$50 million in Filter First clean drinking water grants

$50 million in Filter First clean drinking water grants

 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 5, 2024
EGLE Media Office, [email protected], 517-284-9278

EGLE awards $50 million in Filter First clean drinking water grants for schools and childcare centers

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) today awarded $50 million in grant funding to schools across the state for the installation of bottle-filling stations, faucet-mount filters, filtered water pitchers, and replacement cartridges to protect students from lead under the Michigan Filter First law approved by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in October 2023.

The $50 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding will go to 612 public school districts, public school academies, and nonpublic schools. Grant funding will also benefit 122 childcare centers.

The grant funding will reimburse schools for the costs associated with complying with the Filter First law requiring licensed childcare centers and K-12 public and nonpublic schools to furnish drinking water to children that filters for lead. Childcare centers must comply with the new law by October 2025 and schools by June 2026.

A list of awardees, amount, and use of funds is posted on the EGLE website: Filter First – Healthy Hydration Grant Application.

Building on the success of Michigan’s strictest-in-the-nation Lead and Copper Rule aimed at eliminating lead in public water supplies, the bipartisan legislation collectively known as Filter First encompasses the Clean Drinking Water Access Act (2023 PA 154) and amendments to the Regulation of Childcare Organizations (1973 PA 116) to create the first-of-its-kind legislation specifically designed to protect children from exposure to lead in drinking water in schools and childcare centers.

Under the new legislation, schools must develop a drinking water management plan (DWMP), install lead-reducing filters on all drinking water fixtures and test filtered water annually. Childcare centers must follow the same protocols and test their water every two years.

Additional information about Michigan’s strictest-in-the-nation lead testing requirements and strategies to reduce lead exposures in the home can be found on the state’s Mi Lead Safe web site.

Road warriors, stealthy plants and stressed trees

Road warriors, stealthy plants and stressed trees

 
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News Release

Dec. 4, 2024
Contact: Joanne Foreman, 517-284-5814

Road warriors, stealthy plants and stressed trees: Indulge your curiosity with NotMISpecies webinars

Did you know that road rights-of-way can be hot spots of invasive species infestation? Were you aware that that some retailers in Michigan will take back aquarium pets if you have too many? Have you heard about lesser celandine, Michigan’s newest watch list plant? Have you thought about the impacts of climate change on Michigan’s forests?

If you are curious about these or other invasive species issues, check out the NotMISpecies webinar series.

Supported by the Michigan Invasive Species program, the monthly, hourlong webinars are designed to keep people informed about available programs, current research and emerging issues in the state and the Great Lakes region. Question and answer sessions and links to resources help attendees get the most out of each presentation.

Pesky pets and plants

A stock tank of orange and black goldfish removed from a ditch in Oakland County, MI.What can be done when non-native aquatic plants and pets outgrow or overpopulate their aquariums or water gardens? In “Don’t Let it Loose! Protecting Michigan’s Waterways from Pesky Pets and Plants” (9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14), Paige Filice shares how the “don’t let it loose” message is being promoted through surrender events and partnerships with leading retailers and conservation organizations. Filice is a natural resources educator and associate director of the Michigan State University Extension Center for Lakes and Streams. Since 2015, MSUE has been empowering aquarium and water garden retailers and enthusiasts to make sound stocking decisions through the Reduce Invasive Pet and Plant Escapes, or RIPPLE, campaign.

Road trippin’

Whether you’re hitting the highway for work or pleasure, you may not notice the condition of road rights-of-way unless you end up on the roadside with car trouble. Fortunately, the folks at the Michigan Department of Transportation pay attention to every one of the nearly 10,000 miles of state highway. Join MDOT’s Carla Ahlschwede for “Road Trippin’: How MDOT Manages Michigan’s Highways” (9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25), as she shares how the department keeps our highways safe and the role it plays in managing invasive species along roadsides across the state.

Disappearing act

An infestation of lesser celandine, here with petals closed, along a floodplain.In 2024, lesser celandine (Ficaria verna), a spring ephemeral plant found in forest floodplains, was added to Michigan’s watch list. The plant appears very early in spring and hides underground well before summer’s heat begins. In “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t! The Trick of Finding and Managing Invasive Lesser Celandine” (9 a.m. Thursday, March 27), Katie Grzesiak, terrestrial invasive species coordinator with the Department of Natural Resources, explains the impacts, identification and management strategies for this invasive plant. Learn how to become a spring lesser celandine spotter on your next outdoor adventure.

Trees at risk

Invasive insects and diseases, including hemlock woolly adelgid, beech bark disease and beech leaf disease, are taking a toll on Michigan’s forests. As if this weren’t enough, the changing climate is further stressing trees and may lead to greater impacts by both invasive and native insects and diseases. Join forest entomologist Erin Biggs and forest pathologist Simeon Wright of the DNR for “They’ll Need that Hug: How Climate Change is Increasing Native and Invasive Threats to Michigan’s Trees” (9 a.m. Wednesday, April 30). The duo will explain emerging issues, how they are being addressed, and which may have the biggest effect on Michigan’s forests and urban landscapes.

Recorded versions of all previous webinars are available on the NotMISpecies webpage.

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program, a collaborative effort of the departments of Natural Resources; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Agriculture and Rural Development, coordinates and supports invasive species initiatives across the state and provides support through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program.


Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

Goldfish: A trough of domestic goldfish removed from the Square Lake ditch in Oakland County in 2017.

Lesser celandine: A showy spring ephemeral, lesser celandine has invaded floodplain areas along the Grand River in Michigan, pushing out native vegetation. Photo courtesy of Ansel Oomman, Bugwood.org.

$2.25 million to streamline transition to adult care for youth with epilepsy

$2.25 million to streamline transition to adult care for youth with epilepsy

 

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Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 4, 2024

CONTACT: Laina Stebbins, 517-241-2112, [email protected]

MDHHS awarded $2.25 million federal grant to streamline transition to adult care for youth with epilepsy

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been awarded a $2.25 million grant for the Michigan Youth with Epilepsy Transition demonstration project, which seeks to provide support to youth with epilepsy as they transition into adult health care.

This five-year grant comes from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Maternal Child and Health Bureau. The goal of the project is to improve quality of life and other outcomes for youth with epilepsy and their families, with a focus on those who have complex health and social needs and/or require a higher level of family support and coordination.

“The transition from youth to adulthood can be particularly challenging for young people and their families, especially for those with conditions like epilepsy. This project aims to enhance coordination across various systems to ensure a successful transition for these youth, while also offering vital support to their families,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “By collaborating with four major epilepsy centers in Michigan, we will provide comprehensive assistance to help young people with epilepsy and their families navigate the shift from pediatric to adult care.”

The grant award will allow MDHHS’s Children’s Special Health Services (CSHCS) program to enhance its transition-to-adulthood efforts by improving coordination between health care and other transition service areas. It will also support the development of resources to help youth and families navigate various other systems beyond health care that provide services to children and adults.

There are an estimated 13,600 Michigan children ages 17 and younger with epilepsy. Nationwide, only 23% of the adolescent population receives the services needed to make transitions to adult health care.

During the next five years, CSHCS will partner with two pediatric and two adult neurology clinics to implement strategies to improve transition to adult-serving systems for children and youth with epilepsy. Activities will include strengthening collaborations across child- and adult-serving systems to support youths and their families, developing and implementing a Michigan health care transition framework and creating a Roadmap to Transition resource guide for youth and families. Engagement with youths with epilepsy and their families will be a major focus of the project.

In addition to the four neurology clinics, other key partners in the project include the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Michigan Public Health Institute, the Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center at Michigan Medicine and Patient and Family Partnerships, Inc.

CSHCS is a program within MDHHS and is a part of Title V of the Federal Social Security Act. The CSHCS program is for children and some adults with chronic health conditions. Its mission is to enable individuals with special health care needs to have improved health outcomes and an enhanced quality of life. For more information about CSHCS, visit the MDHHS website.

AG Urges Consumers to Guard Against Porch Pirates

AG Urges Consumers to Guard Against Porch Pirates

Michigan Department of Attorney General Press Release banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 4, 2024

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

Attorney General Dana Nessel Urges Consumers to Guard Against Porch Pirates During Holidays

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is urging consumers to take proactive steps to protect their packages from theft as part of her office’s ongoing Holiday Scams Campaign. With an increase in online shopping during the holidays, consumers face heightened risks of “porch pirates” targeting deliveries.

“Whether it’s a package or a piece of mail, unattended deliveries are easy targets for porch pirates,” Nessel said. “By planning ahead and taking security measures, you can make sure your well-deserved gifts and packages reach you safely while keeping thieves from stealing your holiday cheer.”

To safeguard against package theft, Nessel advises consumers to:

  • Use Secure Delivery Options: Ship packages to a secure location, such as Amazon lockers, FedEx offices, or your workplace if permitted.
  • Improve Visibility: Keep your porch well-lit and consider adding motion-sensing lighting.
  • Create the Illusion of Presence: Even when you’re not home, make it look like someone is present by leaving lights or music on.
  • Invest in Technology: Install a porch camera or motion detector that can alert you to activity and allow you to monitor deliveries in real time.

Consumers can also use the U.S. Postal Service’s free Informed Delivery tool, which provides digital previews of incoming mail and allows users to track packages, manage delivery instructions, and reschedule deliveries.

Attorney General Nessel’s alert also notes that mail and package theft is a leading cause of identity theft crimes. Consumers can also reduce their risk by opting out of pre-approved credit offers, which thieves can use to apply for credit in someone else’s name. To stop these offers, you can opt out by visiting the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website or by calling 888-567-8688.

Stealing mail or packages is a serious offense. First-time offenders can face fines and up to one year in jail, while repeat offenders risk up to five years in prison under state and federal law.

If you believe a package has been stolen from your residence, you should first confirm that it was actually delivered by reviewing the available tracking information. If you have a security camera and it captures packages being stolen from you or your neighbors, you should contact your local police department.

For additional consumer protection resources or to file a complaint, visit the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team.

Gov. Announces Funding to Fix Roads in Rural Counties

Gov. Announces Funding to Fix Roads in Rural Counties

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

December 4, 2024

Contact: [email protected]

 

Gov. Whitmer Announces Funding to Fix the Damn Roads in Rural Counties, Saving Locals $2.9 Million

 

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer awarded nine grants to the following cities and road agencies to help rebuild local roads in rural counties across Michigan, which will save local taxpayers $2.9 million.

“These grants will help communities across the state fix local roads faster so people can get to work or drop their kids off at school and businesses can move goods and supplies around more efficiently all year round,” said Governor Whitmer. “Since I took office, Michigan has fixed nearly 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,400 bridges while supporting tens of thousands of good-paying jobs. Today’s projects will build on that total as we continue working together to fix the damn roads. Let’s keep rolling up our sleeves and moving dirt to make a real difference in people’s lives.”

 

City of Ishpeming: Washington Street

The City of Ishpeming will resurface Washington Street from County Road PAA to Old Washington Street. The project includes pulverizing the existing surface, widening, regrading, compacting and resurfacing the roadway, paving shoulders and installing pavement markings.

 

Washington Street is part of a truck route connecting the Tilden Mine to US-41. This project will increase pavement depth and improve road quality to allow an increase in truck traffic and safety. Commodities typically hauled on the roadway include mining materials and supplies.

 

The total project cost is $515,000, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (73 percent of construction costs) and $140,000 in matching funds from the City of Ishpeming.

 

Mason County Road Commission: South Jebavy Drive

The Mason County Road Commission will rebuild South Jebavy Drive from US-10 south to East Mitchell Street. The project will include road and shoulder widening, drainage improvements and the addition of curbs to bring the roadway up to all-season standards.

 

South Jebavy Road will serve as part of a new all-season route connecting US-10 to Pere Marquette Highway, which will greatly benefit businesses and help with congestion in the area. Commodities hauled on this roadway will include consumable goods, supplies for repair shops, sand, gravel and foundry materials.

 

The total project cost is $760,330, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (49 percent of construction costs), $385,000 in MDOT Small Urban Funding and $330 in matching funds from the Mason County Road Commission.

 

City of Allegan: Airway Drive

The City of Allegan will resurface Airway Drive from Grand Street to Industrial Drive. The project includes cold milling the existing surface, repaving, curb and gutter replacement, and improvements to sidewalks to comply with American With Disability Act (ADA) standards.

 

Airway Drive serves as the major connector from M-222, through the Allegan Highland Business Park, as part of a truck route to access County Road A-37 to the north. This project will improve roadway condition and allow truck traffic to operate smoothly on the route. Commodities typically hauled on this road include fabrication materials, moving equipment, packaging materials, skin care and personal hygiene products, and instructional materials.

 

The total project cost is $787,936, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (48 percent of construction costs) and $412,936 in matching funds from the City of Allegan.

 

City of Bay City: Marquette Avenue

The City of Bay City will resurface Marquette Avenue from Transit Street to Harry S. Truman Parkway. The project includes full-depth concrete patching, traffic signal upgrade, curb repair and installing pavement markings.

 

Marquette Avenue is a north-south truck route close to the Saginaw River and connects to Veterans Memorial Bridge. Truck traffic is expected to significantly increase on this route as a result of new bridge tolls required on other truck routes in the city. Repairs are needed to be able to withstand the additional traffic over time. Commodities typically hauled on this route include stone materials, machine parts, hot-mix asphalt, industrial products, wind turbine parts and other items imported from other counties by ship.

 

The total project cost is $470,555, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (80 percent of construction costs) and $95,555 in matching funds from the City of Bay City.

 

City of St. Clair: Clinton Avenue 

The City of St. Clair will resurface Clinton Avenue from Fred W. Moore Highway/6th Street to Carney Drive. The project includes milling and resurfacing the existing asphalt surface, replacement of curb and gutter and ADA sidewalk upgrades.

 

Clinton Avenue is an all-season route between M-29 (Riverside Avenue) and Carney Drive. The project will improve the surface condition to maintain the truck route. Commodities typically hauled on this route include automotive parts, steel, aluminum projects, tool and dies, farming equipment and goods, salt manufacturing materials and goods. Clinton Avenue also is part of an important emergency route.

 

The total project cost is $552,650, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (68 percent of construction costs) and $177,650 in matching funds from the City of St. Clair.

 

Van Buren County Road Commission: Kalamazoo Street

The Van Buren County Road Commission will resurface Kalamazoo Street from Blue Star Highway north 0.2 miles to the South Haven city limit. The project includes cold milling the existing surface, asphalt paving, curb and gutter replacement, and installing new pavement markings.

 

Kalamazoo Street is part of a truck route allowing commercial traffic access between the city of South Haven’s industrial areas and Blue Star Highway. This project will improve road conditions for a safe and continuous all-season road system. Commodities typically hauled on this roadway include concrete, landscape materials, steel and other metals, vehicle and equipment parts, plastics and other manufacturing supplies.

 

The total project cost is $125,645, with up to $100,516 in TEDF Category F funds (80 percent of construction costs) and $25,129 in matching funds from the Van Buren County Road Commission.

 

Village of Schoolcraft: West Eliza Street

The Village of Schoolcraft will rebuild West Eliza Street from US-131 west 0.5 miles to the village limit. The project includes cold milling the existing surface, fine grading and compaction of the aggregate base, paving, re-establishing ditches and installing new pavement markings.

 

West Eliza Street is a major street in Tecumseh that provides east-west access to town and to US-131. This project will improve the road condition and solve drainage issues to accommodate commercial truck traffic. Commodities typically hauled on this road include aggregate materials, food and beverage, freight and supplies for the downtown businesses.

 

The total project cost is $402,750, with up to $201,375 in TEDF Category F funds (50 percent of construction) and $201,375 in matching funds from the Village of Schoolcraft.

 

City of Chelsea: North Street

The City of Chelsea will rebuild North Street from M-52 (Main Street) to Hayes Street. The project includes replacing curb and gutter and sidewalk improvements to meet ADA requirements.

 

North Street serves as the main entrance for the Chelsea Milling Co. and as a commercial traffic bypass route to avoid narrow roadways and pedestrian traffic downtown. This project will improve the paved surface and increase pavement depth, resulting in a longer-lasting roadway capable of handling an increase in truck traffic. Commodities typically hauled on this route include raw ingredients and finished products for the milling company, as well as iron products for a metal stamping company.

 

The total project cost is $796,679, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (47 percent of construction costs) and $421,679 in matching funds from the City of Chelsea.

 

City of Tecumseh: South Occidental Highway

The City of Tecumseh will resurface South Occidental Highway from M-50 (West Chicago Boulevard) to West Russell Road. The project includes resurfacing the existing asphalt, curb and gutter replacement, new pavement markings and ADA ramp improvements.

 

South Occidental Highway provides access to the Tecumseh commercial business corridor on M-50. The proposed project will improve the road condition and safety. Commodities typically hauled in this corridor include aggregates, food service, freight and agricultural goods.

 

The total project cost is $750,035, with up to $375,000 in TEDF Category F funds (50 percent of construction costs) and $375,035 in matching funds from the City of Tecumseh.

 

About Transportation Economic Development Grants 

Enacted in 1987 and reauthorized in 1993, the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) helps finance highway, road and street projects that are critical to the movement of people and products, and getting workers to their jobs, materials to growers and manufacturers, and finished goods to consumers. TEDF “Category F” or “Urban Areas in Rural Counties” grants provide state funding for public roadway improvements that create system continuity with the secondary all-season road system. Eligible entities for the Category F program are urban areas of 5,000 population or more, in rural counties having less than 400,000 population.

 

Category F grants provide funding for projects that include improving access to the state all-season system or improving safety and all-season capabilities on routes having high commercial traffic. Eligible road agencies include county road commissions, cities and villages. More information about the program is available online at www.Michigan.gov/TEDF.