Grand Rapids Continues Significant Community Investments Despite Pandemic

Press release from the City of Grand Rapids:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Neighborhood Investment Plan recommendations for fiscal year 2022 (FY 2022) show the City continues its commitment to quality of life investments throughout the community. The recommendations reflect the first fiscal year of the Federal Fiscal Year 2021-2025 Regional Consolidated Housing and Community Development (HCD) Plan adopted by the City Commission Feb. 9.

“Despite the setbacks we have faced due to the coronavirus pandemic, these investments in our local organizations show our continued commitment to growth in our communities,” said City Manager Mark Washington. “By supporting our community partners, we can ensure that we are making great strides in achieving our City’s goals of cultivating a robust economy, safe and healthy community, and the opportunity for a high quality of life for all.”

Funding for the Neighborhood Investment Plan comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Justice. Specifically, funds come from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) and Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) programs.

Following a Request for Proposals (RFP) process, the City considered 63 project applications from 38 organizations requesting a total of $8.5 million of the nearly $6.3 million available. Community Rebuilders, Grand Rapids Nehemiah Project, Hispanic Center of West Michigan, ICCF, LINC UP, Steepletown Neighborhood Services, Women’s Resource Center, and West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology were some of the organizations that applied and were recommended for funding.

The RFP Committee reviewed all proposals and prepared the recommendations for funding with the assistance of Community Development Department staff. The committee includes one city commissioner from each ward with Commissioners Joe Jones, Nathaniel Moody and Jon O’Connor serving this year. Additionally, the Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness (CTEH) Funding Review Committee reviewed project proposals for the outcome of “preventing and resolving episodes of homelessness,” which informed the recommendations.

All prioritized Neighborhood Investment Plan outcomes align with the priorities laid out in the City’s strategic plan. Those investments include:

• $774,421 to prevent and resolve episodes of homelessness
• $245,000 to improve access to and stability and equitable access of affordable housing
• $1.4 million to increase the supply of affordable housing
• $2.9 million to improve the condition of existing housing
• $288,600 to foster engaged, connected and resilient neighborhoods
• $409,900 to improve community safety
• $150,000 to improve economic opportunity

The City Commission will host a public hearing for community input on Tuesday, April 13. Written comments may be submitted to communitydev@grcity.us during the 30-day comment period that concludes on Monday, April 19. The City Commission will review the written comments prior to the final funding award approval scheduled for Tuesday, April 27. The final Annual Action Plan will be submitted to HUD by May 15.

For more information on the Federal Fiscal Year 2021-2025 Regional Consolidated Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Annual Action Plan, CLICK HERE.

This press release was produced by the City of Grand Rapids. The views expressed are the author's own.