$95.24 million in Clean Water grants

$95.24 million in Clean Water grants

by | Feb 23, 2024 | Environmental

 
EGLE Main GovD banner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2024
EGLE Media Office, [email protected], 517-284-9278

EGLE announces $95.24 million in MI Clean Water grants to help upgrade water infrastructure, protect health and the environment

Water main replacements in Muskegon Heights, wastewater plant upgrades on Mackinac Island, and lead service line replacements in multiple communities are the goals of more than $95 million in state grants recently awarded to Michigan communities.

The MI Clean Water Plan grants through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), and support from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) aim to help communities upgrade aging infrastructure, ensure healthy drinking water, and protect Michigan’s environment.

Seventy percent of Michiganders are served by more than 1,000 community wastewater systems and a similar percentage get drinking water from community water systems. Those systems often struggle to find resources to address legacy issues like aging drinking water and stormwater facilities and emerging challenges like new standards for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan Legislature, and federal agencies have ramped up funding for aging water infrastructure – a critical move to help ensure those water systems continue to protect public health and the environment, including Michigan’s unmatched freshwater resources.

More than half of EGLE’s budget has traditionally passed through to Michigan cities, towns, villages, and other local government agencies to finance critical improvements that help them better protect residents and our natural resources.

 

Grant roundup

Recent grants through the DWSRF: 

  • Village of Sheridan for $3,985,000.  This project involves construction of an iron removal plant and water system improvements in the Village of Sheridan. This includes upsizing the watermain, looping to eliminate dead ends, and lead service line replacement. A new watermain will be installed between Well No. 2 and the iron removal plant.
  • City of Muskegon Heights for $19,847,000.  The project includes the replacement of aging water mains, improvement of water flows, critical valve installation, and improvement of reliability in the City of Muskegon Heights. Water main replacement will occur in two project areas: 1) along Broadway Avenue from Glade Street to Reynolds Street, which includes the replacement of approximately 5,650 linear feet of cast iron watermain and 57 lead service line replacements, and 2) along Sanford Street from Oakwood Avenue to Norton Avenue, which includes the replacement of approximately 1,350 linear feet of cast iron watermain and 24 lead service line replacements. In addition to the full lead service line replacements along these water main corridors, approximately 530 lead line replacements will also be completed in other areas.
  • City of Inkster for $10,905,000.  This project involves replacement of undersized watermains, lead service line replacements, and elimination of a watermain dead end in the City of Inkster. A total of 145 lead service lines will be replaced as a part of this project.

 

Recent grants through the CWSRF: 

  • Pontiac-Clinton River Drain Drainage District (Oakland County) for $800,000.  The Pontiac-Clinton River No. 1 Drain Drainage District is a stormwater system located in the City of Pontiac. This project involves stormwater pipe rehabilitation, including spot lining and grouting of existing storm sewer pipes and manholes.
  • City of Mackinac Island for $39,700,000.  This project consists of upgrades to the existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), including a new headworks facility containing screening and grit removal, three primary clarifiers, three moving bed biofilm reactor trains (each containing two reactors), rapid mix and flocculation basins with mixers for chemical feed, four secondary clarifiers, ultraviolet disinfection, effluent pump station, effluent equalization, effluent forcemain improvements, and sludge handling processes. New headworks, process, and maintenance buildings will be constructed, as well as upgrades to the existing control building. Electrical, control, and instrumentation upgrades will be done throughout the plant.

 

Earmarks through Federal American Rescue Plan Act: 

  • City of Saline for $5,000,000.  This project supports rehabilitation of the City of Saline’s WWTP by managing wet weather flows and critical technology upgrades. Rehabilitation of the WWTP is designed to improve severe weather resilience and mitigate environmental contaminants in the wastewater discharge that feeds into Michigan’s surface waters and the Great Lakes system.  A new headworks facility will be constructed to provide fine screening of the influent wastewater to improve plant operation. Wet weather flows will be improved by the construction of a wet weather storage tank and new primary and secondary clarifiers with modifications to four existing clarifiers. Additionally, aging infrastructure, such as the rotating biological contactors and floating cover digester, will be replaced with modern technology to increase reliability and treatment performance. Updates include upgrading to activated sludge pumping and blower facilities, improving biosolids management, adding new aeration tanks with fine pore diffusers, and completing existing digester tank modifications.
  • City of Milan for $3,600,000.  This project involves wastewater treatment upgrades at the City of Milan WWTP. This will include headworks improvements, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection improvements, meters, pumps, and mixer replacements, upgrading the oxidation ditch and clarifiers, and replacing the boiler heating system.

 

Grants through ED-SDC: 

  • City of Ironwood for $11,400,000. The City of Ironwood will use this grant to address concentrations of manganese that have exceeded safe levels. The ED-SDC grant program provides states and territories with grants to public water systems in small or disadvantaged communities to address emerging contaminants, including PFAS.

 

 Descriptions of funding sources

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: Low-interest loan program to help public water systems finance the costs of replacement and repair of drinking water infrastructure to protect public health and achieve or maintain compliance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. The DWSRF provides loans to water systems for eligible infrastructure projects. As water systems repay their loans, the repayments and interest flow back into the DWSRF to support new loans. ARPA funding operates as a grant and may be used in combination with loan dollars to reduce the financial burden on communities to pay for capital improvement debt. ARPA funded grants awarded this fiscal year: $218,398,719.

Clean Water State Revolving Fund: Used by local municipalities to finance construction of water pollution control projects. These projects include wastewater treatment plant upgrades and expansions, combined or sanitary sewer overflow abatement, new sewers designed to reduce existing sources of pollution, and other publicly owned wastewater treatment efforts that improve water quality. The CWSRF can also finance stormwater infrastructure projects to reduce nonpoint sources of water pollution caused by things like agricultural runoff to lakes, streams, and wetlands. As with the DWSRF, ARPA funds can be used in conjunction with CWSRF loan dollars, thereby reducing the debt communities pay for infrastructure improvements. ARPA-funded grants awarded this fiscal year: $137,982,009.

Drinking Water Asset Management Program: Provides grant funding to assist drinking water suppliers with asset management plan development and updates, and/or distribution system materials inventories as defined in Michigan’s revised Lead and Copper Rule. Awarded this fiscal year: $19,695,817.

Consolidation and Contamination Risk Reduction Program: Established to aid drinking water systems to help remove or reduce PFAS or other contaminants. Awarded this fiscal year: $20,336,215.

Substantial Public Health Risk Project Program: Protects public and environmental health by removing direct and continuous discharges of wastewater from surface or groundwater. Awarded this fiscal year: $8,000,000.

 Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program: Provides states and territories with grants to public water systems in small or disadvantaged communities to address emerging contaminants, including PFAS.

 

 Additional Background

  • Since January 2019 the State of Michigan has invested over $4 billion to upgrade drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater facilities across the state, supporting over 57,000 jobs.
  • In 2022, Governor Whitmer signed a package of bills to help communities access funding for water infrastructure.
$250 million budget to expand behavioral health

$250 million budget to expand behavioral health

by | Feb 23, 2024 | Health and Wellness

MDHHS banner with logo no names

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 22, 2024

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

Nearly $250 million included in FY25 budget to expand access
to behavioral health services for Michigan families
Over $193 million in funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

LANSING, Mich. – As part of the state’s continued commitment to expanding access to behavioral health services for Michigan families, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s FY2025 budget proposal includes $193.3 million to strengthen Michigan’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) demonstration program.

Funds will be used to expand the number of CCBHC sites and establish more robust support, as well as oversight and monitoring, for Michigan’s Medicaid CCBHC demonstration. CCBHCs are non-profit or local government agencies that are federally required to provide nine comprehensive behavioral health services, including 24/7 mobile crisis response and medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders. 

CCBHC 1

MDHHS and Network 180 staff discuss behavioral health needs and resources during a visit on Thursday. Pictured are (starting lower left and going clockwise around the table) Sarah Desmarais, MDHHS senior advisor of economic stability operations and programs; David Knezek, MDHHS chief operating officer; MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel; Kristin Spykerman, Network 180 chief clinical officer; Amy Rottman, Network 180 chief financial officer; Beverly Ryskamp, Network 180 chief operating officer; and Bill Ward, Network 180 executive director.

 

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel visited with Network 180, a Community Mental Health Authority that includes a CCBHC site in Kent County, Thursday, Feb. 22.

The CCBHC model increases access to numerous behavioral health services by serving all individuals with a behavioral health diagnosis, regardless of insurance or ability to pay,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “The CCBHC model has been shown to substantially increase access to care, advance the coordination of physical and behavioral health, strengthen community partnerships, address health inequities and improve the quality of behavioral health services.”

The FY25 budget proposal will support expanded access to behavioral health supports and services for up to 50,000 additional Michigan residents. There are currently 30 CCBHCs in Michigan’s Medicaid demonstration project, as well as several additional provider organizations currently receiving federal grant funding to establish clinics and provide CCBHC services.

In FY23, 13 Medicaid-funded CCBHCs provided services to approximately 75,000 unique individuals across Michigan. Approximately 30% of individuals served were children and young adults ages 0 to 21 and 70% were adults.

Additional budget recommendations include funding to increase access to behavioral health services through direct program capacity enhancements, a managed care rate increase for behavioral health services, incentives to build a pipeline of qualified providers and ongoing resource support for people experiencing behavioral health crises.

  • $36.1 million to increase rates for behavioral health services provided through Medicaid health plans.
  • $8.3 million to establish Medicaid reimbursement for peer provided substance use disorder services.
  • $7.3 million for the Michigan Crisis and Access Line to ensure structural ongoing support for services currently provided to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.
  • $4 million to enhance gambling prevention and treatment services including residential gambling treatment, recovery support services, youth education and prevention services, research and evaluation, provider training, a media campaign and the problem gambling hotline.

    ccbhc 2

Pictured during the MDHHS visit to Network 180 are (l. to r.) Sarah Desmarais, MDHHS senior advisor of economic stability operations and programs; David Knezek, MDHHS chief operating officer; Beverly Ryskamp, Network 180 chief operating officer; MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel; Bill Ward, Network 180 executive director; Amy Rottman, Network 180 chief financial officer; and Kristin Spykerman, Network 180 chief clinical officer.
Budget includes more to enhance opportunity

Budget includes more to enhance opportunity

by | Feb 23, 2024 | Transportation

Gov. Whitmer’s proposed budget includes more to enhance opportunity for all

Gov. Whitmer’s proposed budget includes more to enhance opportunity for all

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget include additional funds for MI Contracting Opportunity, a program that supports contractors and suppliers who are socially or economically disadvantaged. The $5 million recommendation represents a renewal of the item in the previous budget, with a $2 million increase.

Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/14555593-gov-whitmer-s-proposed-budget-includes-more-to-enhance-opportunity-for-all

TMT - Lisa Thompson

On this week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Lisa Thompson, who directs the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Office of Business Development, which includes the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, explains how the funding will help build on the success of assisting these businesses.

Thompson says the goal is to assist small businesses with tools to actively participate in the various phases of road and bridge design and construction.

DBE Logo

Other objectives include:

  • The continuation and growth of MDOT’s highly successful consultant, small business mentor-protégé program.
  • Expanding a small business trucking program that covers the cost of commercial driver’s license (CDL) training for small, disadvantaged trucking companies to help with truck driver shortages.
  • A key focus to connect firms with access to capital and the skills to manage it successfully throughout the project life cycle; build and maintain meaningful relationships with industry professionals to provide opportunities to utilize and/or expand their work types; and provide training regarding the intricacies of government contracting and ways to strengthen their business functions and efficiencies.
  • Upcoming initiatives include creating two small business revolving loan programs to help support small, disadvantaged businesses grow and contract more MDOT work.There will be a small business lending program and a mega projects small business lending program. Any funds received by the state as repayment of past loans are appropriated and shall be available for future loans.
  • Create a small business incubator program that serves MDOT’s existing small and disadvantaged business development program to grow the capacity of Michigan-based small, disadvantaged businesses through training and construction mentor-protégé opportunities.

2023 MDOT DBE Conference with a woman speaking to the audience.

A guest presenter addresses the audience at the 2023 MDOT DBE Conference.

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

Stay connected by subscribing to Talking Michigan Transportation e-mail updates.
LOCS Updates — February 23, 2024

LOCS Updates — February 23, 2024

by | Feb 23, 2024 | School News

LOCS Updates

Video Message from the Superintendent
Click to play: Ben Kirby election information

Millage Information
Election Information

The February 27, 2024 election will feature two millage proposals, which are designed to maintain the current tax levies. One will be for the 10-year operational millage, which the state of Michigan requires every public school district to pass to receive full foundation allowance for each student. The second proposal is to replace the 10-year sinking fund, which pays for infrastructure repairs (parking lots, HVAC, computers, etc.) throughout the district. Information about the millage proposals, including Frequently Asked Questions, is located on the School Election Information page.

LOCS voters can vote:

 

  • Early in person through Sunday at Orion Twp. Hall or the local community’s election location
  • By absentee: If you have your ballot, please submit it in person at the clerk’s office before 8 p.m. Tuesday
  • The traditional in-person voting on Tuesday until 8 p.m.

 

The winter issue of Orion Living magazine also features an explanation on the two LOCS millage proposals.

Teachers of the Year
Three men smiling

Lake Orion Community Schools began celebrating its 2023-24 Teachers of the Year in recent weeks, with the elementary, middle and high school levels recognizing an individual for the district honor. Each will advance to the Oakland Schools group, where the Oakland County Teacher of the Year will be selected in each category. Orion Oaks Elementary’s Norman Wright is the elementary representative, Oakview Middle School’s Nick Shaskos is the middle school selection and Lake Orion High School’s Michael Steele was picked for the high school level. Watch all of their announcements.
2024-25 Calendars
The 2024-25 Lake Orion Community Schools calendars are now available by visiting the LakeOrionSchools.org calendar page. A single sheet of the important dates is also listed on that page.
people sitting in school library
Parent University

Throughout the 2023-24 school year, the LOCS Teaching and Learning Department will offer evening programs for parents/guardians to be able to take a more active role in their child’s education. Some of the workshops are in-person evening events that last approximately an hour. Parent University will also be sharing out some recorded videos for parents/guardians to view at a time that fits into their schedule.

Upcoming in-person sessions:

  • For parents of Grades 6-12 (Wednesday, March 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Scripps Middle School, 385 E. Scripps Road, Lake Orion): Graphic Novels are Real Books too!
  • For parents of all students in Grades K-12 (Tuesday, March 19, 2024 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Lake Orion High School Kiva at 495 E. Scripps Road, Lake Orion): Helping Your Child Through Feelings of Anxiety
    • The Lake Orion Community Schools Parent University program announces a partnership with the North Oakland Community Coalition for an opportunity relevant to all parents and guardians in the district from Grades K-12. The subject of the evening event will be the important topic of mental health.

In November, the Vaping 101 presentation for all families featured a number of resources.A Parent University calendar for the 2023-24 school year is located on the Parent University website page.
students getting off bus
Updated 2024-25 Elementary Start Times

In the 2024-25 school year, LOCS will be flipping the elementary school start times. The schools that are currently early start/release times (Paint Creek, Stadium Drive, Webber) will shift to the late start/release schedule. The schools that are current late start/release times (Blanche Sims, Carpenter, Orion Oaks) will move to the early start/release schedule. The change is to allow a different group of district families to be able to schedule earlier after school appointments and the advance notice of nearly 16 months is to allow those families to make long-range plans if necessary. The change will return on a regular three-year cycle.

 

  • The School Age Child Care program (before and after school care) will be available for families who need it. School Age Child Care (SACC) is available at all elementary schools. Parents of currently enrolled children (including siblings) will have the opportunity to re-enroll for SACC in April. New families will have an opportunity to enroll in May. The hours of care will change due to the change in early and late start schools’ schedules. Early start school SACC hours are 6:30-8:15 a.m. (start of school) and 3:15-6 p.m. (starting at the end of the school day). Late start school SACC hours are 6:30-8:50 a.m. (start of school) and 3:50-6 p.m. (starting at the end of the school day). Tuition rates for the program are located on the School Age Child Care website page. Please contact the Early Childhood Office at (248) 693-5439 if you have any questions.
  • All of the current school year times will remain in place for the duration of the 2023-24 school year and are posted on the LOCS school start times page.

 
Mental Health information
Care Solace

When you or your child needs help, it’s hard to know where to turn. In an effort to ease the burden of finding the mental health and substance use services you need, Lake Orion Community Schools has partnered with Care Solace.

Care Solace will help you find the right help at the right time, 24/7/365. Care Solace’s services are available at no cost to you – and all of your information is kept completely confidential. They will connect you with providers accepting all medical insurances including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance.

You can access Care Solace services in three ways:

  1. Call 888-515-0595 at any time. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.
  2. Search anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at caresolace.com/lakeorion
  3. Contact your school elementary social worker, middle school behaviorist, high school counselor or building principal, and they will submit a referral on your behalf.

For more information visit the LOCS Care Solace page.
LOCS Detroit Red Wings Night

The Lake Orion Education Foundation has partnered with the Detroit Red Wings to organize the LOCS night at Little Caesars Arena for the Wings’ game hosting the Buffalo Sabres on March 16, 2024, at 12:30 p.m.

To purchase tickets with the LOCS group, visit https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Lakeorion and plan for an exciting night.

A portion of each ticket will support the LOEF, which in turns provides teacher grants and opportunities to support students throughout the district.

The LOEF is a group of parent, community and LOCS staff volunteers, fundraising to obtain resources to provide grants to teachers and scholarships to graduating students. For more information and to join or support the LOEF, visit LakeOrionSchools.org/LOEF.
EGLE
Storm Water Survey

As part of its agreement to protect water quality, LOCS is collecting information about how students/staff/community members engage with the watershed, their water quality concerns, and actions they’ve taken to prevent pollution or protect the environment. This understanding could help LOCS select the best PEP topics to highlight in educational materials to better educate the community going forward. If you would like to participate in the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2N99LZ7
boys working
Kindergarten
Lake Orion Community Schools has opened registration for the 2024-25 school year for Kindergarten students. All children living in the LOCS school boundaries are eligible to enroll at LakeOrionSchools.org/Enroll. Kindergarten information is available at LakeOrionSchools.org/Kindergarten. On March 18, 2024 at 6 p.m., all LOCS elementary schools will hold a parent information night at neighborhood elementary schools (Blanche Sims, Carpenter, Orion Oaks, Paint Creek, Stadium Drive, Webber) for families to find out more.
“Champions of Hope and Leadership” podcast

LOCS Superintendent Ben Kirby’s monthly podcast, “Champions of Hope and Leadership,” spotlights leaders who impacted those around them.

The inspiration for the podcast comes from the amazing people that have shaped, inspired, and given Mr. Kirby hope as he has navigated his career as an educator and the people he has witnessed as Champions of Hope and Leadership.
snow plows
Winter Weather Information

LOCS will make a sincere effort to call snow days as early as possible when a significant weather event is approaching. The district administration understands the challenges a late snow day call creates for families and will make every effort to avoid that. But there are often circumstances when a decision must be made in the morning of a school day. With safety as the top priority, the goal every day is to have students in school, safely traveling to and from the buildings.

If LOCS sends an emergency message, including snow days, families will be contacted in the traditional manner, via School Messenger email, text message and phone call. The information will also be shared with the local media via the traditional broadcast outlets, posted on the LOCS website and social media channels, and on the school digital signs when possible.
Distinguished Dragon Staff Recognition

Lake Orion Community Schools is launching a program in 2023-24 to recognize LOCS staff members for their excellence.

The intent of the Distinguished Dragon program is to ensure that staff members who go above and beyond their regular duties are appreciated. The additional effort or support can range from helping an individual to helping a group or any effort that seems worthy of praise.

The staff member can be nominated by a student, parent, community member or colleague by completing the form at LakeOrionSchools.org/DistinguishedDragon. We ask for the submitter’s name and contact information to follow up with specific questions if necessary. Please make sure to select the appropriate school/department form so the message is routed in the proper direction.

Please complete the form entirely so the individual can be appropriately honored for the contributions.
Communications

Lake Orion Community Schools has a number of paths to communicate with families and the community. Information on social media, district email communications, the LakeOrionSchools.org website and mobile phone app, as well as external flyer information is available.LOCS tested its emergency communications on Sunday, November 12. If you did not receive any of the outlets (email/text/phone call) and would like to in the case of an urgent school or district-wide matter, please adjust your School Messenger settings.
Text Messages

LOCS parents and staff who are interested in receiving text messages from the district and the student’s school through School Messenger must opt in to receive them. LOCS sends text messages when there is a time-sensitive circumstance (usually a school closing or a bus delay.)If a parent/guardian is not receiving text messages from LOCS and is interested, please opt in by texting Y to the number 67587. More details are available in the attached form.
Now Hiring

Lake Orion Community Schools consistently hires the best and brightest staff members to bring our students an elite education.

The district is always looking for talented individuals to work in a variety of areas and offers competitive pay and benefits for most positions.

If you know anyone interested in a position — from driving a bus, to working in a cafeteria, to connecting in a classroom — chances are there is a great opportunity available.

All available jobs
Transportation

The Transportation Department is available during business hours.

During the school year, families can use the Versatrans My Stop App to check on their students’ bus progress (available on iTunes and Android.)
Strategic Plan 2022-27

Earlier this spring, the Lake Orion Community Schools Board of Education approved the strategic plan to guide the district from 2022-2027. The plan includes a mission statement, a vision statement, belief statements and focus areas to guide the district administration. Three times a year, the LOCS Administration offers updates to the Board of Education on the recent progress. The most recent update was presented at the end of November.

 

Belief statements

We believe…

  • Preparing Dragons is a collaboration of students, staff, families and community.
  • We have a responsibility to provide a safe, welcoming, equitable learning environment where all individuals are respected and valued.
  • In fostering an environment that cultivates each individual’s maximum potential.
  • Character development is an integral part of education.
  • In a dynamic innovative approach to educating Dragons.

 

Mission

Empowering the Dragon community to achieve excellence
calendar
Upcoming Important Dates

February 29 — High School — Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 5, 7 — Middle School — Parent-Teacher Conferences

March 15 — Elementary/Middle Half Day

March 25-29 — All Schools (Spring Break)
Counseling Resources

LOCS has counseling staff available at each building with multiple support staff members.

 

We have posted the North Oakland Community Coalition list of outside professionals where counseling and help is available.

 

There are connections and suggestions on how to talk to your children about highly-publicized events.

 

All of these resources are available on this page: LOCS Counseling Resources
Bond Projects

The Lake Orion Community Schools Bond was passed in November 2018 and the impact continues to be shown throughout the district.

Waldon, Oakview and Paint Creek Elementary will receive updates in the summer of 2024.

 

Specific information on each project is available on the Bond Projects page.
Have a question or concern?

The district understands and appreciates the interest of parents and guardians in their student’s school experience and the desire to find out more information on a particular topic.

LOCS asks parents to follow the district chain of communication to achieve the best results.
Follow Us on Social Media
Lake Orion Community Schools shares information about district news and updates on the social media channels: @lkorionschools on Twitter, @lkorionschools on Instagram, @lakeorioncommunityschools on Facebook and @lakeorioncommunityschools on YouTube.
LOCS District Contacts
2024 Congressional Art Competition

2024 Congressional Art Competition

by | Feb 22, 2024 | Regional News

Image
Calling all artists: now is the time to get your entries ready for the 2024 Congressional High School Art Competition!

Each spring, Congresswoman Slotkin is proud to sponsor this high school arts competition along with her colleagues in the House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize, celebrate, and encourage artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our district.

The competition is open to all high school students who either reside or attend school in Michigan’s 7th District. 

The first-place winner will have their artwork hung in the U.S. Capitol for one year, and will be invited to attend a ceremony with other winners from around the country in Washington, D.C. over the summer. The second-place winner will have their art hung in Congresswoman Slotkin’s Washington D.C. office for one year, and the third-place winner will have their art hung in Congresswoman Slotkin’s Lansing office.

Image2023 Art Competition winner Emma Li of Okemos High School visits Washington to see her painting hanging in the U.S. Capitol with Rep. Slotkin. 

A reception will also be held in late spring in Lansing to announce the winner and display and celebrate all of the art submissions.

Submissions must adhere to the following rules: 

  • Artwork must be two-dimensional and no larger than 26 inches by 26 inches by 4 inches, and must not weigh more than 15 pounds
  • Art pieces should NOT be framed for judging
  • All submissions must be original in concept, design, and execution, and may not violate U.S. copyright laws

Artwork can be: 

  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Drawing
  • Mixed Media
  • Other (ie. Computer-generated art, collages, etc.)

Artwork will be collected from participating schools and homeschool families in early April by our office staff.
All students will need to fill out a release form and attach it to the back of the artwork, which can be downloaded here. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing).

You can take a look at the full rules and checklist for the 2024 competition by clicking here.

Please send all your questions to Maria Moore in our office at [email protected].

We can’t wait to see what students create this year!

– Office of Rep. Elissa Slotkin