Jonathan Oosting | Detroit News
Lansing — Flint and up to four other Michigan communities with high child poverty rates could become “promise zones” to provide local students with tuition-free college under legislation sent Wednesday to Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk.
The Michigan Senate approved the bill in a 35-2 vote, signing off on a final plan the House expanded to include communities beyond Flint, where Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and Consumers Energy have pledged $2 million for the college tuition program.
Promise zones initially rely on private contributions but after two years can capture half of the annual growth in local State Education Tax collections.