Statement by Congressman Dan Kildee on New Hardest Hit Fund Allocation for Michigan

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Treasury announced that Michigan will be eligible for up to $324 million in additional Hardest Hit Fund dollars for blight removal, including $74.49 million immediately: "Millions of dollars in additional federal funds will make a huge difference in removing blight across Michigan, including in Flint and Saginaw. Getting rid of blight will help to raise property values, decrease crime and unlock greater opportunity for all homeowners. Getting this money for Michigan has been one of my top priorities in Congress so that our cities and towns have the resources necessary to tear down the remnants of the past and give us a chance to restart." The Hardest Hit Fund was designed – and is still working – to keep people in their homes and prevent additional foreclosures after the Great Recession. In recent years,thanks to Congressman Kildee's efforts, the U.S. Treasury Department determined that removing blight in communities helps to stabilize and strengthen neighborhoods. Since June 2013, hundreds of millions in federal funds have already been awarded to Michigan to get rid of thousands of blighted homes in cities like Flint, Saginaw and Detroit.

Late last year, Congressman Kildee in Flint helped announce that Michigan would receive additional federal dollars after leading a major effort in Congress to give the Treasury Department the flexibility to transfer $2 billion to the Hardest Hit Fund.

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