Written by Tanya Terry, with photos by Tanya Terry
Governor Gretchen Whitmer was honored with the Key to the City of Flint on August 12 in recognition of her eight years of dedicated service and partnership with the city. The ceremony took place at Flint City Hall Dome and highlighted the governor’s significant contributions to the community’s revitalization and recovery following the water crisis.
Multiple speakers, including Genesee County Clerk Domonique Clemons, Genesee County Treasurer Samuel Muma, Mayor Sheldon Neeley, State Representative Cynthia Neeley and Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet, praised Whitmer’s unwavering support and collaborative leadership.
A recent key accomplishment in Flint has been the replacement of all lead service lines after an extensive effort, achieving ten years of EPA lead and copper standards compliance. The Whitmer administration invested $140 million in lead service line replacements across 11,601 properties out of 32,000 total properties inspected.
Additional major achievements include historic investments in infrastructure, economic development, public safety and education.
Led by Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital in partnership with the University of Michigan, the Rx Kids program to provide cash assistance to new mothers during pregnancy and the first year of life. It is backed by a public-private partnership that includes significant funding from the State of Michigan.
A new 230-acre state park was established along the city’ riverfront under Whitmer’s leadership as well, Flint’s first state park in Genesee County. Tax cuts on Social Security and retirement income provided relief to nearly 40,000 residents. Additionally, economic growth initiatives attracted major business investments, including over $1 billion from General Motors.
According to Whitmer, Flint was a key part of her office’s efforts to address racial health disparities in 2020, when she declared racism a public health crisis statewide.
She said she was honored to receive the honor, even as her tenure will end near the end of the year. She also said she did not earn the Key to the City on her own.
She proudly noted the partnership between state and city leadership has strengthened Flint’s long-term financial stability, supported pension system preservation, expanded funding for parks and public spaces and improved access to healthcare and mental health services, positioning Flint as an example of community recovery and government collaboration.
