Michigan's Inner-Ring Suburbs: On the Road to Economic Recovery

When President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, he instigated a massive effort to support the economic revitalization of U.S. cities and citizens.

Translation? Michigan's inner-ring suburbs have an exciting opportunity to create the kind of vibrant and efficient communities we all want to live and work in.

The Michigan Suburbs Alliance is pleased to offer focused, up-to-date information on energy and redevelopment opportunities that the economic stimulus package offers inner-ring suburbs. Stay tuned to this webpage for information, policy perspective, news, and recommended actions for your city. You can also turn to our partners, the Michigan Municipal League and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, for their online monitoring of the package's impact on Michigan cities.

Have questions about the how the stimulus package is working for southeast Michigan? Contact Public Policy Director Luke Forrest at Luke@suburbsalliance.org.

ENERGY

Through the Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office, which the Suburbs Alliance is facilitating, we know that inner-ring suburbs are interested in how applying energy efficiency and renewables to municipal buildings can realize cost savings, environmental responsibility and civic pride. The economic stimulus' energy package is a great success for the Energy Office; we've been advocating for the funding of these programs since the Energy Office's creation. Here's how the potential for inner-ring cities plays out:

The Numbers:

$3.2 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. $456 million of that total will be awarded in a competitive granting process by the U.S. Department of Energy, while the rest will be distributed to states, counties and cities through the formula laid out in the 2007 Energy Bill. Specific funding allocations have been released for the State and entitlement communities. See the numbers here. Entitlement communities must apply by August 10, 2009 to receive their share. The Energy Office is helping member cities with their applications; contact Program Director Brittany Galisdorfer Brittany@suburbsalliance.org for more information.

$800 million of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds are available to state and local governments (Link:

The Impact:

Suburbs Alliance staff presented the Regional Energy Office concept to U.S. Department of Energy officials and were encouraged to apply for a grant through the federal competitive process. The Energy Office is unique in the United States and is in an advantageous position to be a national model. Suburbs Alliance staff will also assist cities in applying for competitive grants as appropriate.

The Suburbs Alliance is working with the Energy Office's partners, DELEG and the U.S. Department of Energy to make sure cities, particularly those that are collaborating regionally, receive the maximum possible share of funding from those programs.

Want your city to participating in the Energy Office, with the advantage of economic stimulus funds to support your city? Contact Porgram Director Brittany Galisdorfer at Brittany@suburbsalliance.org.

REDEVELOPMENT

Key to inner-ring suburbs in southeast Michigan is redevelopment: creating walkable, livable and sustainable cities. The Suburbs Alliance supports the vision of our member cities through the Redevelopment Ready Communities program. As well, the Suburbs Alliance is a regional partner of the Transportation for America campaign.We advocate for transit-oriented development (TOD) as a fundamental aspect of healthy, vibrant communities. We therefore join our partners in tracking the numbers devoted to public transit and walkable communities. SEMCOG has published the complete list of transportation projects in Southeast Michigan.

How will the economic stimulus package impact redevelopment and transportation in southeast Michigan?

The Numbers:

$1 billion for Community Development Block Grants

$2 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. 

$53.6 billion for the new State Fiscal Stabilization Fund.

$2.7 billion for state and local law enforcement assistance programs

$135 million to the state of Michigan for public transportation.

$99.82 million is headed to the Detroit area to provide repairs to crumbling roads and bridges.

$200 million for the EPA Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund. (For more on LUST, look to the Suburbs Alliance's Idea Book that offers an insightful and colorful overview of the topic).

$100 million for EPA Brownfield grants

$150 million in Economic Development Administration grants

$25 billion in Recovery Zone Bonds

The Impact:

The next round of funding for the  Neighborhood Stabilization Program looks to be significantly different than the first in that funding will be awarded competitively and nonprofits are eligible. The stimulus bill contains significant amendments to the original legislation in an attempt to reform the program.

The lion's share of what Michigan receives through the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund will be earmarked for K-12 education, but  Governor Jennifer Granholm will have some flexibility to spend some of it on other government services.

The Suburbs Alliance is working with other Michigan organizations to focus the transportation spending towards existing urban infrastructure and public transit.

Continue tracking the economic recovery plan's impact on redevelopment, community development block grants and neighborhood stabilization via CEDAM (http://cedam.info/policytracking.htm).