small Businesses Receive $10,000 Boost From ITC Michigan

small Businesses Receive $10,000 Boost From ITC Michigan

by | Mar 11, 2021 | Regional News

Main Street Oakland County Crowdfunding Campaign To Help Small Businesses Hurt By COVID-19 Receives $10,000 Boost From ITC Michigan

​Pontiac, Michigan – The Main Street Oakland County crowdfunding campaign to support downtown small businesses struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic has raised more than $300,000 thanks to a recent $10,000 boost from ITC Michigan, based in Novi, Michigan.

The countywide campaign, launched in the early days of the pandemic last year, is the first of its kind in the nation to be sponsored by a Main Street program. The funds were generated from 21 of Main Street Oakland County’s 25 designated communities. The campaign surpassed its original $100,000 goal due to generous contributions from the general public, local governments and corporations, like ITC.

Funds raised were utilized by local downtown management organizations to provide grants for more than 200 small businesses independently owned and operated with 30 employees or less, including retailers and restaurants in the various downtown districts.

“Small businesses are the life blood of our economy and the hope for our future when we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Oakland County Executive David Coulter said. “That’s why it’s been vital to support them throughout this public health crisis in a number of ways, including with the Main Street Oakland County crowdfunding campaign. Thank you to ITC Michigan for their generosity.”

Main Street Oakland County matched dollars raised by each community at $1 for each $1 contributed, up to $4,000. The campaign used the Patronicity platform, and each community set their own fundraising goals and made their case to the public to build their fund.

“ITC Michigan has always taken an active role in the communities we serve,” said Simon Whitelocke, president of ITC Michigan. “During this extraordinary time, there are tremendous humanitarian and economic needs across our home state. We’re proud to support the Main Street Oakland County crowdfunding campaign, which is making a positive impact on the small business community that is so vital to our economy.”

The crowdfunding campaign was one of the many ways Oakland County assisted businesses throughout the pandemic. The Oakland County Executive and the Board of Commissioners allocated over $80 million of the county’s share of CARES Act funding to small businesses. These included:

  • $32 Million Grant Fund to assist 3,153 retail, restaurants, and other businesses
  • $14 Million Stabilization Fund for 3,500 small business
  • $11 Million Michigan Small Business Restart Grant helped nearly 3,000 Oakland County businesses including minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses.
  • $10 Million Oakland Together Restaurant Relief Program for about 785 restaurants.
  • $10 Million Industry 4.0 PPE Resilience Grants Program approved grants for 235 businesses.
  • $1 Million to 23 companies who shifted production to personal protective equipment such as masks, gowns, and face shields.
  • 15,000 Small Business Reopening Kits which contained PPE.

Plus, the county coordinated the Michigan Small Business Survival Grant which awarded over $6 Million to 1,348 businesses.

The following crowdfunding participating communities, ranging from 600 to 60,000 in population, met or exceeded their funding marks over the course of the two-month campaign: Berkley, Birmingham, Clarkston, Clawson, Farmington, Ferndale, Franklin, Hazel Park, Highland, Holly, Lake Orion, Lathrup Village, Leonard, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Ortonville, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester, South Lyon and Wixom.

The crowdfund contributions were used by each community to help their small businesses pay for rent, utilities, wages, inventory, PPE acquisition, and marketing. For example, the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority utilized funding to develop a marketplace for their small businesses where they could obtain difficult to find PPE at no cost. The Wixom Downtown Development Authority provided grants to small businesses that allowed them to keep operating and prevent their permanent closure.

All donations were coordinated through the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester. Questions about the program can be sent to Main Street Oakland County coordinator John Bry at bryj@oakgov.com.

In 2020, public and private investment in Main Street Oakland County totaled almost $36 million and resulted in 24 net new jobs; 36 net new businesses; and contributions of more than 16,308 volunteer hours.

To date, more than $962 million in public and private investments have been made to Main Street Oakland County downtowns, establishing 1,254 net new businesses and generating more than 8,000 jobs. Oakland County is the first and still only county in the United States to operate a full-service, county-wide Main Street program.

economic development grant to create 241 new jobs

by | Mar 11, 2021 | Regional News, Transportation

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Banner - headshot with bridge graphic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                  

March 11, 2021

Contact: Brian Armstrong, MDOT Office of Economic Development, 517-335-2636

 

Gov. Whitmer announces transportation economic development grant that will support 241 new jobs in Oakland and Macomb counties 

 

LANSING, Mich – The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has awarded a state Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) grant that will support 241 new jobs in Oakland and Macomb counties, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today. The grant will help fund infrastructure improvements related to Avancez, LLC’s new and expanded manufacturing facility on the site of the former Hazel Park Raceway, an Ashley Capital redevelopment project.

 

“Every Michigander deserves to drive on our roads safely, without blowing a tire or cracking a windshield. This partnership between Avancez and Ashley Capital moves us toward that goal while creating good jobs for Michigan workers,” said Gov. Whitmer. “I am pleased that we were able to collaborate with these companies and Macomb and Oakland counties to fix these roads. Along with the Rebuilding Michigan plan, this partnership will create jobs for Michiganders and improve our state’s infrastructure. Let’s get it done.”

 

“Avancez, LLC is thrilled with the partnership of MDOT, Macomb County, and Oakland County on the road improvements required to make the Hazel Park location feasible for our use,” said John Doroshewitz, Avancez’s vice president of Sales. “The funding was a key element of the project, which will be providing hundreds of local people a great place to work.”

 

Avancez is a subsidiary of Android Industries and is a value-added supplier providing just-in-time services to automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). The company specializes in assembling complex modules for installation in OEM assembly plants throughout North America.

 

Avancez secured a 10-year contract with General Motors to provide a variety of assembled modules for its upcoming Factory ZERO complex at the site of the former Detroit/Hamtramck plant, also a TEDF grant recipient earlier this year. To meet this increased demand, Avancez acquired additional manufacturing space on the site of the former Hazel Park Raceway, an Ashley Capital redevelopment project called the Tri-County Commerce Center.

 

Ashley Capital is redeveloping the site of the former Hazel Park Raceway. Avancez will occupy slightly more than half of one of the buildings that Ashley Capital has built. Between the building costs and to prepare it for use by Avancez, the two companies have invested $50,000,000 to support the 241 new jobs that Avancez will create.

 

This TEDF grant will help support work performed by the Macomb County Department of Roads, including rebuilding Dequindre Road from Oakgrove Street to 10 Mile Road. Planned work also includes widening the road to allow for increased commercial truck traffic and a continuous left-turn lane, upgrades to the existing signal at Woodward Heights Boulevard/Stephens Road, and the addition of a signal at Oakgrove Avenue, which will allow for safer access to the Tri-County Commerce Center.

 

The total project cost is $2,340,788, with $1,404,473 in Category A funds and $936,315 in matching funds from Ashley Capital.

 Enacted in 1987 and reauthorized in 1993, the 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 A” or “Targeted Industries Program” grants provide state funding for public roadway improvements that allow road agencies to respond quickly to the transportation needs of expanding companies and eliminate inadequate roadways as an obstacle to private investment and job creation. Eligible road agencies include MDOT, county road commissions, cities and villages. More information about the program is available online at www.Michigan.gov/TEDF.

 
VIDEO: One-Year Anniversary of COVID-19 in Michigan 

VIDEO: One-Year Anniversary of COVID-19 in Michigan 

by | Mar 10, 2021 | Regional News

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Banner - headshot with bridge graphic

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES

March 10, 2021

Contact: Press@michigan.gov

 

VIDEO: Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist Reflect on One-Year Anniversary of COVID-19 in Michigan

 

LANSING, Mich. –  Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist released a video on social media reflecting on the first anniversary of COVID-19 in Michigan.

 

“One year ago, our world changed as we knew it. Between the pandemic, a 500-year flood, and losing nearly 16,000 Michiganders to COVID-19, our state has had a challenging year,” said Governor Whitmer. “In the past year we have made strides against the virus because of decisive action to stay home, socially distance, and wear a mask. Now, we’re in the second half against the virus thanks to three safe, effective vaccines that will help protect you, your family, and others, and get our country and economy back to normal.”

 

“On the anniversary of COVID-19 in Michigan, we join together in remembrance of the 16,000 Michiganders who passed away from this terrible virus, including 27 people in my own life who I miss daily,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist. “Now we have an opportunity to build a bright future in the name of those who we had to say goodbye to far too early. This virus has been hard for all of us, but has also showed us the everyday heroes among us. We will beat this virus by standing united against COVID-19.”

 

The Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration has been focused on acting quickly, listening to experts, and following the data and science to help mitigate the spread of the virus. Vaccines are key to returning to normal, and as of March 8, Michigan has administered 2,689,248 vaccines, moving the state closer to its goal of equitably vaccinating 70 percent of Michiganders age 16 and older as soon as possible.

 

The video can be viewed here:

 

CABLECAST ENABLES UNDERWRITING & EXPANDED WEB CONTENT AT ONTV

by | Mar 10, 2021 | Local News

CABLECAST ENABLES UNDERWRITING & EXPANDED WEB CONTENT AT ONTV

PUBLISHED:
MARCH 3, 2021

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, March 1, 2021–Looking to replace its aging automation and playout system with an up-to-date solution that would flexibly support future station funding models, Michigan’s Orion Neighborhood Television (ONTV) turned to the Cablecast Community Media platform from Tightrope Media Systems. The comprehensive solution delivered immediate efficiency improvements and cost savings while speeding the delivery of timely information to ONTV’s community–a benefit that was amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Needing to replace ONTV’s failing legacy system and nervous about the long-term viability of the franchise fee funding model, executive director Ian Locke found the Cablecast platform the best fit for the station’s immediate needs and forward-looking vision.“We wanted a system that could support a model where we’re selling underwriting at a higher volume, by enabling us to easily insert videos from sponsors,” he said. “We had seen an older Cablecast system at a nearby access center a few years ago and kept it on our radar. We liked Cablecast’s scheduling tools, and its ability to incorporate short-form promos both on our channels and within our bulletin boards looked like it would enable those new funding models. It checked all the boxes.”

ONTV purchased its Cablecast solution through the center’s preferred integrator, Advanced Lighting & Sound, and found the transition surprisingly easy. “The learning curve was quicker than I had expected,” recalled Locke. “Cablecast’s interface is very easy to understand.”

Locke highlights Cablecast’s Auto-Scheduler feature, which automatically populates recurring time slots, as a particular favorite. “Our education channel is almost completely auto-scheduled,” he said. “All the time slots are pre-defined, so when we add a new show episode in the database, it automatically ripples through the schedule. That feature alone is worth the price of admission. We save at least eight hours each week just on programming and scheduling.”

Cablecast’s multi-format playback capabilities also save ONTV significant time by eliminating the need to transcode incoming clips. In addition to native playback of media submitted by community producers, Cablecast can also directly play video captured at non-broadcast frame rates in ONTV’s podcast studio. “Our old system required us to transcode to MPEG-2, and 10 hours of incoming programming would take twice as long to re-render,” Locke said. “Now, we just copy the file over, and hit play. The time savings are off the charts.”

Cablecast’s integrated online publishing workflows have helped dramatically improve and expand ONTV”s web and mobile offerings, all while saving the station significant money. “All of our live streaming and VOD had previously been done through a third-party service provider, which cost us thousands of dollars each year but was not even HD,” explained Locke. “It also only included our government meetings. Bringing our live streaming and VOD publishing in-house saves us that money, and we now do other content including newscasts, sporting events, governor press conferences, and more. It’s also now in HD, so our quality jumped exponentially.”

ONTV is also now leveraging Tightrope’s cloud based Screenweave OTT service to automatically bring its live streams and VOD content to the Roku OTT platform. “The lifeblood of our franchise is cable television, but we realize that many viewers are moving away from cable to OTT,” said Locke. “We need to continue reaching them to stay relevant, Cablecast and Screenweave OTT enable our content to be viewed on those services without any heavy lifting or additional steps.”

Like many PEG stations, ONTV found Cablecast’s responsive, browser-based interface and remote media file upload functionality invaluable in helping them continue operating during COVID-19 lockdowns. Locke similarly lauded the ease and remote accessibility of its integrated bulletin board functionality as instrumental in keeping the community informed. “Its templating approach really speeds up bulletin creation and thus information sharing,” he said. “We are proud of our role as a critical information source during COVID, and Cablecast enabled us to get updated information out within minutes, all while working from home.”

Adding it all up, Cablecast has exceeded ONTV’s expectations. “I had worked with our previous vendor’s system for over 20 years, and moving to Cablecast was refreshing,”summarized Locke. “It frees our time to work on other things and has the flexibility to adapt with us as our needs evolve. We feel comfortable that our future is in good hands with Tightrope and Cablecast.”

Update On Vaccine Clinics And Doses For March 9-15

Update On Vaccine Clinics And Doses For March 9-15

by | Mar 10, 2021 | Health and Wellness, Regional News

Oakland County Health Division COVID-19 Update On Vaccine Clinics And Doses For The Week Of March 9-15

Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County Health Division will conduct 17 COVID-19 vaccine clinics by appointment only the week of Tuesday, March 9 – Monday, March 15 in the following communities: Holly, Novi, Pontiac, Rochester, Southfield, Waterford, and West Bloomfield. In addition, the Health Division will administer COVID-19 vaccine at seven long-term care centers. To date, 26 long-term care centers have received a first or second dose of vaccine. The county also is redistributing vaccine to 13 providers this week.

The State of Michigan distributed 17,710 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Oakland County Health Division this week. Here is the breakdown by manufacturer:

Johnson & Johnson

  • 1st Dose: 0
  • 2nd Does: N/A
  • Total Doses: 0

 

Moderna

  • 1st Dose: 1,100
  • 2nd Dose: 1,400
  • Total Doses: 2,500

 

Pfizer

  • 1st Dose: 9,360
  • 2nd Dose: 5,850
  • Total Doses: 15,210

Meanwhile, an update on progress vaccinating Oakland County residents, according to the State of Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard as of March 8, 2021:

  • Total eligible residents: 1,029,737
    • Number of residents who have received first dose: 226,549
    • Number of residents who have completed vaccination: 128,068
    • Vaccine coverage: 22%
  • Total eligible senior residents 65 and older: 217,676
    • Number of senior residents who have received first dose: 119,915
    • Number of senior residents who have completed vaccination: 59,771
    • Vaccine coverage for senior residents: 55%
  • Total doses distributed by state within Oakland County: 372,305
    • Total doses administered within Oakland County: 354,600
    • Percentage of doses administered within Oakland County: 95%
supplemental funding to support COVID-19 recovery plan

supplemental funding to support COVID-19 recovery plan

by | Mar 10, 2021 | Regional News

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Banner - headshot with bridge graphic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2021 Contact: Press@Michigan.gov

                Kurt Weiss, Weissk1@michigan.gov

 

Gov. Whitmer signs supplemental funding to support COVID-19 recovery plan, additional work now needed to fully utilize federal aid

Funding secured for wage increase for direct care workers, schools, emergency rental assistance, vaccine administration, and testing.

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation that supports the COVID-19 recovery plan she sent to the legislature in January. It includes key provisions of the governor’s MI COVID Recovery Plan, including a $2.25/hour wage increase for direct care workers, $283 million in federal emergency rental assistance to help ensure people can stay in their homes, up to $110 million in federal funding for vaccine administration, and up to $555 million in federal funding for testing and tracing.

 

“I think it’s great news that we’ve been able to get some of the federal funding available to us appropriated, including passing two of my key proposals to provide a wage increase for direct care workers and increased funding to help expand vaccinations for Michiganders who are 50 years old or older,” said Governor Whitmer. “However, the reality is that there is more work to be done and there are still billions of dollars in federal funding that we need to get out the door to help businesses and families across the state. The bills I received were not negotiated with me or my administration, and I continue to call on the legislature to ensure that we work together to ensure we maximize every penny that is available. There were problems in the bills that I had to veto, and I expect the legislature to step up to fix the bill to allocate all of the money so we can get back to normal as soon as possible.”

 

State Budget Director David Massaron also sent a letter to the appropriations chairs in the House and Senate, asking again for a joint meeting no later than Friday, March 12 where formal negotiations can occur, with the goal of getting the remaining more than $2 billion in federal funding appropriated. In the letter, Director Massaron shares his desire to provide meaningful help to businesses impacted by the pandemic.

 

“We are on a good path to recovery and our key metrics and numbers are improving, but we need to put the rest of the available federal funding to work, much of it aimed at helping businesses and aiding their recovery,” added Governor Whitmer. “The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and I thank every Michigander who has done their part in the response to the pandemic.”

 

As part of the MI COVID Recovery Plan, Governor Whitmer proposed $665 million to expand the state’s vaccine and testing programs, and $2.1 billion for schools. Unfortunately, the legislature inserted boilerplate that aims to block expenditure of these funds unless the governor signs separate legislation undercutting Michigan’s pandemic response. The governor has called on the legislature to return to the table to fully appropriate the more than $2 billion in unused federal funds.

 

Governor Whitmer proposed fully allocating $622 million for rent and utility assistance, but the legislature only provided $283 million – withholding $339 million that was meant to keep families safely in their homes and provide direct aid to landlords. The COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program replaces the popular Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) MSHDA launched in July 2020, which helped approximately 16,000 households across the state avoid eviction and get current on owed rent. MSHDA will administer CERA through its statewide network of Housing Assessment and Resource Agencies (HARAs), which will be responsible for working directly with tenants and landlords so that the rental arrearages are paid and housing stability is preserved. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/CERA.

 

Governor Whitmer also proposed fully allocating $2.7 billion to help residents feed their families, but the legislature only provided $600 million – withholding $2.1 billion in food assistance through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Michiganders can apply for food assistance by going online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges.

 

“Unfortunately, the legislature tried to prohibit expenditure of funds for vaccine distribution and the return to school unless the governor signs legislation stripping powers from the executive branch. Rather than these political games, we need to focus instead on how to best help businesses and individuals most impacted by the pandemic,” said Director Massaron. “Vetoes were necessary and now we need to collectively refocus efforts on the best way to get resources out the door to speed our recovery from the pandemic. I again encourage the chairs of the appropriations committees to accept my offer to get in a room and figure out how we can effectively align our resources with the need.”

 

In a transmittal letter, Governor Whitmer observed that the 48-day delay since the release of her COVID Recovery Plan necessitated immediate signature of the supplemental funding bill, but that legal review of budget boilerplate was ongoing. When the legal review of this bill’s budget boilerplate is completed, the governor will direct state departments to implement this legislation consistent with constitutional requirements. Governor Whitmer also disapproved two items in each bill, pursuant to article 5, section 19 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963.