LANSING, Mich., March 6, 2023 — The Michigan House of Representatives passed House Bill 4016 last week after receiving it from the Senate. This bill is a bipartisan supplemental budget that now heads to the governor’s desk and will create a positive impact in many communities.
“I voted yes on this bill to support my constituents — I am pleased to continue to advocate, alongside my colleagues from both parties, to secure funding for critical priorities in the 103rd District, from housing funding to veteran mental health to funds for a key NMC aviation capital project,” said state Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City).
The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity will award over $3.75 million in matching funds to Northwestern Michigan College in House District 103. This investment will be used by the college for a new aviation hangar for instructing student pilots.
“Our district received investments for a much needed renovation and expansion of the Northwestern Michigan College student aviation hangar, which will allow NMC to increase capacity to train more pilots and help with the nation’s pilot shortage. I thank my Republican House and Senate colleagues Curt VanderWall and John DaMoose for their work on this priority as well, and I am grateful we came together in a bipartisan way to deliver for our region’s priorities. I am pleased that this supplemental bill also supports hospitals, long-term care, community violence prevention, and support for veterans mental health,” Coffia continued. “Each of these are important priorities for the 103rd District. It also includes funding for home energy rebates for home appliances, heating and cooling systems, electric vehicle chargers, and solar installation and battery storage.”
HB 4016 contains a wide variety of crucial funding allocations, including $750,000 for veteran suicide prevention; $170.3 million in economic development investments; $212 million for home energy rebates for home appliances, heating and cooling systems, electric vehicle chargers and solar installation and battery storage; $150 million to build affordable housing and support construction jobs; and the disbursement of almost $200 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that, if not distributed soon, could be returned to Washington, D.C. $75 million in ARPA funds is allocated for hospital staffing grants and $67 million for health workforce grants, totaling $142 million. These investments are historic for hospitals and health-care workers, ensuring health-care providers can maintain safe staffing ratios to guarantee the care Michiganders need and deserve.