by Becky Andrus | Jun 15, 2021 | Local News
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR
CHRIS BARNETT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Pender 248-391-0304 ext. 2002
[email protected]
Orion Township Fire Department Begins Advanced Life Support Service
Orion Township, MI (June 12, 2021) – Effective June 12, 2021 at 0800hrs, Orion Township Fire Department will begin Advanced Life Support services. The transition from Basic Life Support (BLS) to Advanced Life Support (ALS) is years in the making, and included the purchasing of additional apparatus, specialized equipment, and medications, and the hiring and training of full-time paramedics.
“We are able to make this transition from BLS to ALS because of everyone’s hard work and dedication at the OTFD” said Orion Township Fire Chief Rob Duke. “I also want to thank the Board of Trustee’s for their unwavering support to the community and the support for the Fire Department, without which this process would not be realized.”
Advanced Life Support is a set of life-saving protocols and skills that extend beyond Basic Life Support. It is used to provide urgent treatment to cardiac emergencies such as cardiac arrest, stroke, and other conditions. Paramedics qualified to provided ALS are trained and authorized to administer medication, perform injections, and conduct airway procedures prior to arrival at a hospital.
Up until now, Orion Township Fire Department was Basic Life Support and partnered with other municipal agencies and Star EMS for Advanced Life Support. While effective in the past, the reliance on a third-party for this critical level of care was becoming unsustainable. Now, Orion Township paramedics will be able to provide this critical care from the moment of first arrival, greatly reducing the time between the onset of the medical event and the start of critical care, which will increase survival rates of sudden cardiac arrests and other emergencies for Orion Township residents.
“We have seen tremendous growth in the professionalism and capacity of our Fire Department” said Chris Barnett, Township Supervisor. “Over the past many years, we have grown from a paid on-call department to a full-time department, now to an ALS department. I am incredibly proud of the OTFD team, under the leadership of Chief Duke, Assistant Chief Pender and EMS Coordinator Cameron, who have dedicated countless hours to making this happen, and further thank the Orion Township community who has shown the Fire Department their support through the passage of a dedicated Fire Millage, which has allowed this advancement to be possible.”
For more information on the Fire Department’s efforts in becoming ALS, please reach out to Assistant Chief John Pender at j[email protected], and stay tuned for more information on this year’s Fire Department Open House, where the community is invited to explore the Fire Department apparatus and meet with the men and women who serve the community.
by Becky Andrus | Jun 15, 2021 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Announces Credit Rating Outlook Boost as State Displays Strong Financial Position, Economic Recovery
Fitch Ratings improves Michigan’s AA credit rating outlook from “stable outlook” to “positive outlook.”
LANSING, Mich. – Governor Whitmer today announced that the state of Michigan’s improving economy and multi-billion-dollar revenue surplus coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted Fitch Ratings to improve the state’s general obligation bonds AA credit rating from a “stable outlook” to a “positive outlook.” The State of Michigan recently announce new revenue projections taking the state from a nearly $3 billion deficit to a $3.5 billion surplus. The move is an affirmation the state is headed in the right direction, saving taxpayers money by lower borrowing costs for upcoming bond issues.
“This rating is a sign of confidence in Michigan’s hardworking people, close-knit communities, and innovative small businesses,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Our early, decisive efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic are paying dividends as we emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever, poised for an economic jumpstart. With billions in federal stimulus and a $3.5 billion state budget surplus, we must continue our forward momentum and channel it into raising wages, invest in small businesses, and uplift families. I look forward to engaging the legislature, local communities and Michiganders as we continue thinking through the best ways to turbocharge our economy and make a real difference in people’s lives.”
In its announcement, which formally rated $603 million of limited obligation revenue bonds to be issued through the Michigan Strategic Fund in support of the Flint Water Advocacy Fund, Fitch noted the state of Michigan’s success in achieving balanced budgets and the expectation that the state’s improved fiscal and budgetary resilience will be sustained.
In addition, Fitch believes the state is well-positioned to benefit from a return to economic growth following the deep recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am delighted how Wall Street has recognized the hard work and effort taken to react to the impacts of COVID-19 here in Michigan,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “The credit rating agencies have again displayed confidence in Michigan’s economic and financial health by affirming their credit ratings – with Fitch even boosting their outlook – showing investors that our state is a great investment.”
Prior to offering $603 million of limited obligation revenue bonds, Fitch and Moody’s Investor Services reviews the state’s economy, finances and other factors to determine a credit rating.
Due to the bonds being an appropriation credit of the state, the rating agencies rate the Michigan Strategic Fund bonds one notch below the credit ratings of the state of Michigan. The bonds are rated AA- by Fitch and Aa2 by Moody’s.
The money from this bond sale will be used to make a loan to the Flint Water Advocacy Fund for the purpose of transferring $600 million to the Flint Water Crisis Qualified Settlement Fund in accordance with a settlement agreement entered between the state of Michigan and plaintiffs concerning state defendants’ legal liabilities related to the Flint Water Crisis.
During the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, the Michigan Department of Treasury and state House and Senate Fiscal Agencies agreed to revenues $3.5 billion more than anticipated in January. Federal stimulus programs and improving public health situation were attributed to the increase.
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by Becky Andrus | Jun 14, 2021 | Regional News
BE YOUR REAL ID SELF
MAKE A PLAN BY MAY 3, 2023
Don’t delay. When the federal REAL ID law goes into effect, you’ll need a REAL ID document to board domestic flights.
Make an appointment now at a Secretary of State office to turn your standard driver’s license or ID into a REAL ID.
by Becky Andrus | Jun 14, 2021 | Regional News
NACo Shines Light On Oakland County Pandemic Response
County Garners 12 NACo Achievement Awards Including “Best In Category” For COVID-19 Tribute
Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is capturing national recognition. The county won the Best in Category award for Civic Education and Public Information from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its #OaklandTogether COVID-19 Tribute. The county also captured 11 other 2021 NACo Achievement Awards including six additional awards for pandemic response, Oakland County Parks & Recreation’s Holly Oaks ORV Park, and the county’s Public Safety Transparency Dashboard.
“These NACo Achievement Awards are a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our Oakland County employees throughout the pandemic,” County Executive Dave Coulter said. “They leaned into the public health crisis to ensure we support and protect our residents and businesses all while continuing to develop and deliver innovative programs to better serve our citizens.”
The county’s award-winning pandemic response programs included:
- Reopen Kits for 15,000 Oakland County businesses and community organizations and a Crowdfunding Campaign which raised over $300,000 for small businesses in downtown areas (both were submitted as a single award).
- Oakland County “Safe for School” Hotline to address parent and school concerns related to sending students to school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Digital Coronavirus Response which demonstrated transformative adaptability and agility in digital response to the pandemic.
- CARES Act Grant Automation to improve the efficiency of grant applications and processing using Laserfiche.
- Health Connect to manage the deluge of pandemic-related phone calls at Oakland County Health Division.
- The Oakland Together Lifeline to help seniors stay connected with friends and loved ones while social distancing.
“These awards recognize new initiatives that demonstrate how Oakland County continues to innovate, lead and create programs to improve the lives of residents,” Board Chairman David T. Woodward said. “The national recognition is an incredible honor, and we are glad to share these programs with counties across the nation.”
The remaining awards were for the Oakland County Clean, Drain, Dry, Dispose Pilot Program to raise public awareness, change behaviors and build community capacity to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species in Oakland County waters; Oakland County Native Plants Initiative to educate residents on the benefits of native plant species and provide them with tools to take action in their own gardens; and the county’s Cybersecurity Task Force.
by Becky Andrus | Jun 14, 2021 | Regional News
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $754,840 in CARES Act Recovery Assistance to Support Medical Technology Innovators in Southeast Michigan
LANSING, Mich. – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $754,840 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to Techtown Detroit to support innovation and entrepreneurship in the region’s medical and manufacturing sectors. This EDA grant, to be matched with $249,900 in local investment, is expected to generate $5.5 million in private investment.
“I am grateful to our federal partners for investing in the future of medical technology, manufacturing, and research in Detroit,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “This infusion of resources will generate millions in private investment, support entrepreneurship, and lead to groundbreaking innovations that save lives. With the incoming federal resources and our state budget surplus, Michigan will emerge from the pandemic and jumpstart our economy.”
“TechTown has been helping to build a more resilient and inclusive economy by leveraging this region’s unique assets for more than 17 years, and now we have a partner at the highest level to help us expand our impact”, said Ned Staebler, President and CEO of TechTown Detroit. “With this grant from the Economic Development Administration, we’ll engage 25 regional stakeholders including healthcare systems, local government entities, private investors, universities and economic development organizations to advance regional innovation in medical technology, creating good-paying jobs and helping SE Michigan build back better.”
“This critical support from the Economic Development Administration signals a commitment at the highest level to Detroit’s innovation ecosystem,” said Wayne State University President and TechTown Chair M. Roy Wilson. “With it, TechTown will continue to be a leader in driving the region’s economic recovery through the COVID-19 crisis via its MedHealth cluster. Since 2015, MedHealth has played a critical role in convening, educating and connecting medical innovation stakeholders in the Detroit region, and we are thrilled to work with the EDA to expand programs that will further catalyze entrepreneurship and business growth in the region’s healthcare sector.”
“The Economic Development Administration is committed to helping communities across the nation implement strategies to mitigate economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Susan Brehm, Director of EDA’s Chicago Regional Office. “This EDA investment in Wayne State’s MedHealth initiative will boost efforts to leverage Southeast Michigan’s strengths in healthcare and manufacturing by building the capacity of healthcare innovation ecosystem to accelerate the adoption of new technologies.”
This project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, provides a wide range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov) The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
TechTown empowers Detroit-based startups and local businesses to start, stabilize and scale by providing resources, collaborative workspace and education for entrepreneurs that will further accelerate inclusive economic development across Detroit. Since 2007, TechTown has supported more than 4,500 companies, which created 1,600 jobs and raised more than $172 million in startup and growth capital.
MedHealth is a regional collaboration connecting, convening, and educating the medical innovation ecosystem in Southeast Michigan and Southwest Ontario to accelerate the adoption of technologies that improve quality of care and contribute to economic growth.
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