Nearly $6.9 million in grants will help Pontiac with everything from buying downtown property to replacing the Martin Luther King Jr. bridge.

In order to use grants, the council must officially accept them and follow certain rules. tonight, the council will vote to accept:

• $2 million: Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for downtown property acquisition and redevelopment.

• $4.1 million: HUD’s community project fund to help pay for replacing the Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Bridge and making road repairs between South Boulevard and Woodward Avenue. The city shut down the bridge in August 2022 after an inspector found dangerous conditions.

At that time, Mayor Tim Greimel estimated the bridge would cost at least $9 million to repair but the estimate is now closer to $15 million. The state made a $10 million grant for the work. The city will pay for any costs over the $14.1 million.

• $750,120: The money from the Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources SPARK program, administered by the Council of Michigan Foundations, will be used to demolish the long-vacant Ewalt Community Center in Galloway Lake Park and to remove dead trees, brush and weeds under the live trees at the park.

• $10,000: The council will consider accepting a grant from the Voters Not Politicians’ education fund. The money is to support communication from the city that raises voters’ awareness of early voting options including drop box locations, early vote center locations and hours.

The city continues to operate without a full-time finance director after Timothy Sadowski resigned in January.

The council meets at 6 p.m. tonight at Pontiac City Hall, 47450 Woodward Ave.