We’ve been trying to make sure Flint gets shared on our pages and not forgotten but at large it’s faded from mainstream memory and the plight of it’s people has become a footnote. The Trump administration seems to be producing so much nonsense news (yes, we have been caught up in reporting it at times too!) that Flint’s crisis seems so far in the past and most people probably think it is fixed.

Well, it isn’t! Many are still on bottled water yet funding for that has been cut, despite many still registering high levels of toxins in their water. The people of Flint seemed to have little hope left to fix an issue that rocked the community.

BUT, maybe there has been a ray of hope as the EPA has approved $100m for the city to fix the broken water system.

Atlanta Black Start reported:

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI), alongside Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) announced the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent approval of $100 million in federal funds to repair Flint’s crumbling water system on Friday, March 17.

The long-awaited funds are the result of a bipartisan agreement proposed by Stabenow, Peters and Kildee that was approved by Congress and signed into law by former President Barack Obama late last year.

“Today, we have good news for families in Flint who have already waited far too long for their water system to be fixed,” Stabenow, Peters and Kildee wrote in a joint statement. “After a hard-fought victory to secure $100 million in assistance last year, the city of Flint will finally begin receiving funding to repair and replace the pipes.

“The people of Flint are strong and resilient, and we will continue to fight for the resources and assistance they need,” they continued. “It’s also past time for the state of Michigan to do everything in its power to meet its responsibilities to help the city recover from this man-made crisis.”

Of the total amount, $51.5 million has been made immediately available for Flint to begin replacing lead service lines, making distribution main improvements and putting corrosion-control methods in place, according to a press release provided to Atlanta Black Star.

About $20 million of that $51.5 million will come from the required state match and the other $31.5 million from government funds.

Get more details here.

Let us all hope this really does go to fixing the problem and yet more corruption and delays don’t destroy this hope….

We will be watching.