U.S. Rep. Lawrence Secures $17,754,533 For Local Projects in Final Government Funding Package for Fiscal Year 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, announced $17,754,533 in Community Project Funding that she previously secured for Michigan’s 14th District in the House spending bills has been included in the final appropriations government funding package for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).

The recipients of the funding include Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation, City of Hamtramck, Oakland County Water Resources Commission, Sanctum House, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Grosse Pointe Farms, Detroit Police Department, City of Southfield, Wayne County Community College, LIFT, City of Detroit, Friends of the Children – Detroit, Friendship Circle, Invest Detroit Foundation, Metro Solutions Inc., and Micah 6 Community.

“As the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud to have secured 15 Community Project Funding requests totaling $17,754,533 in this bill that I know will make a positive difference for the people of Michigan’s 14th District,” said Rep. Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14). “These projects address the most pressing issues impacting Southeast Michigan, including childcare, water infrastructure, community safety, education, the skilled workforce, and mental health. I want to thank Chairwoman DeLauro and the entire committee for their efforts to pass this legislation into law.”

“As a parent, I know how important it is to invest in quality, affordable childcare so that we can set our families up for success,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “That is why I was proud to lead, along with Congresswoman Lawrence and Senator Stabenow, this effort to secure $2 million in federal funding for the Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation innovation demonstration projects. These projects will make a difference by supporting direct services that put Michiganders in good-paying childcare jobs, addressing barriers to success for families and communities that need more childcare services, and creating economic opportunity for entrepreneurs and residents across our state. Governor Whitmer and I will continue to seek out every opportunity and resource to deliver more high-quality childcare for every Michigan family.”

“On behalf of the Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation, we are extremely grateful that our Child Care Innovation Fund was included in the FY2023 Omnibus. This vital funding will expand pilot projects across Michigan that accelerate innovation on a key issue that remains a barrier to employment for thousands of working families: child care. We are so thankful for the continued leadership of Congresswoman Lawrence in supporting the Child Care Innovation Fund, which serves as the state’s child care business accelerator,” said Dawne Bell, CEO, Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation.

“We are thrilled to have the support of Representative Lawrence’s on these two projects that are significant to Detroiters daily lives,” said Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison. “The Joe Louis Greenway is a transformational project that will connect Detroiters and their neighborhoods and provide greater access to recreational opportunities, promoting a healthy lifestyle. Body-worn cameras are one of the most effective tools to foster transparency and trust between Detroit Police and the residents they serve. We deeply appreciate Representative Lawrence’s commitment to the City of Detroit throughout her years in public service.”

Friends of the Children is grateful to Congresswoman Lawrence for her commitment to the mental health needs of Detroit’s children, especially those who face more obstacles than others accessing critical supports,” said Derschaun Brown, Executive Director of Friends of the Children – Detroit. “Even before the pandemic, youth and families in communities served by Friends of the Children faced barriers to accessing culturally responsive trauma mitigation and behavioral health supports. The increase in demand for salaried, professional mentors to provide increased access and engagement in mental health services is greater now than ever. This investment in Friends of the Children – Detroit will make a BIG difference for the health and well-being of hundreds of youth and caregivers. We thank you.”

“The support Congresswoman Lawrence has shown has been appreciated by LIFT, our ecosystem, and particularly the students who learn at our facility. This Community Project Funding will allow our institute to continue the Congresswoman’s work of encouraging students to enter the advanced manufacturing field or learn one of the skilled trades so desperately needed across industry to keep Michigan and our nation leading the global manufacturing race,” said Nigel Francis, CEO & Executive Director, LIFT.

“Friendship Circle is honored and excited to be a recipient of the FY23 Community Project Funding. We thank Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence for supporting this initiative,” said Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Director at Friendship Circle. “Lessons for Life teaches life skills in a realistic and safe setting at Friendship Circle to promote the independence of students with disabilities. The program serves approximately 2,000 unique students from more than 70 public and private schools in Southeast Michigan annually. The skills practiced and learned during Lessons for Life are transferable to the real-world and are necessary for students to successfully participate in their communities. This project will enable Friendship Circle to enhance and expand the program’s curriculum while also breaking down barriers to participation by creating a school transportation fund and virtual lessons.”

“Congresswoman Lawrence has been a great advocate for our community. She has taken special interest in the failing seawall along Lake St. Clair which impacts crucial infrastructure and public safety. Not only did she listen, she walked the shoreline and surveyed the issue with her own eyes. These funds are the critical first step in the development of a long-term solution for shoreline protection while strengthening the ecosystem of Lake St. Clair,” said Shane Reeside, City Manager, City of Grosse Pointe Farms. 

“Sanctum House is a long term residential program for victims of human trafficking,” said Karen G. Moore, Executive Director, Sanctum House. “We provide comprehensive and integrated care which includes mental healthcare, physical healthcare, substance abuse recovery, life skills training, education, legal support and employment opportunities.  This is all at no cost to the residents who stay on average 2 years.  Our goal is to give them the skills and knowledge to live a productive, independent and sober life.  We have been open 5 years and served over 100 survivors.  This funding would enable us to almost triple our capacity all on one 3.5 acre piece of land with woods and trails.  Our plan is to have a ‘Healing Campus’.”

“DLIVE is grateful and humbled by the opportunity to strengthen its service mission in advancing the health outcomes of adults who’ve sustained Community Violence trauma injury. Congresswoman Lawrence’s unwavering support and advocacy for this work directly translates to the advancement of health equity that has been elusive for too long for young adults who’ve been left to navigate the devastating cycle of Community Violence. On behalf of the young adults that DLIVE serves, we are full of gratitude and inspired to continue growing as that essential healing and transformation hub,” said Tolulope Sonuyi MD, Director of DLIVE. 

“I am so grateful to hear that Congresswoman Lawrence’s CFP projects were approved,” said Coleman Yoakum, Executive Director, Micah 6 Community. “To hear that this funding is one step closer to being approved is a real win! Not just for this project but for all the people that Webster Community Center will serve, resource, entertain, and enrich. This building is a historical landmark and the reuse and restoration of the building is vital to the identity of our community. Our neighborhood is waiting in anticipation.”

“Invest Detroit is extremely grateful for Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence’s continued support of small businesses.  As our community recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this funding will be essential to assist Detroit’s small business owners and entrepreneurs sustain and grow their companies,” said Dave Blaszkiewicz, President & CEO, Invest Detroit. “Thank you for being a champion for these efforts and a consistent supporter of the CDFI community in Detroit.”

Rep. Lawrence championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit Michigan’s 14th District residents. These include:

• $1,000,000 for the Body-Worn Camera Program 
• $3,452,972 for the City of Hamtramck for Water System Improvements
• $409,000 for the DLIVE Violence Intervention 
• $150,000 for the Friends of the Children- Detroit, Detroit, MI for mental health and other supportive services, including training
• $364,009 for the Friendship Circle, West Bloomfield Township, MI for expanding developmental learning opportunities to promote independence of students with disabilities
• $100,000 for the Grosse Pointe Shoreline, MI
• $600,000 for the Invest Detroit
• $3,920,000 for the Joe Louis Greenway – Hamtramck Drive Connector
• $1,250,000 for the LIFT, Detroit, MI for a manufacturing technician education program 
• $2,000,000 for the Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation, Lansing, MI for the development of a child care workforce
• $1,600,000 for the Oakland County for Royal Oak Township Water System Improvements
• $1,400,000 for the Sanctum House Facility Acquisition
• $750,000 for the Southfield Home Improvement Program
• $212,400 for the Wayne County Community College District, Detroit, MI for an automotive electrification and testing program
• $546,152 for the Webster Community Center

The twelve-bill government funding package will create good-paying American jobs, grow opportunities for the middle class and small businesses, and provide a lifeline for working families. Taken together, the funding for Michigan’s 14th District and the funding increases for critical government programs will continue to reverse decades of disinvestment in our communities.

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