DNR News: $23.3 million in outdoor recreation development

DNR News: $23.3 million in outdoor recreation development

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DNR News

Gov. Whitmer approves $23.3 million in outdoor recreation development and acquisition grants

Aug. 1, 2023
Contact: Jon Mayes, 517-284-5954

 girl in black tights and gray-blue jacket and sneakers walks from one rock to another in a sunlit, lush green forest

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday signed legislation creating more opportunities for quality outdoor recreation by authorizing $23.3 million in Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants.

“From camping and kayaking to swimming and snowmobiling, Pure Michigan offers us world-class recreation right in our backyard,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Since 1976, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund has helped us protect our precious natural places and invested in accessible outdoor public recreation. Today’s grants will fund 45 projects across the state, anchoring communities, spurring local economies and making our state a better place to live.”

House Bill 4437 approves funding for the 45 recreation development projects and land purchases recommended by the board. It is now Public Act 119 of 2023.

The Trust Fund board recommends funding to both state and local agencies for development projects and land acquisitions that will increase the quality and quantity of public outdoor recreation opportunities. This round of grant funding reflects continued support of:

  • Acquisitions of high-quality, unique wildlife and fish habitat for conservation and public access.
  • Trail systems, specifically those – like the Riverwalk Trail and Crooked Bridge in Bay County – that have broad impact.
  • An extensive range of development projects that expand opportunities across Michigan for outdoor recreation, including development of urban parks and playscapes, sports field enhancements and river access.

This year the board recommended $15 million in acquisition grants and $8.3 million in recreation development grants:

  • Of the $15 million recommended to fund acquisition projects, $4.3 million would be awarded to local units of government, while the remaining $10.7 million would be awarded to the Department of Natural Resources for diverse projects such as land consolidation at Jaxon Creek Headwaters in Grand Traverse County.
  • All of the $8.3 million recommended to fund development grants would support 30 local government projects.
  • Collectively, the $23.3 million of Trust Fund grants is matched with over $15.8 million of additional funding for a total of $39.1 million being invested in land acquisition and development projects across the state.

“Since its inception, the Trust Fund has awarded more than $1.3 billion in grants to local governments and state agencies, greatly benefiting the quality of life for the people of Michigan,” said acting DNR Director Shannon Lott. “By leveraging dollars from local government partners, the Trust Fund has dramatically influenced the quantity and quality of outdoor recreation opportunities available to residents and visitors of all ages and abilities while continuing to conserve our natural resources.”

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is a restricted fund established in 1976 to provide funding for public acquisition of land for resource protection and outdoor recreation, as well as for public outdoor recreation development projects. It is funded through interest earned on funds derived from the development of publicly owned minerals, primarily oil and gas, and can only be used for public outdoor recreation. Over the past 45-plus years, the Trust Fund has granted more than $1.3 billion to local units of government and the DNR to develop and improve public outdoor recreation opportunities in Michigan.

The Trust Fund board’s recommendations go to the Michigan Legislature for review as part of the appropriation process. The Legislature then forwards a bill to the governor for approval.

Descriptions of the approved development and acquisition projects are available at Michigan.gov/MNRTF.

Gov. Whitmer Signs ‘Make it in Michigan’ Budget 

Gov. Whitmer Signs ‘Make it in Michigan’ Budget 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 31, 2023

Contact: [email protected]

 

Gov. Whitmer Signs ‘Make it in Michigan’ Budget

Balanced, bipartisan FY24 budget lowers costs, grows the economy, and delivers on kitchen-table issues

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a balanced, bipartisan general government state budget for Fiscal Year 2024 to grow the economy, lower costs, deliver on kitchen-table issues, and help anyone “Make it in Michigan.”

 

The FY24 budget, when combined with the education budget previously signed by the governor, lowers costs on health care, preschool, meals for kids, higher education, housing, and workforce training. Additionally, the fiscal year 2024 budget will help fix bridges, replace lead pipes, and protect public safety.

 

“The Make it in Michigan budget will lower costs, deliver on the issues that make a real difference in people’s lives, and help anyone ‘make it’ in Michigan,” said Governor Whitmer. “The budget protects public safety and improves access to health care, ensuring people feel safe in their neighborhood and have access to quality, affordable care that meets their needs. It supports our service members and veterans, connecting them and their families with the resources they deserve, and will build up all kinds of infrastructure so every family has safe roads, clean water, and affordable housing. Finally, it continues powering our economic development efforts to create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and bring manufacturing and supply chains home to Michigan. The Make it in Michigan budget builds on our economic momentum, and will help us build a brighter future for everyone who calls this great state home.”

 

“The budget signed into law by Governor Whitmer today funds programs and services that benefit residents across the state and saves money for a rainy day,” said State Budget Director Christopher Harkins. “This budget builds on the Governor’s previous success of delivering targeted tax relief and delivers investments to improve the lives of the people of our great state.”

 

The FY24 budget totals $81.7 billion, including a general fund total of $15.2 billion.

 

Fiscally Responsible, Balanced Budget 

The budget deposits $200 million into the Budget Stabilization Fund, or ‘rainy day fund,’ bringing the balance to nearly $2 billion by the end of FY24, an all-time high.

 

Public Health – Strengthening Families 

The budget makes critical investments to ensure Michigan families can access the care they need:

 

  • $150.6 million to increase reimbursement rates for Medicaid services to improve enrollee access to necessary health care.
  • $49.5 million to implement recommendations from the Racial Disparities Task Force, including neighborhood health grants, mobile health units, sickle cell support and more.
  • $56.4 million to fund Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, a bipartisan initiative that supports pregnant women, new mothers, and infants.
  • $25 million increase in support to local health departments to provide essential services.
  • $10 million to create a new foster care respite care program to provide temporary, occasional relief to foster parents.
  • $6.2 million to fund the Medicaid Plan First! program, expanding access to family planning services and cancer screening and saving 25,000 Michiganders an average of $2,000.
  • $4.9 million over 2 years for Double-Up Food Bucks, boosting access to fresh fruits and vegetables for Michiganders on food assistance.

Public Safety – Keeping Communities Safe 

To keep families and communities safe and ensure police officers and first responders have the funding and resources they need, the budget invests:

 

  • $171.5 million in public safety grants, benefitting communities across the state.
  • $34.2 million to enact various recommendations from the Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform, including creating a Juvenile Justice Services Division within the State Court Administrative Office and expanding the scope of the Office of the Children’s Advocate.
  • $18.2 million to provide in-service training to licensed law enforcement officers.
  • $14.4 million to improve safety and accountability in correctional facilities, including $7 million to outfit corrections officers with body cameras.
  • $10 million toward leveraging the State Police Training Academy to serve as a criminal justice training hub to support realistic, multi-disciplinary training opportunities for law enforcement agencies across the state.
  • $10 million for the Selfridge Air National Guard Base to improve and maintain infrastructure to continue to position Michigan to compete for next generation aircraft and future fighter missions.
  • $10.5 million in new statutory revenue sharing (2% one-time) dedicated specifically for public safety, including employee recruitment, retention, training, and equipment for first responders.
  • $9 million to run a Michigan State Police Trooper Recruit School, graduating an anticipated 50 new recruits.
  • $6.8 million to establish the Office of Community Violence Intervention Services to partner with community-based organizations already working to reduce violent incidents.
  • $5 million to expand the Jobs Court, a program that aims to reduce recidivism by providing jobs and services to disadvantaged offenders.
  • $5 million to expand national guard tuition assistance program, expanding educational opportunities for service members and their families and moving Michigan closer to the Sixty by 30 Goal.
  • $2.9 million to implement gun violence prevention policies.
  • $2 million for veteran homelessness grants, helping veterans access affordable housing and avoid homelessness.
  • $1.2 million for veteran suicide prevention efforts, improving the health and well-being of Michigan’s more than 550,000 military veterans and their families.

 

Rebuilding Infrastructure 

From 2019 through the end of this construction season, nearly 20,000 lane miles of road and 1,400 bridges will be fixed. This budget continues to fix roads, replace lead pipes, build housing, and more:

 

Roads, Bridges, Transit, Electrification

  • $416 million to fix roads and build up public infrastructure, improving quality of life.
  • $80 million investment supporting Michigan’s Bridge Bundling program to replace or rehabilitate more than 20 structurally deficient bridges across the state.
  • $50 million for Intermodal Capital Investment Grants to support investments in rail, marine, intercity, and local transit infrastructure that have the potential to leverage federal funding opportunities.
  • $21.3 million for clean energy and electric vehicle infrastructure investments.
  • $52.9 million for the Information Technology and Investment Fund for modernization of legacy IT systems supporting local income tax collections for those communities that elect to participate, environmental permitting and inspection, groundwater protection, occupational safety and health, and talent recruitment and retention.
  • $1 million to begin the transition of the State of Michigan’s fleet to electric vehicles.
  • $5 million for a critical mineral recycling research hub.

 

Housing

  • $212 million for residential energy efficiency improvements through federal funds, lowering costs for Michiganders via point-of-sale rebates for home appliances, water heaters and more.
  • $50 million for the Housing and Community Development Program to alleviate affordable housing needs across the state and revitalize downtown areas in Michigan.
  • $10 million for Missing Middle housing programs to build on existing $50 million within the current year budget.
  • $2 million to expand capacity of the State Land Bank Authority, which facilitates productive reuse of land in our communities.

 

Water, Parks, Agriculture, Environment

  • Nearly $600 million for Michigan’s water infrastructure, protecting access to drinking water, replacing lead service lines, rebuilding sewers, and more.
  • $150 million to reopen the Palisades nuclear power plant, securing good-paying jobs.
  • $23 million for improvements at Belle Isle State Park.
  • $23 million to create an endowment for the new Flint State Park.
  • $20 million to establish an environmental justice contaminated site clean-up fund to remediate and redevelop contaminated sites in historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities.
  • $13 million for agricultural climate resiliency and soil health to research new regenerative agriculture practices and help farmers reduce run off and increase crop diversity.
  • $10.1 million for Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, using federal funds to boost resiliency in Michigan’s food systems.
  • $7.7 million in state parks operations funding to provide additional park rangers and essential resources to state parks.
  • $5.5 million for Michigan Saves to incentivize private investment in clean energy improvements for Michigan residents and businesses.

Economic Development 

To create good-paying jobs and bring manufacturing and supply chains home, the budget powers economic development efforts, including:

 

  • $500 million annual deposit in the Make it in Michigan Fund, also known as the bipartisan Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund.
  • $350 million for the Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund to win federal resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
  • Michigan is set to receive over $1.5 billion (4th highest in the nation) through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to expand high-speed internet access to over 200,000 Michiganders in unserved and underserved areas across the state.
  • $50 million for Revitalization and Placemaking to fund community development projects.
  • $15 million for talent action teams to fast-track assistance to businesses looking to expand or locate in Michigan.
  • $10 million to promote Michigan as a destination for special events and national conventions, plus an additional $10 million in convention and visitor bureau grants.
  • $5 million for the Michigan Defense Center to protect and grow the defense and homeland security industry in Michigan.

 

Additionally, $26.7 million is included to provide a 5% increase (4% ongoing and another 1% ongoing to communities that obligate all available ARP dollars) in statutory revenue sharing to help counties, cities, villages, and townships; and new dedicated statutory revenue sharing funds, 2% one-time, for public safety initiatives; plus, an additional $64 million over current year funding in constitutional revenue sharing payments.

 

DNR: August packed with summer surprises

DNR: August packed with summer surprises

 
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DNR August Events

August packed with summer surprises, outdoor fun

Outdoor exploring, fun festivals, Michigan history and more – when it comes to enjoying our state’s natural and cultural resources, August is full of possibilities! Here is just a sampling of what’s on tap next month:

To see the full roster of programs, classes and other opportunities, and to discover what’s happening close to home or across the state, check out the DNR’s events calendar at Michigan.gov/DNRCalendar.


Free ORV Weekend Aug. 19-20

a black, open-top Jeep with an orange flag flying from the front climbs a craggy, rocky areaTaking place twice a year, Free ORV Weekend – coming up Aug. 19-20 – is a great time to see, experience and test out Michigan’s off-road vehicle trails.

Residents and out-of-state visitors legally can ride Michigan’s 4,000 miles of off-road vehicle trails and routes, as well as the state’s six scramble areas, on two back-to-back days without an ORV license or trail permit. The entrance fee at Holly Oaks ORV Park in Oakland County also will be waived this year. All other ORV rules and laws still apply.


Lodge & Learn at the RAM Center

Families, friends and other small groups can learn about local wildlife, Michigan ecosystems and outdoor skills during summer-camp-style programming at all-inclusive Lodge & Learn weekends Aug. 4-6Aug. 11-13 and Aug. 18-20 at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon.

Select your favorite Lodge & Learn programs – like birdwatching, kayaking, a family scavenger hunt and many others – when you register. Cost is $275 per person and includes lodging, meals, educational programming, kayak rentals and more.


Fly fishing, bear hunting, whitetail trail hunting and more

Blond woman in pale green shirt, sunglasses and tan hat stands knee-deep in a stream, holding a fly-fishing rod that's been castThe DNR Outdoor Skills Academy offers several opportunities to get started with, or get better at, outdoor pursuits in August. Fly Fishing 101, Aug. 5 at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center in Mattawan, will cover terminology, etiquette, fly tying, knots, casting and much more.

The Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center in Cadillac will host bear hunting clinics – covering habitat, gear, stand placement, baiting, rules and regulations, and carcass and hide care – Aug. 6 and Aug. 12. And learn the skills needed to successfully transition from bait hunting to trail hunting whitetail deer and to better manage your property for wildlife habitat with Hunting Whitetails Naturally, Aug. 19 at the Hunting and Fishing Center.

Find more info about all available classes at Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.


Enjoy ‘Up North’ downtown at Outdoor Adventure Center

There’s still plenty of summer left – discover new ways to enjoy it with fun programs for all ages at the Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit. The OAC’s August calendar includes archery, education programs for kids, yoga, family hikes and much more. Seniors can learn about Michigan lighthouses during the Aug. 10 Brunch and Learn program, adults can learn to make a pollinator hotel Aug. 18, and everyone can Get Hooked on Fishing Aug. 19 or learn more about one of our favorite flying mammals at the Aug. 24 bat hike at Maybury State Park in Northville.

That’s just a glimpse of what you can do next month at the OAC. Find more info about these and other programs on the Outdoor Adventure Center events calendar.


Immerse yourself in Michigan history all month long

A man prepares to hit a baseball just pitched to him, while other field players stand in background. All are dressed in vintage base ball clothes.Step back in time and learn more about our state’s past at Michigan History Center sites. Drop by the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee on select Tuesday afternoons and discover the Upper Peninsula’s intriguing history, courtesy of a variety of experts.

The Aug. 1 program features a screening of the documentary “Saving Our Theatre,” about the importance of local theater in several U.P. communities, followed by a question-and-answer session with the filmmaker. Aug. 8, it’s a screening of the documentary “Linked to Legends: The U.P. Teams that Played the Packers” followed by a question-and-answer session with the filmmaker. Women of the Watch: Keepers of the Light on Aug. 15 looks at the role of women as lighthouse keepers in Michigan. The Tuesday afternoon programs are also available on the Michigan Iron Industry Museum Facebook page.

Cambridge Junction Historic State Park in Lenawee County hosts Sauk Trail Memories, with demonstrations of traditional “lost” arts, Aug. 13. And cheer on the home team in the annual Walker Wheels Vintage Base Ball Invitational Aug. 26, with historic base ball clubs playing by 1860s rules – no gloves, no swearing!

Learn more about Michigan History Center programs at Michigan.gov/MHC/Events.


Learn about pheasants, turkeys and shooting sports

On Pheasant Fridays, join representatives from Pheasants Forever and learn about firearm safety and the organization’s effort to restore habitat for these beautiful birds. You’ll have the opportunity to shoot a BB gun with expert instruction in a safe environment. There will also be hands-on activities to learn about grasslands and pollinators. Pheasant Friday will take place Aug. 4 at Hayes State Park in Onsted, Aug. 11 at Seven Lakes State Park in Holly, Aug. 18 at Ionia State Recreation Area and Aug. 25 at Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area.

The National Wild Turkey Federation brings its interactive, inflatable shooting range to several state parks for BB gun shoots in August. Families and kids can shoot BB guns alongside trained range-safety professionals and learn about firearm safety practices, conservation efforts and the biology of the wild turkey. For ages 7 and older; children must have a parent/guardian present.

BB shoots are scheduled for Aug. 7 at Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon, Aug. 9 at Ludington State ParkAug. 10 at Silver Lake State Park in Mears and Aug. 11 at Mears State Park in Pentwater.


Music, art, trees, waterfowl and more at state parks

head and shoulders view of a man in a navy blue T-shirt blowing a dark green duck whistle, with other people sitting in backgroundFestivals and special events abound at Michigan state parks next month! Celebrate Michigan forests with live music, hear Civilian Conservation Corps storytelling and get up close with DNR firefighting equipment, during a Tree Party at Higgins Lake Nursery and CCC Museum in Roscommon Aug. 5.

That same weekend (Aug. 5-6), over a hundred artists, food trucks, art activities and more will be on hand for the Belle Isle Park Art Fair in Detroit, and the Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival – featuring duck and goose calling competitions, a wildlife arts and crafts show, a hunting expo, canoe races and many other activities – takes place at Bay City State Park.

During Forest Fest at Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling Aug. 12, visit various stations around the park to learn more about Michigan’s forests and get a goodie bag upon completion of the provided activity booklet. Also happening at Hartwick Pines is Black Iron Days, Aug. 16-17, when you can join blacksmiths and other artisans as they demonstrate how they make their crafts and observe the steam-powered sawmill in operation. And the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, Aug. 25-26 at the Porkies Winter Sports Complex, returns for its 17th year with a diverse selection of musical styles: blues, country, bluegrass, rock, folk and more.

10 years of Diversity Recruitment Program

10 years of Diversity Recruitment Program

MDOT E-mail

MDOT on facebook MDOT on Twitter MDOT on YouTube Mi Drive - Know before you go. MDOT on Instagram Sign up for E-mails form MDOT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT
Jeff Cranson
517-648-8247
[email protected]

MDOT marks 10 years of Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program

 Fast facts:
– MDOT’s Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program (TDRP) is celebrating its 10th season.
– The TDRP offers Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students hands-on experience in civil engineering and other opportunities toward a career in transportation.
– MDOT has produced a new video featuring two successful students of the program.

LANSING, Mich. ­- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) recently celebrated the 10th season of its successful Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program (TDRP) with a program showcase. The goal of the TDRP is to recruit and introduce underrepresented groups of students to transportation-specific career opportunities. The program offers Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students hands-on experience in civil engineering and other opportunities toward a career in transportation.

State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich reflected on the first decade of the program. “The TDRP, I think, is just one example of how we’re building diversity, equity and inclusion into the fabric of what we do. It’s opening the door, where in the past (these students) might not have ever had these opportunities maybe that I had when I was coming up. We need to make sure that we’re expanding the pipeline as much as we can across the industry and the TDRP is an excellent way of making sure that we’re tapping all the resources we need.”

“I’m very happy that MDOT came up with the initiative to recruit students like me,” said Peter Oyewale, an Alabama A&M University student and TDRP intern in MDOT’s Southwest Region. “I’m an international student from Nigeria and when I came to the U.S., I knew it was going to be hard for me to get an internship because I didn’t have a U.S. experience.”

Zaya Wright, a second-year TDRP intern from Southern University and A&M College, commented on her experience with the program. “An opportunity like this doesn’t come as often as people would think. I think this program means a lot, especially to students coming from HBCUs who really don’t have that representation. It has led me to meeting some amazing people and creating some amazing job opportunities for myself.”

The TDRP runs from May to August each year. Requirements include being an engineering undergraduate student enrolled at an HBCU with at least a 2.0 GPA. Go to the program website at www.Michigan.gov/MI-TDRP for more information, or contact TDRP Program Coordinator James Jackson at 517-206-9369 or [email protected].