovery Act funding for your project(s).