$10 Million in Relief to Help Residents of Flooding  

$10 Million in Relief to Help Residents of Flooding  

by | Jul 29, 2021 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
July 29, 2021 
Contact: [email protected]

Governor Whitmer Puts Forward Plan to Use $10 Million in Emergency Relief to Help Residents Recovering from June Flooding 
Governor Whitmer continues to meet with residents who have been impacted by extreme weather events 

LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced a plan to utilize $10 million in state general funds to provide emergency relief to households impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding on June 25 and 26.

 

The funding will be allocated to the City of Detroit and Wayne and Washtenaw counties to set up residential gap funding grant programs to assist households not eligible for federal assistance or not provided adequate resources from FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration to return to their pre-disaster quality of life.

 

“Recognizing the hardships the flooding has placed on individuals and families that sustained damage to their homes and loss of personal property, we are working with Wayne and Washtenaw counties and the City of Detroit to ensure this funding is available to help residents as they recover from this disaster,” said Governor Whitmer. “I appreciate the partnership with the counties and City of Detroit in putting together these programs to help get residents back on their feet.”

 

The $10 million in general funds is part of a supplemental funding bill, signed by Governor Whitmer on July 26, to be used to assist areas of the state with restoration costs and other expenses resulting from weather-related events that occurred in June 2021.

 

On June 25 and 26, heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding in Wayne and Washtenaw Counties, damaging infrastructure and private property. On June 26, Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Wayne County.

On July 8, Governor Whitmer added Washtenaw County to the state of emergency declaration. By declaring a state of emergency, Whitmer made available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in the designated area.  On July 13, Governor Whitmer sent a letter to President Biden requesting that he declares an emergency disaster for the state of Michigan.  On July 15, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration making federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties.

 

Additionally, Governor Whitmer requested over $50 million in federal assistance to repair damaged highways and purchase backup pump station generators.

 

Governor Whitmer remains committed to making long-term, lasting investments in Michigan’s infrastructure. Under the MI Clean Water plan, a $500 million investment would assist local municipalities upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

 

On July 28, Governor Whitmer announced a shared commitment from finance industry groups to help Michiganders affected by the recent flooding in southeastern Michigan to stay in their homes and to afford necessary repairs.

 
Whitmer announces $24.5 million AmeriCorps investment

Whitmer announces $24.5 million AmeriCorps investment

by | Jul 29, 2021 | Regional News

Header 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 29, 2021

CONTACT: Jason Alexander, alexanderj9@michigan.gov

 

Gov. Whitmer announces $24.5 million AmeriCorps investment to address COVID-19 recovery, build and strengthen communities

 

LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Whitmer and the Michigan Community Service Commission today announced Michigan’s $24.5 million AmeriCorps investment that will support over 1,000 AmeriCorps members tackling some of the state’s toughest challenges, including COVID-19 recovery, disaster services, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, education, health and safer communities.

 

“Michigan AmeriCorps members work tirelessly to help communities tackle their toughest challenges,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “This funding will help them continue their efforts and play a role in our state’s economic jumpstart as we emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.”

 

During the last program year, AmeriCorps members served 33,275 youth, treated 1,026 acres of public land and provided 6,541 individuals with health services.

 

This investment will support 26 Michigan organizations through 28 subgrants and one planning grant to expand their reach and impact in Michigan communities. Those organizations include:

  • Albion College: $191,591, South Central Michigan Region
  • American Red Cross-Michigan Region: $301,057, Statewide
  • BHK Child Development Board: $133,731, Upper Peninsula
  • Cherry Health: $386,466, West Michigan Region
  • Child & Family Services of Northwestern MI: $474,122, Statewide
  • City Year Detroit: $1,762,272, Southeast Michigan Region
  • Community Economic Development Association of MI: $326,000, Statewide
  • Crim Fitness Foundation: $244,054, Mid-Michigan Region
  • Eastern Michigan University: $54,506 planning grant, Southeast Michigan Region
  • Hope Network: $1,149,569, Statewide
  • Huron Pines: $388,007, Statewide
  • Luella Hannan Foundation: $83,211, Southeast Michigan Region
  • Ingham County Health Department: $163,945, Mid-Michigan Region
  • Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness: $290,538, Statewide
  • Michigan College Access Network: $1,076,000, two grants, Statewide
  • Michigan Fitness Foundation, $114,048, Statewide
  • Michigan Primary Care Association: $180,927, Statewide
  • Michigan State University Extension: $244,500, Statewide
  • Peckham, Inc.: $163,486, Mid-Michigan Region
  • Special Olympics Michigan: $125,510, Statewide
  • Teach for America: $25,000, Southeast Michigan Region
  • United Way of Genesee County: $244,472, Mid-Michigan Region
  • Urban Neighborhood Initiatives: $114,100, Southeast Michigan Region
  • WARM Training Center (EcoWorks): $387261, Southeast Michigan Region
  • Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency: $114,100, Southeast Michigan Region
  • Wayne State University: 737,020, two grants, Southeast Michigan Region

 

These funds are made possible through a $9.4 million federal AmeriCorps grant and AmeriCorps’ unique model that will leverage an additional nearly $10.7 million in matching funds from the private sector, foundations and other sources, increasing the return on the federal funds.

 

In addition, AmeriCorps is providing $4.4 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for AmeriCorps members. Upon completion of a full-time term of service, AmeriCorps members will receive an education award of over $6,000 they can use to cover the cost of college or pay back student loans.

 

“We’re incredibly proud to host two AmeriCorps grant programs – one to help students get into college and one to help them complete college – all in support of the governor’s Sixty by 30 goal,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) executive director. “National service is one of the best ways an organization like MCAN can impact individuals, communities and the state. We will use these funds and empower these AmeriCorps members to close education equity gaps for low-income students, first-generation college-going students and students of color across Michigan.”

 

“Public purpose is one of Albion College’s core institutional values,” said Mathew Johnson, Albion College president. “This grant will allow us to expand opportunities offered through the new School for Public Purpose and Professional Advancement for students to engage with community partners in areas such as education, health, food security, and economic development, strengthening our long-standing relationships within the local community and creating lasting social impact.”

 

To learn more about Michigan’s AmeriCorps efforts, visit Michigan.gov/volunteer.

 

The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) utilizes service as a strategy to address the state’s most pressing issues and empowers volunteers to strengthen communities. From 2021-2022, the MCSC will grant more than $21 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. Michigan’s AmeriCorps, Mentor Michigan and Volunteer Michigan are premier programs of the MCSC. The MCSC is housed in the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/volunteer.

 
OC Vaccination exceeds 70%, clinics focus on Back to School

OC Vaccination exceeds 70%, clinics focus on Back to School

by | Jul 29, 2021 | Regional News

Vaccination rate exceeds 70%. Clinics focus on Back to School

​Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County reached a significant milestone last week when the state reported that 70% of county residents had received at least the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines.

But Oakland County Executive David Coulter noted with nearly 30% of the county’s residents still unvaccinated, it’s not time yet to plan a parade.

Instead, the county’s Health Division will concentrate on a Back-to-School push in an effort to get as many residents vaccinated as possible, especially in the 12-24 age group.

“We’re among the first counties in the state and the first in Metro Detroit to reach this goal and I’m so happy that so many county residents took the initiative to keep themselves, their families, friends and neighbors safe from this insidious virus,” Coulter said. “But while reaching this vaccination goal is an important moment to acknowledge, we’re not done fighting this pandemic. The Delta variant of the virus are still present in the state and Oakland County and these new mutations of COVID are highly contagious.”

“It’s especially important for our teens and young adults, who are preparing to go back to school soon, to get their shots NOW, so in-person learning can fully resume and we can all get back to a sense of normalcy,” he added.

Clinics through the end of August and into September will be held throughout Oakland County, including:

  • Best Western Premier Hotel in Southfield on July 28, Aug. 19, Aug. 31, Sept. 16, and Sept. 29
  • New Birth International Church/Church in the Park in Pontiac on July 30
  • Hope United Methodist Church in Southfield on July 31
  • Emergency Management Day in Pontiac on Aug. 11
  • Carnival Market in Pontiac on Aug. 11
  • Oak Park Schools Aug. 16 and Aug. 18
  • Berkley CruiseFest in Berkley on Aug. 20
  • Believers Community Outreach Back to School Event in Pontiac Aug. 28
  • Carnival Market in Pontiac on Aug. 31
  • Berkley Art Bash in Berkley on Sept. 11

In addition, the Health Division will be administering doses on the campuses of Lawrence Tech and Oakland universities, Walsh College, Oakland Community College, Baker College and Rochester University.

All these locations will take walk-up appointments. For more information on these community and event-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics, go to OaklandCountyVaccine.com. Those who do not have access to the Internet may call the Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. for more information.

Use the State of Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccine finder to locate a convenient provider.

The following is an update on progress vaccinating Oakland County residents, according to the State of Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard as of July 27, 2021:

  • Total eligible residents 16 and older: 1,029,737
    • Number of residents 16 and older necessary to reach 70 percent coverage: 720,816
    • Number of residents 16 and older who have received first dose: 722,406
    • Number of residents 16 and older who have completed vaccination: 664,291
    • Vaccine coverage for residents 16 and older: 70.2 percent
  • Total eligible residents 12 and older: 1,091,389
    • Number of residents 12 and older who have received first dose: 750,298
    • Number of residents 12 years and older who have completed vaccination: 696,970
    • Vaccine coverage for residents 12 and older: 68.7 percent
  • Total eligible senior residents 65 and older: 217,676
    • Number of senior residents who have received first dose: 184,728
    • Number of senior residents who have completed vaccination: 184,648
    • Vaccine coverage for senior residents: 84.8 percent
  • Total doses distributed within Oakland County: 1,375,505
    • Total doses administered within Oakland County: 1,397,855
    • Percentage of doses administered within Oakland County: N/A
Registration opens for Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program

Registration opens for Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program

by | Jul 29, 2021 | Recreation

 

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– Upper Peninsula DNR News –
July 28, 2021
Contact: Michelle Zellar, 906-293-5131 ext. 4004 or John Pepin, 906-226-1352

Registration opens for fall Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program in the Upper Peninsula

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced today registration is open for its Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program, which is set for Sept. 10-12 in Marquette County.

This will mark the first-ever Michigan BOW fall gathering for women, 18 and older, who are seeking an opportunity to improve their outdoor skills in a relaxed, noncompetitive atmosphere. The traditional February and June gatherings were cancelled earlier this year because of coronavirus precautions.

“Becoming an Outdoors-Woman is a program where each individual is encouraged to learn at her own pace,” said Michelle Zellar, BOW program coordinator in Newberry. “The emphasis is on the enjoyment, fun and camaraderie of outdoor activities and sharing in the success of one another.”

The fall BOW program is sponsored by the DNR and offers instruction in more than 20 different types of activities, including kayaking, wilderness survival, lake and fly fishing, rock climbing, geocaching, shooting sports, hammock camping, basic land navigation and introduction to turkey hunting.

“Volunteer BOW instructors provide basic and advanced teaching that is tailored to each participant’s individual ability, helping participants learn the basics in a short amount of time,” Zellar said.

Please take the BOW Participation Survey to provide important information that will help shape future BOW gatherings.

BOW participants in the fall program will stay and take their classes at the UP-Bible Camp, a universally accessible facility overlooking Farmers Lake, which is situated about 20 miles south of Marquette, near Gwinn.

Participants will be housed in a dorm-style facility with amenities, including a sauna, basketball courts, high ropes course, zipline, hiking and biking trails, along with easy access to a beautiful, forested area.

Registration enrollment will be limited to fewer attendees than our traditional summer event which typically hosts over a hundred participants.

“All of our programs typically fill quickly, so early registration is encouraged,” Zellar said.

The $225 registration fee includes all food and lodging, as well as most equipment and supplies. The deadline for registration is Aug. 15, 2021. A limited number of partial BOW scholarships are available to help low-income participants with the cost of registration. The scholarship application deadline is Aug. 6, 2021.

Class information and registration materials are available online at Michigan.gov/BOW. Registrations must be mailed, with payment, to the Newberry Customer Service Center stated on the form.

For more information on the fall BOW program, contact Michelle Zellar at the DNR Customer Service Center in Newberry at 906-293-5131 ext. 4004, or by e-mail at [email protected].
DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR.
Building the future by recruiting a diverse work force

Building the future by recruiting a diverse work force

by | Jul 29, 2021 | Transportation

Building the future by recruiting a diverse work force, developing talent

On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, conversations about the past, present and future of MDOT’s Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program (TDRP).

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/8937992-building-the-future-by-recruiting-a-diverse-work-force-developing-talent

TMT - TDRP

The 10-week program allows students to work alongside other on-the-job training program participants, internal staff and external professionals who provide engineering, technical, inspection, and project management services for state road and bridge projects.

Greg Johnson

First, Greg Johnson, former MDOT chief operations officer and current member of the Michigan State Transportation Commission, talks about how the program was conceived eight years ago in collaboration with now-MDOT Director Paul C. Ajegba, who saw a need to form partnerships with higher education institutions and increase minority representation in transportation.

The idea is to work with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to recruit and introduce underrepresented groups of students to transportation-specific career opportunities.

Johnson also discusses his work now overseeing a project with the Oregon and Washington State DOTs to replace the bridge over the Columbia River.
James Jackson

Later, James Jackson, strategy director for MDOT’s TDRP, talks about the satisfaction he gains from working with students and the nearly 60 who participated this year. The department released a video July 27 featuring some of the students and highlighting the success of the program.

Finally, we hear from TuKiya Cunningham, a student at Alabama A&M University, about her experience in this year’s TDRP program. The student interns get a wide variety of opportunities and she counts among her highlights working with engineers on the I-75 Modernization project, which includes an innovative drainage tunnel.

TuKiya Cunningham

TuKiya Cunningham, a student at Alabama A&M University, standing in the I-75 Modernization drainage tunnel.


Podcast photo: James Jackson and Tukiya Cunningham at MDOT’s TDRP Intern Showcase.

Listen now at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205.

Stay connected by subscribing to Talking Michigan Transportation e-mail updates.