Orion Township Planning Commission Meeting of Aug. 4, 2021
MDHHS continues to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines
Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 10, 2021 CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected] MDHHS continues to increase community access to COVID-19 vaccines and LANSING, Mich. — To increase access to the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, the Michigan Department of the Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is partnering with 22 neighborhood testing sites across the state to now offer COVID-19 vaccines in addition to testing. The testing sites were the result of Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist’s COVID-19 Racial Disparties Task Force, and these efforts have helped flatten the early disparate outcomes for communities of color when it comes to COVID-19. In continuation of this collaboration, MDHHS is partnering with the neighborhood sites to make it easy and convenient for residents to get both vaccinated and tested. Neighborhood sites have provided 121,247 tests since their start. “We know the best way out of this pandemic is through strong public health interventions like wearing masks, testing, and most importantly the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “These neighborhood and community sites provide crucial and convenient access to testing and vaccines to ensure all Michiganders have equitable access to stay healthy and safe.” The safe and effective vaccines are free and no identification or insurance is required. Language interpreting services, including American Sign Language, are available and all sites are ADA accessible. “MDHHS is doing a phenomenal job of working with churches, schools and other local sites to keep communities safe through robust testing and making vaccinations accessible,” said Pastor Marvin Miles of the International Gospel Center. “As a community, it is important that we combat these COVID-19 variants with safe and effective vaccinations that have been proven to work. This virus has hit home to many families, including mine, so we understand the importance of a community coming together in unity to combat this disease. We want people to be able to socialize and be in safe settings that helps their own mental health, because there is a mental health aspect to this.” Vaccinations and testing are available on a walk-in basis. To view all upcoming clinics and locations, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus. |
Communities and organizations get grants to plant trees
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From Iron Mountain in the western Upper Peninsula to the village of Dundee in the state’s southeast corner, 26 communities across Michigan will share $92,500 in grants this year to plant trees.
Michigan granted $51.7 million to Mitigate Future Disasters
Gov. Whitmer Announces State of Michigan granted $51.7 million to Mitigate Future Disasters
LANSING, Mich. — Governor Whitmer today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a $51.7 million federal grant from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to invest in infrastructure that is resilient against climate change, creating jobs and putting Michigan first.
“I am grateful to have an ally in the Biden Administration that is working diligently to ensure that we have the resources to upgrade our state’s infrastructure to ensure that our communities are protected from the effects of unprecedented storms,” said Governor Whitmer. “This grant will make a difference in building infrastructure that is resilient against changing climate. We have already seen roads, bridges and communities deeply damaged by extreme weather conditions. This investment will allow Michigan to enhance mitigation efforts for our communities, create jobs, and put Michigan first.”
Over the past three years, the total national cost of weather and climate events exceeded $450 billion—an average of $150 billion per year.
Governor Whitmer has taken action responding to extreme weather events. Last month, Governor Whitmer secured a Presidential Disaster Declaration to help residents and businesses in Wayne and Washtenaw counties affected by flooding. The governor also announced a plan to use $10 million in state general funds to provide emergency relief to households impacted by the heavy rainfall and flooding in southeast Michigan on June 25 and 26. And the Michigan Department of Transportation has put forward a proposal to purchase $50 million worth of backup generators to ensure that pump stations can continue to operate if there’s a power outage during a storm.
HMGP funds can be used for projects including, but not limited to, erosion stabilization, flood control, and stormwater improvement to better prepare for future extreme weather events. Making infrastructure more climate-resilient has a strong return on investment, for every dollar invested, six dollars can be saved.
FEMA’s HMGP provides funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments so they can reduce or eliminate long-term risk from hazards. Under the program, a federal grant would cover 75 percent of the cost of an eligible climate-change resistant mitigation projects to reduce the risk of loss of life and property from future disasters. The remaining 25 percent would be covered by local or state matching funds.
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Easing parking anxiety: a revolutionary idea
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