With funding diminishing from the State of Michigan for local governments, including school districts, municipalities, townships, school districts and other authorities should focus their attention in securing federal funds for their programs, projects and services, instead of wasting their time in Lansing.

For example, federal funds are available for local governments for a variety of programs ranging from new buildings to communications equipment for first responders. In FY 2009, the following communities received federal funding:

• Negaunee, MI for the Croix Street Reconstruction and completion of Phase I.
• Park City, UT for a Feasibility Study that would bring water from Reclamation facilities.
• Boise, ID, for design and construction of Boise's geothermal system expansion.
• Jackson, MS for a Transitional Job Project for job training and employment programs for the Homeless.
• Oakland, CA for a Green Jobs Initiative.
• Baltimore, MD, for construction for Healthcare for the Homeless center.
• Miami, FL for the Miami Green Initiative, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption in the city.
• Milwaukee, WI to improve access to and utilization of primary and preventive health care among low-income residents.
• The City of Beech Grove, IN, to enhance public safety with in-car cameras and at hot spots in the City to provide real-time feeds to the police command center.
• Holyoke, MA, to develop a full-service community school pilot project.
• The City of Shelbyville, IN, to complete the interoperable wireless public safety communications system for first responders.
• Medford, OR, to provide for the merging of two existing 9-1-1 dispatch centers for police officers.
• City of Sioux City, Sioux City, IA for meth related training.
• Moultrie, GA, for technology upgrades, including purchase of equipment and professional development
• City of Haverhill, MA for various Downtown Streetscape Improvements.
• Stamford, CT, Waste-to-Energy Project, to convert dried sludge into clean, renewable energy.
• City of Yonkers, NY Police Department, to reduce non-emergency 9-1-1 calls through the creation of a new public hotline.
• Albuquerque, NM for their Transit Facility Rehabilitation.
• City of Ashland, MO Main Street Redevelopment Project.
• Crystal City, VA Bus Rapid Transit.
• City of Tuscaloosa, AL Downtown Revitalization Project University Blvd. and Greensboro Avenue.
• Trenton, NJ for a Renewable Energy Feasibility Study, to examine possible renewable energy sources.
• Quincy, IL for Hydroelectric Power Generation, and their city's efforts to install hydroelectric plants at locks and dams.
• Oklahoma City, OK, to continue replacement of Oklahoma's aging communication system.
• Cincinnati, OH for the complete property acquisition, demolition, and remediation to create an urban industrial park.
• Craig, AK for the redevelopment of the abandoned cannery property.
• Milwaukee, WI for the development of supportive housing units for homeless.

In addition, the following school districts will receive federal funding through appropriations: The School District of Lancaster (PA) and Philadelphia School District each received $100,000 Project IMPACT, for abstinence education and related services. Troy High School (PA) received $247,000 for removal and/or replacement of non historic windows, infill, louvers, windows, and fan lights. The Logan Elm School District will receive $48,000 for water infrastructure improvements in Circleville, Ohio. The Hesperia Unified School District, Hesperia, CA, received $98,000 for an after school program for middle school students. The Independence School District, Independence, MO, received $347,000 for before- and after-school programs. The Washoe County School District, NV, received $248,000 for an online assessment and accountability instructional programs and an additional $248,000 for an English Instructional program. The Springfield School District, Springfield, IL, received $94,000 for a middle school history experience. And the City School District of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, received $422,000 for after school and summer school programs, faculty professional development, and parent education workshops. These are just some examples of how local governments and local schools benefited from Congressional appropriations and governmental advocacy in securing additional funds for their community. With limited funding from the state and a declining tax base, the federal government has funding available. It just needs to be identified and advocated for. In fact, cities throughout the country have been receiving federal funds, through grants and earmarks, to help offset the lack of funding from their state. While a number of communities here in Michigan have retained lobbyists to fight for a limited amount of money from the state government, only a few have recognized that more money exists from Washington. To help off set costs associated with retaining a lobbyist, communities can pool their resources, work through their chambers or local economic development organizations and find other creative ways to secure the funding they are no longer receiving from Lansing.

While we sit here in Michigan, trying to convince legislators that one program is more worthy of funding at the sacrifice of another, local government leaders should retain a lobbyist to secure federal funding from Congress. Now is the time to start planning for the next fiscal year and secure the funding necessary to govern. If we do shift our focus to Washington, other communities in other states will.

Congress' Road Ahead

Congress returned to work this week after a seven-month marathon, passing the following issues:

- The economic stimulus package;
- Curbs on abusive credit card practices;
- An omnibus bill setting government spending for the current fiscal year;
- A budget resolution outlining plans for the next fiscal year;
- A supplemental spending bill to fund the Iraq and Afghanistan wars;
- Expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program;
- An equal pay anti-discrimination bill;
- Sweeping tobacco regulations;
- Pentagon acquisition reforms;
- A public lands package designating more than 2 million acres as protected wilderness;
- Expansion of national service programs.

The come back to work with an aggressive agenda, to tackle important issues before they go on their August recess, including:

Energy and Climate Change Legislation

The House passed their version in late June. The Senate is planning on debating a bill now before the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee sometime in the fall. Senate Majority Reid has indicated that he will merge the climate-change legislation with the energy legislation that has already been approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Health Care Reform

Health Care remains the President's top priority, however, it is not without its challenges.  The House is planning on voting on health care reform before their August recess but is running into roadblocks by conservative Democrats. The Senate will debate health care sometime after that but obstacles remain in passing truly comprehensive reform.

Appropriations

Congress is about to pass their first set of appropriation bills but, as with most years these days, not all the spending bills will be passed by the start of the next fiscal year -- October 1, 2009.

Transportation

The current highway bill expires September 30, 2009, leaving hundreds of transportation projects in jeopardy of completion. The President wants to extend that deadline for 18 months and provide a 'pay-as-you-go' strategy to help jump start some of those projects. With health care reform and climate change still on the table, in addition to all of the appropriation bills that have yet to be passed, the transportation reauthorization will likely get extended into 2010.

Financial Regulation

Last month, the President introduced a number of regulations pertaining to the financial industry. Before August, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, will markup the legislation revamping the financial regulatory system, including a measure that would create a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency. The House is expected to vote on this measure, sometime in the fall.

Food Safety

Congress remains interested in tightening inspections and imposing new fees on food safety. This could have an impact on area food banks, schools and speciality food retail shops.

Education

The President wants to eliminate the subsidized private student lending program and shift to a direct loan program to help save money. There is also an effort to expand Title IX (the federal law barring discrimination in education on the basis of sex) to help bolster female student's interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Immigration

After energy, health care and financial industry reform, the President wants Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. However, a lack of votes and time will likely push this issue into next year.

The decisions Congress makes has a large impact on how we do business and in how we conduct our lives.  Although we face many challenges during this difficult time, now is the time to engage lawmakers and regulatory agencies in a discussion about how your company is affected and what legislative steps you can take to emerge from this economy, stronger, more efficient and ready to expand in the next economy.