State of the Cities: leaders announce multimillion-dollar grants, infrastructure upgrades and development plans
March 07, 2026 | Farmington Public School District, School Districts, New York
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The Greater Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the State of the Cities at Farmington High School, where local leaders showcased a string of community investments and development plans intended to boost safety, walkability and economic activity.
Mayor Joe LaRussa told the audience Farmington has seen measurable momentum downtown and across city services, calling out a DDA public investment of $226,000 that leveraged $8.4 million in private investment and 9 out of 11 new downtown businesses. "This is the fiscal stewardship our taxpayers expect," he said when summarizing recent financial work and infrastructure projects.
Why it matters: leaders framed the announcements as efforts to support continued growth — from safer streets and expanded parks to water and sewer upgrades that underpin development. The event included two funding presentations: a nearly $500,000 award through the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments' Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to add sidewalks and pedestrian safety improvements, and a separate congressionally directed $1,000,000 grant earmarked for upgrades to the city's 9-mile pumping station.
SEMCOG Chair Gwen Markham said the TAP award targets pedestrian refuge islands, sidewalks and hawk signals to improve crossings. Amy O'Leary, SEMCOG's executive director, said the funding is part of federal Safe Streets Now money meant to advance walkability and safety.
On water infrastructure, the mayor introduced Cody Shaw, the economic development director for Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who presented a ceremonial check representing approximately $1,000,000 of community project funding to support pumping-station upgrades. The mayor said the funds will help refurbish and modernize critical sanitary infrastructure.
Other public investments highlighted included $38 million spent in 2025 on roads, sidewalks and neighborhood infrastructure in Farmington Hills and a planned $41 million for 2026; a $3 million state grant that funded Farmington Hills' emergency operations center; grants supporting an adaptive playground and neighborhood crosswalk improvements; and support for recreation and senior services through donations and federal grants.
Leaders also emphasized public-safety purchases and programming: Farmington Hills reported nearly 53,000 police calls in 2025 and a new emergency operations center, while Farmington noted acquisition of a new fire engine partially funded by $750,000 in state support and the donation of its first drone to assist emergency responses.
What’s next: officials said precinct consolidation, capital planning and park projects will continue in 2026, with residents receiving voter-registration updates and the city pursuing final design and funding steps for several capital projects. The conference closed with a focus on sustaining partnerships among local government, education and business to convert grants and planning into completed projects.
Mayor Joe LaRussa told the audience Farmington has seen measurable momentum downtown and across city services, calling out a DDA public investment of $226,000 that leveraged $8.4 million in private investment and 9 out of 11 new downtown businesses. "This is the fiscal stewardship our taxpayers expect," he said when summarizing recent financial work and infrastructure projects.
Why it matters: leaders framed the announcements as efforts to support continued growth — from safer streets and expanded parks to water and sewer upgrades that underpin development. The event included two funding presentations: a nearly $500,000 award through the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments' Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to add sidewalks and pedestrian safety improvements, and a separate congressionally directed $1,000,000 grant earmarked for upgrades to the city's 9-mile pumping station.
SEMCOG Chair Gwen Markham said the TAP award targets pedestrian refuge islands, sidewalks and hawk signals to improve crossings. Amy O'Leary, SEMCOG's executive director, said the funding is part of federal Safe Streets Now money meant to advance walkability and safety.
On water infrastructure, the mayor introduced Cody Shaw, the economic development director for Congresswoman Haley Stevens, who presented a ceremonial check representing approximately $1,000,000 of community project funding to support pumping-station upgrades. The mayor said the funds will help refurbish and modernize critical sanitary infrastructure.
Other public investments highlighted included $38 million spent in 2025 on roads, sidewalks and neighborhood infrastructure in Farmington Hills and a planned $41 million for 2026; a $3 million state grant that funded Farmington Hills' emergency operations center; grants supporting an adaptive playground and neighborhood crosswalk improvements; and support for recreation and senior services through donations and federal grants.
Leaders also emphasized public-safety purchases and programming: Farmington Hills reported nearly 53,000 police calls in 2025 and a new emergency operations center, while Farmington noted acquisition of a new fire engine partially funded by $750,000 in state support and the donation of its first drone to assist emergency responses.
What’s next: officials said precinct consolidation, capital planning and park projects will continue in 2026, with residents receiving voter-registration updates and the city pursuing final design and funding steps for several capital projects. The conference closed with a focus on sustaining partnerships among local government, education and business to convert grants and planning into completed projects.
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