LANSING — The Michigan House approved a $100 million aid proposal Wednesday to support Northern Michigan’s recovery from the March ice storm.
The bill — HB 4328 — would spread funding around the 12 counties under states of emergency declared in the storm’s aftermath.
State Representative Parker Fairbairn, (R) District 107, Harbor Springs, says the action could unlock $300 million in federal matching funds.
“That’s going to ring the alarm bell for the federal government, and they see the buy-in from the state, that the state’s putting in their 25% — we’re ready for the feds to come in and help,” he said.
The proposal passed the House with near-unanimous support — 107-1.
“I ask that the members of this chamber support this bill to provide a hand up to your fellow michiganders who find themselves in a desperate situation and from which you will have the ability to help them,
That $100 million is higher than the $75 million Fairbairn originally proposed. The extra $25 million could be spent after the initial $75 million.
Allen Ballard, Crawford County public information officer, says his county would use the funding to help with or reimburse residential damage.
“We would love to be able to put some of that money into the hands of our citizens who have had to have expenses out of their own pocket for fuel, debris removal or just simple repairs upon their homes and residences,” he said.
Ballard says some costs for house repairs and property clearing have been barriers for some people in their efforts to clean up.
“We have a lot of senior adults in the area, and people that are physically unable to haul that or just financially are under under burden for it, and to get that debris removed, he said. “Having that cost recovery recuperation would be very crucial and critical for us.”
The bill still needs be approved by the state Senate and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.