Michigan is asking the federal government for 290 million dollars to clean up blighted and abandoned areas in cities around the state, and on the list of potential recipients is Benton Harbor. Community Development Director at the Michigan State Housing Development Authority Rick Ballard says that if the money is approved, the state could hand it off to local land banks and communities to acquire and redevelop foreclosed, abandoned and vacant properties. The funds could also be used to demolish abandoned structures and rehabilitate homes. Twelve cities are on the state's application for funding, which includes 18 million dollars for Benton Harbor:
Ballard says that abandoned properties have been a growing problem for Michigan's urban areas:
He says that if the federal money is approved, cities like Benton Harbor could put such blighted property to good use:
Other cities on the list include Detroit, Kalamazoo, Flint, and Grand Rapids. Ballard says that the US Department of Housing and Urban Development could decide on the funding request by December.
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