Bipartisan Support in Michigan’s Legislature for Major Investments in Detroit

The $76 billion state budget deal approved last week includes hundreds of millions for Detroit museums, development projects and other programs.

Why it matters: While city lawmakers struggle to pass new state laws with a majority-Republican legislature, they can still bring home wins through the state budget.

Driving the news: Detroit’s carve-outs are part of $1 billion in the state budget for lawmakers’ hometown projects, the Detroit News reports.

Local recipients include:

Detroit Center for Innovation: $100 million toward building a new research and innovation center near Little Caesars Arena. The center involves U of M, Olympia Development and Stephen Ross’ Related Companies. It’s estimated to cost a total of $250 million.

• A spokesperson for the project declined an interview but in a statement thanked the governor and lawmakers “for their vision in making this investment in Michigan.”

Karmanos Cancer Institute: $100 million for a cancer treatment facility operated by Wayne State University.

Community development financial institutions: $75 million for various CDFIs throughout the state.

• Detroit has a concentration of these financial organizations, which offer loans in low-income communities often underserved by traditional banks.
• “That’s going to be a game changer for a variety of neighborhood areas across the city,” Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, tells Axios.

Joe Louis Greenway: $40 million for the 27.5-mile pedestrian and bike path designed to give neighborhood residents better access to the riverfront.

• The Legislature also approved $60 million in a $4.8 billion infrastructure spending bill earlier this year.

Eastern Market: $12 million to upgrade food storage infrastructure at the city’s historic community marketplace.

Museums: $10 million for Midtown’s Charles Wright Museum and Detroit Historical Museum.

Education: Tate also touts an increase in funding for K-12 public schools in the next fiscal year.

• Per pupil funding increased to $9,150 from $8,700.
• “In a city like Detroit, that’s going to be significant,” Tate says.

The bottom line: “I think people can be proud of what we’ve done on the education side, as well as funding for capital improvements,” Tate says.

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