Dear Neighbor,
Labor Day has now come and gone, and so has another beautiful Michigan summer. As we approach the beginning of autumn, I encourage you to take advantage of everything our great state has to offer as the leaves begin to change. From cider mills and pumpkin patches to scenic hiking trails and state parks, there’s no shortage of fall fun to be had here in the Mitten State!
My legislative colleagues and I are heading back to the Senate chamber this month after a busy summer spent connecting with our constituents and communities. I’m eager to continue advocating on your behalf in Lansing and getting more practical solutions across the finish line to deliver on the issues that matter most to you.
If you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can contact me by sending an email to SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov or calling (517) 373-2417.
Sincerely,
Rosemary Bayer
State Senator
District 13
In Recent News
Small Business Town Hall with State Senator Bayer
I hope to see you at our Small Business Town Hall on Monday in Plymouth where I will be joined by State Rep. Matt Koleszar. This event is a great chance for our community to discuss the opportunities and the challenges our local businesses currently face. We’ll also be able to share updates and answer questions about the work we’ve been doing in Lansing on your behalf.
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 9 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex, 650 Church St., Plymouth, MI, 48170
See you Monday evening!
Gov. Whitmer Announces Call for Applications for PitchMI, a Statewide Startup Pitch Competition
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced that applications are officially open for PitchMI, a statewide shark tank-style pitch competition. Michigan’s Growth Office will invest $100,000 in one innovative solution that transforms the way Michiganders get from point A to point B safely, affordably and efficiently. PitchMI is a commitment by the state to spur entrepreneurial problem solving, connect innovators with capital and create a ripple effect to accelerate more innovation.
The PitchMI competition is scheduled to take place Thursday, Oct. 24 at 2:30 p.m. during the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification’s inaugural MI Future Mobility Conference at Newlab in Detroit. Applicants for PitchMI must be available to participate in-person. PitchMI is open to pre-seed, seed, Series A, and Series B companies with 51% of their employees residing in the State of Michigan. Solutions should be demonstration ready with working prototypes.
PitchMI drives momentum behind the Growing Michigan Together Council’s strategy to position Michigan as the innovation hub of the Midwest and the go-to state for scaling businesses across America. Michigan is home to the highest number of engineers is the U.S. and is a top state for patents. Identifying and addressing gaps in the innovation ecosystem will help retain and attract talent, scale companies and create high-paying jobs per the Council’s report.
The deadline to apply for PitchMI is Monday, Sept. 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
For more information and to apply, visit: growingmichigan.org/opportunities.
Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential Extends Deadline for Adults Ages 21-24 to Apply for Tuition-Free Community College
The Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) recently announced that the application deadline for the Reconnect Age Expansion has been extended until Dec. 31, 2024, and is now applicable to students beginning their education in the winter and spring semesters of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Michigan Reconnect is the largest program in state history to help eligible students earn a skill certificate or degree tuition-free at their local community college.
Michiganders who are 21 to 24 –years old and are not already participating in Michigan Reconnect must complete the following steps to take advantage of this limited-time scholarship opportunity:
Apply for the Michigan Reconnect scholarship at Michigan.gov/Reconnect by Dec. 31, 2024.
File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Apply and enroll in a community or tribal college no later than the summer semester of 2025.
For additional information, visit: michigan.gov/reconnect/community-college/michigan reconnect-for-ages-21-to-24.
U.S. Dept. of Energy Awards $18 Million to Michigan to Help Small Suppliers Modernize Their Manufacturing Capabilities
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced that Michigan will receive $18 million from the federal Dept. of Energy (DOE) to help small- and medium-sized automotive companies modernize their capabilities to manufacture electric vehicles (EV).
Michigan’s funding accounts for more than one-third of the $50 million grant program, which was created in direct response to a proposal submitted by the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) last year recommending DOE create a program for small suppliers and medium-sized auto suppliers. This investment allows Michigan to develop a domestic and diversified EV supply chain, retain high-quality, good-paying jobs, meet the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan and support the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of having 50% of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030.
According to the Center for Automotive Research, Michigan is home to over 1,000 independent automotive suppliers, and 140 of these suppliers and over 45,000 of their workers may need to retool their facilities and convert from making internal combustion engine vehicles or components to EVs. The $18 million in funding will further position Michigan as a leader in clean energy jobs and manufacturing and ensure the state remains a leader in the automotive industry.
The DOE, along with the U.S. Dept. of Labor, has also designated Michigan as an EV Workforce Hub in partnership with LEO to ensure Michigan workers have equitable access to high-quality training, education and services that provide a path to a good career without leaving their community.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, coupled with Michigan’s historic clean energy legislation, have created an unprecedented opportunity for Michigan to advance a clean energy future. This funding, in tandem with bipartisan economic development tools, is growing the middle class, creating good-paying, in-demand manufacturing jobs, bringing supply chains home, and lowering energy costs for families.
Resources
September is Suicide Prevention Month
Suicide is a critical public health concern, claiming the lives of nearly 50,000 Americans in 2022. Just in 2021, we lost 1,482 Michiganders to suicide. The devastation of suicide is far-reaching, impacting innumerable families and communities across our state and beyond.
But suicide is preventable — and September, National Suicide Prevention Month, is an opportune time to spread awareness and resources to connect members of our communities with the help they need.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. The Lifeline provides 24-hour, toll-free, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
The Veterans Crisis Line provides free 24/7, confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their loved ones. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. Call 988 and press “1” to speak with a qualified responder, or text 838255.
Find a suicide prevention coalition, support group, or crisis line near you by scrolling down
this page and finding a listing in your county.
Get help for yourself or a loved one, learn the facts and warning signs, locate advocacy resources, and much more through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
From gun violence prevention efforts to investments in suicide prevention programs, my Senate colleagues and I remain committed to working toward practical solutions to help mitigate suicide in our Michigan communities.
With suicides accounting for more than half of gun deaths in the United States in 2021, our Senate Democratic Majority worked hard to deliver a slate of gun violence prevention legislation in 2023, helping to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of those at risk of harming themselves or others. We also secured the following budget investments to help address the issue of suicide in Michigan:
$9.4 million to provide statewide coverage for 988, the suicide and mental health crisis line.
$750,000 in federal fund authorization to utilize a grant under the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, helping to provide resources toward community-based suicide prevention efforts to meet the needs of veterans, service members, and their families.
$250,000 to support Six Feet Over’s suicide loss survivor program, a nonprofit that provides mental health education, advocacy, and support to individuals with lived experiences of suicide.