The $9 million in funding will support the realization of highly innovative green infrastructure systems and renewable energy provision. This investment comes after nearly eight months of planning, strategy and preparation. The Detroit Future City Implementation Office (DFC) has been delighted to provide ongoing technical assistance to the City of Detroit to tailor an impactful approach to garner critical funding to support these efforts. Each will work to fulfill significant facets of the DFC Strategic Framework, particularly regarding city systems and neighborhood stabilization.

The great storm of August 2014 impacted tens of thousands of residents through basement and roadway flooding. These incidents also contributed to the discharge of millions of gallons of untreated stormwater and sanitary waste to the Detroit River and highlighted the need to think differently about our systems. The planning and implementation initiatives we helped to shape with the City of Detroit, and that were announced today, will begin to improve our city’s ability to withstand the impacts of severe rain events as they grow more frequent.

At the core of these initiatives is a concerted effort to transform Detroit’s vacant and underutilized land into an asset to create resilient 21st century infrastructure at a scale unachievable by many other cities. Here one of Detroit’s greatest perceived liabilities becomes one of its most profound differentiating assets.

We all have the opportunity to shape a new future, where we conceive a truly sustainable city that moves beyond the conventional definitions of the past.

We are thrilled to see such profound support from Federal and City officials, community members, and philanthropic leaders to advance this future. DFC will continue to partner and advocate for these and other innovative ways we can positively transform our city together.

Dan Kinkead, Acting Executive Director
DFC Implementation Office