2025 Local Gems Sweepstakes to Support Small Businesses

2025 Local Gems Sweepstakes to Support Small Businesses

by | Oct 31, 2025 | Regional News

Oakland County Launches 2025 Local Gems Sweepstakes to Celebrate and Support Small Businesses

Post Date:10/31/2025 10:05 AM
  • Local Gems is a month-long campaign encouraging residents to shop locally and support small businesses across the county Nov. 1-30.
  • Shoppers can win $1,000, $500 or $250 courtesy of Genisys Credit Union by posting selfies taken at small businesses in Oakland County.
  • Organized by Oakland County Economic Development with partners Oakland Thrive, Main Street Oakland County and Genisys Credit Union, the campaign highlights the vital role small businesses play in driving local jobs, community investment and downtown vitality.

Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County today kicked off the 2025 Local Gems Sweepstakes, a month-long campaign encouraging residents to shop local and support small businesses throughout the county. The launch event was held at Designed Mindfully in downtown Pontiac.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Oakland County’s economy giving our communities character and making our downtowns thrive,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “The Local Gems Sweepstakes is a fun way to highlight and support them, especially as we head into the holiday shopping season.”

Running from Nov. 1-30, the Local Gems Sweepstakes invites shoppers to visit small businesses across Oakland County and post a selfie taken inside or outside the business for a chance to win $1,000, $500, or $250, courtesy of Genisys Credit Union. Each selfie taken at a different small business counts as a separate entry, increasing participants’ chances to win via random drawings.

“At Genisys, we are deeply rooted in our community, which is why we are proud to support initiatives like Oakland County’s Local Gems Sweepstakes,” said Jackie Buchanan, president and CEO of Genisys Credit Union. “Shopping local is not just a transaction; it is an investment that strengthens our small businesses and builds a unified community. We encourage everyone to discover our local treasures and shop local this holiday season.”

The campaign is organized by Oakland County Economic Development in partnership with Genisys Credit Union, Main Street Oakland County and Oakland Thrive. Since its creation, Local Gems has helped boost local spending and spotlight small businesses that define the county’s diverse and vibrant economy.

“Each year, this campaign helps residents discover new favorites while supporting long-time staples in their own neighborhoods,” said Dom Holmes, director of Oakland County Economic Development. “When we shop local, we’re investing directly in our community.”

Last year, nearly 500 unique small businesses located in 47 communities were submitted as local gems. The top 10 businesses receiving the most entries, including ties, were:

  1. HobbyTown, Southfield
  2. AM2PM Barbershop, Southfield; and It’s the Little Things, Ortonville
  3. Designed Mindfully, Pontiac; and Vibrant Vizionz, Oak Park
  4. Impact North, Ortonville
  5. Bizzy Buzz Artisan Market, Rochester; and Monarch Home Design, Holly
  6. Hamilton’s Feed & Fuel, Ortonville; Marcia Hovland Studio Gallery, Royal Oak; and Road Less Traveled Book Store, Farmington
  7. Altered Designs, Holly; and Bijou Salon and Spa, Farmington
  8. Bittersweet Café, Holly; Catching Fireflies, Berkley; My New Favorite Thing, Waterford; and Unexpected Craft Brewing Company, Oak Park
  9. Design to Shine Salon, Madison Heights; Noelle the Stylist Studio, Madison Heights; and Uncle Joe’s Chicken Fingers, Southfield
  10. Salinair Salt Room Spa, Rochester Hills; and Crave Nutrition, Waterford

“We were pleased to receive the top three most entries in the 2024 Local Gems Sweepstakes,” said  Deya Marchand, owner of Designed Mindfully in Pontiac.  “Our customers see us as more than a store.  We are a space where community, creativity, and intentional living come together. The Local Gems campaign beautifully aligns with our mission to live and shop with purpose, supporting other small businesses and local artists.”

Small business owners can pick up Local Gems Sweepstakes posters and cards while supplies last to help promote the campaign. Materials are available through Oakland County Economic Development. For complete sweepstakes details and official rules, visit OakGov.com/ShopSmall.

“At Oakland Thrive, we’re proud to stand alongside Oakland County and our partners in uplifting the small businesses that fuel our local economy,” said Camille Walker-Banks, CEO of Oakland Thrive. “Initiatives like the Local Gems Sweepstakes not only shine a light on the creativity and resilience of our entrepreneurs—they remind residents that every purchase made locally strengthens our communities and creates lasting impact.”

Follow and share on social media using @AdvantageOak, #OaklandCounty, and #LocalGemOC.

College tour brings information to 24 Michigan campuses

College tour brings information to 24 Michigan campuses

by | Oct 31, 2025 | Regional News

Secretary Benson banner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 31, 2025

Contact: Cheri Hardmon

HardmonC@Michigan.gov

 

Fall college tour brings Secretary of State services and election poll worker information to 24 Michigan campuses

 LANSING, Mich. – This month, the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) wrapped up the department’s 2025 fall college tour. The Secretary of State Mobile Office and its nonpartisan poll worker recruitment program, Democracy MVP, visited 24 Michigan colleges and universities in September and October, bringing essential services and information directly to students, faculty, and staff throughout the state. This outreach encourages civic responsibility among young voters and makes transactions typically offered in person at branch offices – like renewing a driver’s license, registering to vote, or getting a REAL ID – easily accessible on their college campuses.

 

“Young people in Michigan continue to shape the future of our state and lead the nation in turnout at the polls,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said. “College is a busy time, so we meet students where they are and bring our department’s essential services directly to them. By making government more accessible, we support Michigan’s strong, civically engaged college and university communities.”

 

The Secretary of State mobile office and Democracy MVP program made stops at the following college and universities:

 

  • Albion College
  • Alma College
  • Alpena Community College
  • Central Michigan University
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • Ferris State University
  • Grand Rapids Community College
  • Grand Valley State University
  • Henry Ford College
  • Kalamazoo College
  • Macomb Community College
  • Michigan State University
  • Michigan Technological University
  • Muskegon Community College
  • Northern Michigan University
  • Northwestern Michigan College
  • Oakland University
  • University of Detroit Mercy
  • University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
  • University of Michigan – Dearborn
  • University of Olivet
  • Washtenaw Community College
  • Wayne State University
  • Western Michigan University

Fall College Tour Graphic

 

“I am really excited about the opportunity to bring the Secretary of State mobile office to HFC,” said Henry Ford College Executive Director Tracye Y. Davis. “As a member of the MiLEAP Michigan College Student Basic Needs Task Force, we determined 12 Actionable Initiatives to assist with removing barriers for our students. One key Priority Recommendation is to enhance access to existing resources. This partnership between my office, HFC Student Activities, and the Michigan Secretary of State allows our entire College community—including students, faculty, staff, and community members—to conduct business with the Secretary of State right here at the College. I also understand how this is a sensitive time for members of our community, and some of the trust regarding governmental entities might have been compromised. We want to assure our students and community that they are in a safe place. Being able to provide this service on-site at the College to remove the transportation, location, and office hours barriers is a huge win for our community.”

 

“The Secretary of State’s Mobile Office is always a popular attraction at Eastern Michigan University because our students — most of whom are from Michigan — have easy access to update their driver’s license, register to vote, and complete other important tasks,” said Cathy Steiner, director of University Event Services and Eastern Michigan University Student Center. We appreciate the Secretary of State’s flexibility in coming directly to campus to offer these important services.”

 

“The Secretary of State Mobile Office’s presence on Macomb Community College’s Warren campus during Voter Engagement Day significantly enhanced access to voter services, helping our community engage more fully in the democratic process,” said Jamie Valente, manager of student life & leadership at Macomb Community College.

 

“We are grateful for our partnership with the Michigan Department of State,” said Melissa Baker-Boosamra, associate director of the office of student life at Grand Valley State University. “Having the mobile branch office on campus, we call that our one-stop-shop for voter registration for Grand Valley. And having all the other services too, it really is a wonderful program. The youth are our future, and young people have the responsibility, the right and the opportunity to take the world that we live in and make it their own. The reality is, it is a little bit of a trip to get to a Secretary of State’s office, whether that be by car or by bus and so the great thing about working with the Secretary of State’s office when it comes to voter registration is that no matter where in Michigan our students are from, they are able to be served by that mobile unit. If we have students who are on the east side of the state, we can send them to the mobile unit, and they will be able to be served just like students who are from right down the road.”

 

Michigan’s young voters

 

Michiganders aged 18 to 29 are among the nation’s most active young voters. Young people in Michigan voted in record numbers in 2024, marking the highest four-year increase in young voter turnout nationwide and ranking #3 in the nation for overall young voter turnout, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University. The CIRCLE report cited Michigan’s accessible voting policies, including preregistration for voters aged 16 and older, automatic voter registration, voting by mail, and early in-person voting, as contributing factors to the state’s high youth turnout in the 2024 election.

 

Michigan residents aged 16 or older can serve as poll workers in their community’s elections. The nonpartisan Democracy MVP program connects Michiganders interested in working as a poll worker with local clerks hiring workers for upcoming elections. Learn more at Michigan.gov/DemocracyMVP.

 

Secretary of State Mobile Office

 

Since its debut in fall 2021 with just one single van in Southeast Michigan, the mobile office program’s fleet has now grown to seven vehicles serving the entire state, making stops at senior centers, veterans’ organizations, health fairs, and other community events. In 2025, mobile offices brought accessible Secretary of State services to more than 1,100 events in communities throughout Michigan and conducted nearly 27,000 transactions for residents.

 

Visit Michigan.gov/SOSMobileOffice to learn more about mobile office services or to request a mobile office visit for your community.   

# # #

Wayne State University College Fall TourMDOS staff assisted students at Wayne State University with various transactions including voter registration. 

 

Grand Rapids Community College Fall College TourThe Secretary of State mobile office visited Grand Rapids Community College, assisting students and employees with renewing driver’s licenses and other transactions. 

 

Fall College Tour at University of Michigan - Ann ArborThe mobile office visited the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus on Sept. 9.

 

Fall College Tour at Macomb Community CollegeThe Secretary of State mobile office was on campus at Macomb Community College on Sept. 16. 
Eastbound Blue Water Bridge toll increase begins Dec. 1

Eastbound Blue Water Bridge toll increase begins Dec. 1

by | Oct 31, 2025 | Transportation

newsroom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2025

 

 MEDIA CONTACT
Caitlyn French
989-573-1274
FrenchC4@Michigan.gov

Planned eastbound Blue Water Bridge toll increase begins Dec. 1

Fast facts:
• Effective Dec. 1, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Blue Water Bridge (BWB) will increase toll rates by $1 for eastbound travel, to $5.
• Based off public feedback, rates were increased by $1 in 2024 with an additional $1 increase scheduled for 2025.
• This increase will help offset increased maintenance and operations costs.

PORT HURON, Mich. – Effective Dec. 1, the toll rate for crossing the eastbound span of the Blue Water Bridge (BWB) in Port Huron will be $5.

This planned $1 increase will help offset increased maintenance and operations costs, in addition to construction improvements for the BWB plaza. This increase is the second in a planned, staggered increase that began in 2024. While not required, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) previously chose to engage the public and regular commuters before making a final decision regarding rate increases. Following an overwhelming response from a public survey, BWB administration implemented the first $1 rate increase on Dec. 1, 2024, with this next $1 increase beginning this Dec. 1. This overall rate increase follows 14 years of no changes to toll rates for commuter and commercial vehicles.

The following rates will be in place for all vehicles beginning Dec. 1.

Vehicle United States currency
Cars $5
Each extra axle $5
Trucks and buses $5.25 per axle
EDGE Pass Commuter $0.50 discount per crossing

Discounts remain available for commuter EDGE Pass holders. For more information on the EDGE Pass, available to commercial and commuter vehicles, please visit www.BlueWaterBridge.us/. Questions can be directed to MDOT-BWB-CustomerCare@Michigan.gov.

Expanding tribal partnerships to restore native wild rice

Expanding tribal partnerships to restore native wild rice

by | Oct 30, 2025 | Recreation

 
DNR banner

Showcasing the DNR

Canoeists on a sunny, blue-sky day, paddle out to check out manoomin.

Expanding tribal partnerships to restore native wild rice

Collaboration includes DNR’s first manoomin camp

By ANDY HENION
Communications representative, Wildlife Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Building on a longstanding partnership with Indigenous nations, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is intensifying its commitment to sowing manoomin, a native aquatic rice and staple of the Anishinaabe people.

The DNR’s Wildlife Division, working with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, has seeded thousands of pounds of manoomin in the western Upper Peninsula over the past decade and, more recently, expanded these efforts to the eastern U.P.

Some grains of manoomin are held in a participant's hand for a close-up view.This year, the DNR finalized a manoomin-seeding agreement with the Brimley-based Bay Mills Indian Community and continues working toward a similar agreement with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

In addition, the Wildlife Division hosted its first-ever manoomin camp in mid-August to educate employees from the DNR and other state departments on the cultural, spiritual, ecological and economic significance of manoomin to Indigenous communities. Tribal nations have been working for decades to restore manoomin, which became Michigan’s official native grain in 2023.

Fifty-eight people attended the DNR’s two-day manoomin camp at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon, where tribal instructors led sessions focused on ceremony and traditional teachings that included harvesting tools, seed care and processing. The instructors represented the BMIC, KBIC, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Cree Nation and Gun Lake Tribe.
Employees from state departments get their first look at manoomin, a wild aquatic grain, at the DNR’s first manoomin camp in Roscommon.“The goal of the camp was to raise awareness of the ecological importance of manoomin on the landscape as well as the cultural and spiritual significance of wild rice,” said camp organizer Bill Scullon, a U.P.-based field operations manager for the DNR Wildlife Division.

“We want to work with our tribal partners whenever we can,” Scullon added. “It’s important to create these types of collaborative opportunities – to tear down barriers and open doors.”

‘The good berry’

Native to the Great Lakes region and parts of Canada, manoomin – which translates to “the good berry” in Ojibwe – is a grain-producing grass. It grows to 6-10 feet tall in the shallow, quiet waters of marshes, inland lakes and slowly moving streams.

Manoomin is a culturally significant plant to the Anishinaabe (Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi) and is directly linked to their migration from the northeastern U.S. coast to the Great Lakes region several hundred years ago, according to Native News Online, an American Indian news publication. In the Great Lakes region, manoomin plays a major role in the Indigenous food sovereignty movement.

Kathleen Smith is with the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, where she serves as Genawendang Manoomin – or “She who takes care of the wild rice” – for tribes across Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Tribal leaders were honored at the Michigan DNR's first-ever manoomin camp in Roscommon.Smith, a member of the KBIC, gave several presentations at the DNR wild rice camp on manoomin harvesting, storage and cultural awareness and respect.

“With the continued decline of wild rice across many of our lakes and rivers, I often reflect on the teaching, ‘If we don’t use it, we lose it,’” Smith said. “That truth echoes louder each year. Our wetlands and the manoomin that grows within them are truly important to our people.”

Power of partnerships

In 2025, the Wildlife Division sowed about 2,200 pounds of manoomin seed, continuing its annual efforts to help restore or establish wild rice within state-managed rivers, creeks and wetlands in the U.P. Once manoomin matures in early fall, the rice grains provide energy-rich food for migrating waterfowl and are harvested by Anishinaabe communities.

The DNR obtains wild rice through formal agreements with tribal communities. Through these collaborations, tribal partners request manoomin seed from their network of vendors in Wisconsin and Minnesota, ensuring the wild rice is sourced responsibly, aligning with cultural teachings and ethics.
Roger LaBine, a member of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, demonstrates wild rice roasting.Scullon and John DePue, a U.P.-based wildlife biologist for the DNR, were instrumental in the department’s initial efforts to partner with KBIC to help restore manoomin.

“We recognized early in the partnership that KBIC has the cultural expertise, historic knowledge and resources to be a guiding partner in this process,” Scullon said. “KBIC, working in conjunction with the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, has the technical knowledge on where, when and how to restore manoomin. They have helped us to select, evaluate, seed and monitor sites for rice restoration.”

DNR wildlife biologists Kristie Sitar, Brian Roell and David Jentoft have played key roles in expanding the partnerships with other tribal nations in the eastern U.P. Sitar helped develop a memorandum of agreement between the DNR and the Bay Mills Indian Community.

“These partnerships are critical in maintaining the quality of rice used and are helpful to us working together to select the most appropriate places and desired efforts,” Sitar said.

Sitar and Roell received a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant in 2021 to reestablish wild rice in northern floodings along Lake Superior. The goal was to seed manoomin for three consecutive years at four locations – three in Marquette County and one in Luce County – at a rate of at least 50 pounds per acre in suitable flooding habitats.
Tribal instructors prepare popped rice from manoomin as a treat for participants at the DNR’s first wild rice camp. From 2022 to 2024, project staff seeded more than 2,600 pounds of rice in northern Luce County and more than 2,800 pounds in three northern floodings in Marquette County.

“We started to see success as rice seed germinated and grew and then began to self-seed in successive years,” Sitar said. “We had to adapt by dealing with some wildlife browse issues that commonly occur during this process. Wild rice can take many years to become established, and we are on our way to hopefully long-term success. “

Scullon noted that in Michigan, anyone can harvest manoomin, while in Wisconsin the practice is illegal for the general public without a permit. The Michigan Wild Rice Initiative – which consists of tribal nations, the DNR and other agencies and groups – is working to develop a cooperative framework to regulate the responsible and ethical harvest of manoomin in Michigan.

Learn more about the history of manoomin in a brochure from the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Check out previous Showcasing the DNR stories in our archive at Michigan.gov/DNRStories. To subscribe to upcoming Showcasing articles, sign up for free email delivery at Michigan.gov/DNREmail.

Note to editors: Contact: John Pepin, Showcasing the DNR series editor, 906-226-1352. Accompanying photos and a text-only version of this story are available below for download. Caption information follows. Credit Michigan Department of Natural Resources, unless otherwise noted.

Text-only version of this story.

Canoe: Participants paddle out to check out the manoomin.

Classroom: Participants learn more about manoomin during a classroom session.

Cleaning rice: Tribal mentor Kathleen Smith (standing, left) discusses the process of cleaning manoomin to Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Kristie Sitar (standing, right) and other State of Michigan employees.

Heading out: Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife technician Rachel Leggett, left, and wildlife biologist Morgan Lucot head out to look at wild rice on the Muskegon River as part of the DNR’s manoomin camp in mid-August.

Manoomin Close-up: Manoomin held in the hand of one of the participants of the wild rice camp.

Manoomin dancing: Manoomin dancing or jigging refers to the process of threshing wild rice to remove the outer husk by dancing or treading on it. Here, Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife technician Rachel Kanaziz takes a turn dancing on manoomin wearing clean moccasins.

Manoomin introduction: Employees from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and other state departments get their first look at manoomin, a wild aquatic grain, at the DNR’s first manoomin camp in Roscommon on Aug. 19.

Manoomin: Manoomin grows in the Muskegon River in Roscommon County. Manoomin (species Zizania palustris) is a grain-producing, wild grass native to the Great Lakes region and portions of Canada.

Recognition: Bill Scullon, Michigan Department of Natural Resources field operations manager and organizer of the Aug. 19-20 manoomin camp in Roscommon, honors Daisy Kostas of Cree Nation as part of a ceremony to recognize tribal elders.

Roasting rice: Roger LaBine, a member of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, demonstrates wild rice roasting at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ mid-August manoomin camp. LaBine is the tribal delegate of the Michigan Wild Rice Initiative.

Tool making: Sherry MacKinnon, a U.P.-based wildlife ecologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, makes a push pole used during the harvesting of manoomin from a canoe.

Treat: Tribal instructors prepare popped rice from manoomin as a treat for participants at the DNR’s first wild rice camp Aug. 19-20 in Roscommon.

Tribal instructors: Tribal leaders were honored at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ first-ever manoomin camp at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon.
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.
$4.5 Million to Food Bank Council of Michigan

$4.5 Million to Food Bank Council of Michigan

by | Oct 30, 2025 | Regional News

Governor Whitmer Header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 30, 2025

Contact: press@michigan.gov

 

State of Michigan Announces $4.5 Million to Food Bank Council of Michigan, Additional Resources to Feed Families Before SNAP Pause Caused by Federal Government Shutdown

State also working with philanthropic partners to align funding for impacted families in all 83 counties

 

LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the State of Michigan will provide $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of Michigan to feed families amid the federal government’s decision to pause SNAP benefits starting November 1. The funding will help feed Michiganders in all 83 counties and provide food delivery to those who can’t drive to their local food bank. The state is also aligning philanthropic support to help assist families impacted by the disruption of SNAP benefits.

 

“Hungry families cannot wait for the folks in power in Washington, DC to do their jobs,” said Governor Whitmer. “Today, in light of the USDA’s decision to freeze SNAP, the State of Michigan is taking action to support the Food Bank Council of Michigan so they can continue feeding families in all 83 counties and deliver food to those who are unable to drive. We take care of each other in Michigan, and we will continue bringing together public and private philanthropic resources to feed people as we hit day 30 of the federal government shutdown and approach the November 1 pause of SNAP. We will continue to do what we can in Michigan to help impacted families.”

 

“SNAP helps countless Michiganders put food on the table and feed their families when times are tough,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “The federal government’s decisions have put SNAP in jeopardy, making it harder for families to stay out of poverty and stay healthy. That’s unacceptable. Today’s action will shore up community food banks who are working to fill the gap caused by the shutdown and get Michiganders relief. The State of Michigan will continue to Stand Tall so more families can get the resources they need to eat.”

 

“Republicans and Democrats in Michigan were able to come together and work across the aisle to keep the state government open and pass a budget that moves to Michigan forward,” said Speaker of the House Matt Hall (R-Richland Township). “Because we did the right thing and kept state government on the job, we are now able to step up with this critical support for our local food banks, ensuring they have the resources they need to protect our communities and keep Michigan families strong. But this will never be a long-term solution and state government can only make up so much of the federal government’s spending. Congress must follow our lead and keep more Michigan families from being hurt by this shutdown.”

 

State Budget Office Director Jennifer Flood directed MDHHS to direct funding to the Food Bank Council. This action builds on a letter sent this morning from 21 governors, led by Governor Whitmer, calling on the White House to release SNAP contingency funding and allow states to use those existing funds to feed people.

 

“No one should go hungry and that’s why we’re sending out these emergency funds to help Michigan children, seniors and people with disabilities who are facing food insecurity,” said State Budget Director Jen Flood. “The federal government shutdown has created serious uncertainty for millions of Americans who rely on SNAP to put food on the table. This emergency funding will help food banks across the state support vulnerable Michiganders.”

 

“With the delay in November SNAP benefits, the roughly 1.4 million Michiganders who receive food benefits are facing an impossible choice between putting food on the table and covering other basic needs,” said Elizabeth Hertel, director of MDHHS. “The Food Bank Council of Michigan and our philanthropic partners are stepping up to help fill the gap to ensure that our friends and neighbors have access to the basic nutrition needed to live, work and thrive.”

 

Administered by the federal government’s USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), SNAP is the nation’s largest food assistance program and one of the most effective tools to reduce food insecurity. Nearly 13% of Michigan households, approximately 1.4 million people, receive federal SNAP benefits. About 43% are families with children and 36% are families with members who are older adults or disabled.

 

SNAP participants should reach out to their local MDHHS office with any questions regarding their federal SNAP benefits or check MI Bridges for updates.

 

Additional resources

  • Dial 2-1-1 or visit Find Help – Michigan 2-1-1 for free, confidential assistance and referrals to local food programs and support services.
  • Michigan’s Double Up Food Bucks Program – which is supported by a grant administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) – is a program that gives Michigan families money to purchase groceries, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • The Hunters Feeding Program, primarily funded through donations at the point of sale when customers purchase DNR licenses and/or permits, feeds an estimated 160 high-protein and nutritious meals per deer donated.
  • As part of the FY26 budget, free breakfast and lunch will continue being provided to Michigan’s 1.4 million public school students.
  • The Supper and Snacks program through which children participating in afterschool activities have access to dinner and snacks.

 

How SNAP works 

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service administers SNAP at the federal level with states operating the program at the local level, determining eligibility and issuing benefits to eligible households. The program is funded by the federal government, not the state government.

 

SNAP benefits are provided on electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that participants can use to purchase food at grocery and convenience stores, farmers markets and other retailers, circulating money directly into the food supply chain and other retail sectors. SNAP spending generates revenue for grocery stores, farmers and other businesses, which helps pay local wages, keeps shelves stocked and boosts the local economy.

 

SNAP in Michigan

In FY 2024, the average SNAP household in Michigan received $335.03 in SNAP benefits per month, which is about $173 per person per month or $5.68 per person, per day. Households with very low incomes receive more SNAP benefits than households closer to the poverty line because they need more help affording nutritious food.

  • 492,225 children benefit from SNAP.
  • 38,513 veterans participating in SNAP.
  • 36% SNAP households have older adults.
  • 43% SNAP households have children.
  • 51% households have a person with a disability.
  • 78% of SNAP households include someone with earned income.

 

In Michigan, more than 9,700 retailers accept SNAP. In 2023, retailers redeemed over $3.6 billion in SNAP.

 

To be eligible for SNAP in Michigan, applicants must be a U.S. citizen (or acceptable non-citizen status) and must live in Michigan. Eligibility is based on the financial situation of all members of a household. Everyone who lives together, purchases and prepares food together is considered a member of the same household group. In order to determine if a household is eligible for SNAP, MDHHS will review a household’s expenses, assets and income. Expenses include rent, mortgage, utility bills, child support and dependent care expenses. For individuals with a disability or who are at least 60 years old, medical care, medical supplies and health insurance premiums may be included as an expense.