A Michigan Home Transformed with Federal Rescue Funds
Detroit, known for its history with automobiles and music, became the focus of a White House official yesterday. His mission? To put a spotlight on how the funds from a gigantic federal COVID-19 rescue package are being used, not just in this city, but across all 50 states.
On a quiet street in Oak Park, a suburb of Detroit, Gwen Bynum, a retired factory worker was enjoying the view from her new, energy-efficient windows. The 82-year-old lady happily shared that she loves her new windows, and the best part is that she didn’t have to pay a cent for it.
In fact, Oakland County stepped in to cover the $3,000 bill for Gwen’s window replacement thanks to a nationwide fund called the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
ARPA is a $1.9 trillion deployment of federal dollars given to cities, counties, and states to help revive the economy after the massive blow thrown by COVID-19. It was signed into law by the president in 2021, boasting a primary goal of direct relief and investment in local communities.
Visiting, was Tom Perez, who was the U.S. Secretary of Labor under the previous president and is now a senior advisor at the White House. He praised the use of these new funds and emphasized the importance of programs like this in aiding senior citizens and reducing energy usage.
Oakland County has allocated a total of $244 million in ARPA funds for some thrilling projects. Among the initiatives are the expansion of mental health services, incentives for the development of affordable housing, and the provision of 3D printers and other resources for small businesses, to name a few.
After an eventful day in Oak Park, Perez headed south to downtown Detroit, where he found himself at the site of Joe Louis Greenway – a massive project transforming 30 miles of industrial wasteland into green parks and pathways!
Impressed and excited, Perez emphasized the significant transformations these federal funds were making across the nation, not just in Detroit. These developments would impact the local communities for decades to come, he remarked, shining a light on the progress being made with the successful usage of ARPA funds.
