The Gretchen Whitmer administration finalized the the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget in recent days.

The $82.5 billion spending package was wrapped up just days before the Aug. 1 deadline.

“We want to make sure that every Michigander, no matter where you live, is safe as you go to work, drop your kids off at school, run errands. This budget gets it done,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer also said that one of the budget’s main goals is protecting Michigan residents.

Here’s a sampling of a handful of Upper Peninsula projects and entities that received funding.

≤ $1.6 million for the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans.

≤ $1.2 million to Aspirus Ironwood hospital to assist with OB-GYN services.

≤ $2 million to Munising Memorial Hospital for numerous updates.

≤ $1 million for debt assistance for the Marquette Regional History Center.

≤ $1 million for Dickinson County Road 573.

≤ $1 million in debt relief for Pine Mountain Ski Jump at Veterans Park in Iron Mountain.

≤ $800,000 for continuation of the state’s “cold case” investigation and training program at Northern Michigan University.

≤ $500,000 for the Gladstone Senior Center.

≤ $400,000 for track replacement at the Stephenson Sports Complex.

≤ $2 million for flood and weather disaster recovery in the central U.P.

≤ $1 million for U.P. water infrastructure projects.

≤ $1 million to aid in the research and development of a mass timber market in Michigan.

≤ $250,000 to assist families grieving after a death by suicide.

We give Whitmer credit for including funds for medical and infrastructure updates. Those were needed.

We wish, however, money beyond what is presently allocated had been included to address individual community’s challenges associated with homeless persons.

Additionally, hunger is a state and national shame that must be addressed.

Perhaps next year.