Rebuilding of Dequindre, Nagel streets identified by community as priority

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said her Cities of Promise and Local Jobs Today initiatives are paying dividends in Hamtramck by creating jobs and spurring economic development.  The governor highlighted the initiative, part of her overall economic plan for the state, while attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Hamtramck where the I-75 service drives, locally known as Dequindre and Nagel streets, have been rebuilt.
 
"These two initiatives are another step forward in our effort to create jobs while building strong, vibrant communities across Michigan," said Granholm.   "We are providing Hamtramck with the critical tools needed to bring new jobs to the community and are creating Cities of Promise that are attractive and thriving."

Granholm said by making low-interest loans and grants available to communities, we have spurred economic development.  This is just one part of her comprehensive economic plan that includes a commitment to go anywhere and do anything to bring jobs to Michigan.
 
The service drives project received the necessary state match of $280,000 to leverage more than $1 million in available federal funds.  This is the first time in state history that the state is providing necessary matching funds to leverage federal funds to get important local road projects accelerated and completed.  Transportation was identified as one of the highest priorities for the Hamtramck Cities of Promise team.
 
As a result of the partnering effort between the city of Hamtramck, Wayne County, and the Michigan Municipal League, in conjunction with Governor Granholm's Local Jobs Today initiative, the I-75 service drives were rebuilt with new storm sewers and new sidewalks.

Announced in May 2006, the Local Jobs Today initiative is a new and innovative combined grant and loan program that uses monies available in the State Transportation Fund (STF) to provide the 20-percent match for local projects that meet the eligibility criteria.

The plan allows for the opportunity for local road agencies to borrow the necessary matching funds for the construction costs from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) by pledging to pay back the loan with their local federal transportation funds.

Local Jobs Today amounts to more than $20 million in local match dollars for southeast Michigan in order to leverage more than $122 million for local road and transit agencies.  This investment will result in more than 2,000 local jobs in southeast Michigan and more than 7,000 statewide. 

The Cities of Promise initiative is Governor Granholm's innovative five-year program that allows state agencies and local officials to collaborate in order to focus resources in eight urban Michigan cities with the highest poverty rates.  Cities of Promise include:  Saginaw, Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Muskegon Heights, Pontiac, Flint, and Benton Harbor.

# # #