LANSING (WWJ) -- A bipartisan $4.8 billion spending plan designated for various infrastructure projects in Michigan is officially law.
The Building Michigan Together Plan uses money that largely comes from federal pandemic relief funding that was sent to the state.
Signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday, she stated that Michigan is behind other states in spending this relief funding.
"We've gotta deploy these resources for them to do the good that they were intended to do -- and Michigan is behind what other states have done," said Whitmer.
She noted that a lot of states -- including most midwest states -- have already deployed all of their federal funding.
Over $1 billion will be used to tackle drinking water issues by funding safety programs, while hundreds of millions will be used towards helping to upkeep dams, roads and bridges.
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Millions will also go towards the expansion of high-speed internet access across the state and affordable housing.
State and local parks will also be improved through the plan.
Despite excitement while signing the bills today in Grand Rapids, Whitmer made it a point to focus in on why there was a need to spend this federal aid: "There is a cost to not moving fast and strategically."
Whitmer noted that in Washington D.C., there is an effort to take back pandemic relief aid that was not utilized across the states, so every day that this money doesn't get invested is an "opportunity cost."
"We see inflation continue to eat more of what we're able to do with these dollars... so i've been trying to encourage the legislature to move quickly with us to prioritize things like this," she said.
In Grand Rapids, Governor Whitmer gathered with local and state officials, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and community members in downtown Grand Rapids to celebrate the plan’s record investment in Michigan’s local parks and recreation facilities.
More details about the Building Michigan Together plan can be found on Michigan.gov.
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