The Oakland County Board of Commissioners unanimously created the Oakland Together Local Government Partnership at its June 4 meeting. The partnership establishes a $35 million grant program to help cities, villages and townships, and other local government entities in Oakland County address the COVID-19 pandemic. Following federally approved guidelines, the grants can help cover necessary costs local governments have incurred due to the public health emergency, and that were not accounted for in a budget approved as of March 27, 2020.
“Oakland County stands ready to support and help our local communities recover the costs COVID-19 created and prepare for the future to better protect residents,” said Board Chairman David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak), who introduced the resolution. “This is the largest local government partnership being undertaken in Michigan. This is what Oakland Together is all about.”
Last month, Oakland County Executive David Coulter proposed the local government partnership after hearing from local leaders and governments about the need to address unplanned and unexpected costs. Oakland County’s 61 local communities have yet to receive direct federal assistance.
“These grants will provide our local partners with some relief from the effects of the pandemic, including the costs they have incurred keeping their communities safe,” Coulter said. “Thank you to the Board of Commissioners for supporting our cities, villages and townships.”
The Oakland Together Local Government Partnership Program Oversight Committee will oversee the program, and it consists of three commissioners and two appointees of the Oakland County Executive. The bipartisan committee will determine eligible applicants and develop, release, review and recommend a grant application process for the program. It may also develop specific applications for public entities, including but not limited to, local libraries, senior centers and community centers.
Commissioners Gwen Markham (D-Novi) and Michael Spisz (R-Oxford) will serve on the oversight committee. Commissioners Penny Luebs (D-Clawson) and Tom Kuhn (R-Troy) will serve as alternates.
“I am glad to be part of the Board of Commissioners that was able to come together and provide support to all of our local communities in these difficult times as we all battle COVID-19,” Spisz said. “We must all continue to come together and move forward as we drive this great county in the right direction.”
The county administration will be convening webinars with local governments to explain the new grant program and assist with local applications.
For additional information about the Board of Commissioners, visit www.oakgov.com/boc or call 248-858-0100.
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