*Kalamazoo, Portage and Four Other Communities to Get Federal Funding*
Six communities in southwest and west Michigan will receive nearly $4 million in federal grants to support affordable housing programs, U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga announced Monday.
The funding comes through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grants program and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
The six communities receiving CDBG grants are:
- Battle Creek — $1,172,453
- Benton Harbor — $388,678
- Georgetown Charter Township — $245,163
- Holland — $347,365
- Kalamazoo — $1,611,363
- Portage — $208,331
In addition, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo will also receive HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding:
- Battle Creek — $238,167.87
- Kalamazoo — $491,270.56
The grants are aimed at developing urban communities through improving housing and providing a better living environment for lower- and middle-income families.
Rep. Huizenga said the funding will help improve housing affordability and housing availability across southwest Michigan.
"These investments will help improve housing affordability and housing availability for lower- and middle-income families across Southwest Michigan," Huizenga said. "I am glad to see the Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the leadership of Secretary Turner, continue to prioritize both quality of life as well as improved housing options for Michiganders."
The State of Michigan also directly received $33,947,877 in CDBG funding and $15,561,558.40 in HOME funding to allocate to dozens of communities across the state.
This funding announcement follows similar grants for affordable housing that came through Congress in previous years. The federal government continues to provide block grants to help local communities address housing needs.