Detroit, Michigan – Sen. Debbie Stabenow shared on X that Detroit will use $14 million given by the federal government for COVID-19 recovery to build a sports dome at Chandler Park.
“Three years later, the American Rescue Plan is still making important investments in our communities. Great to see Detroit breaking ground on the Chandler Park Fieldhouse!” Stabenow posted.
President Joe Biden pushed for and approved a massive $1.9 trillion spending bill, named the American Rescue Plan Act, aiming to address the immediate needs of American communities as stated by the Economic Development of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Michigan got $6.5 billion from it, with the bulk going to local governments.
The White House announced on its site that the spending plan aims to offer financial support to various employers, such as government bodies and small businesses, to help them keep their staff.
In December 2020, CapCon noted that 35.8% of businesses in Michigan had to shut down within the year. Some were able to get back on their feet with the help of grants and loans that didn’t need to be paid back. However, others weren’t as lucky and ended up closing for good.
Many local governments decided to spend part of their ARPA funds on construction projects. Chandler Park is one such project, featuring amenities like a water park, skate park, golf course, and basketball courts, along with fields for football, soccer, and lacrosse. Some attractions at the park, like the water park, charge an entry fee.
Detroit isn’t the only place thinking about using federal relief money for leisure projects. The Lenawee County Board of Commissioners once had plans to allocate $10 million of their COVID relief funds towards a sports complex that would have cost $90 million to construct.