By AP
Lansing, MI – Lansing, MI - (AP) More than $1 billion in federal stimulus money is officially available to maintain budgets at Michigan schools and help reduce the size of other budget cuts in state programs.
The money announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Education was anticipated as the state made a formal application for it earlier this spring. The cash is designed to help stabilize budgets and maintain education funding.
The Department of Commerce announced that $27 million in competitive grants are available for communities coping with the downturn of the auto industry in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
A Michigan community service group announced that several organizations will split up $2.5 million to boost AmeriCorps programs.