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City funds allocated to increase equity in third ward

  

A total of $750,000 is being allocated to the Third Ward Equity Fund.

Eric DeLong, Deputy City Manager, said through this fund, the city is recognizing decades of inequity to the south east side of Grand Rapids.

“We have recognized as a community that those disparities exist and we know that, in order to be successful, we’ve got to work to reduce those,” he said.

Most African Americans in Grand Rapids live in the third ward, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The money comes out of the city’s Transformation Fund. It will go towards repairing homes, promoting lead education and awareness, investing in businesses and entrepreneurs and helping young African American men who have survived trauma or violence.

According to DeLong, the funds have been approved and will be released to programs beginning in the summer.

 

Kayla Sosa is a general news reporter for WGVU Public Radio.