Dear Neighbor,
As your state Senator, I am continuously honored to serve the communities of Northwest Detroit, Redford Township, Livonia, Farmington, and Farmington Hills, in part by connecting you with resources available to you as well as with upcoming events in our community.
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office if I may ever be of assistance to you. You can email us at senmcavanagh@senate.michigan.gov or by calling 517-373-7748.
In service,
Mary Cavanagh
State Senator
District 6
Play It Nice and Safe Around Ice This Winter
With cold temperatures becoming more consistent throughout the state, more people are enjoying ice fishing, skating, hockey, and other outdoor adventures. The Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources urges everyone to have fun but always use caution when venturing onto or near ice.
Ice is often unstable around river mouths and near lake and river currents. Reservoirs with changing water levels also require great caution. Frozen bodies of water should be checked very carefully before braving the ice. While there is no perfectly reliable method to determine if ice is safe, you can use a spud, needle bar or auger to test the thickness and quality of ice.
Additional ice safety tips include:
- If there’s ice on the lake but water around the shoreline, use extra caution.
- If you are visiting a new area, ask locals at bait shops, restaurants, or stores about ice conditions, but always check conditions for yourself before going onto the ice.
- If you’re walking on the ice, wear a pair of ice cleats to help with traction.
- Wear bright colors to increase your visibility. White clothing and gear are difficult to see.
- Use the buddy system and tell someone who is staying on shore where you will be and when you plan to return.
- If you’re operating a snowmobile or off-road vehicle, ride in a staggered line. This makes it easier to maneuver in case a rider ahead of you breaks through the ice.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/IceSafety. For snowmobile safety tips, go to Michigan.gov/RideRight.
Lowering the Cost of College for 56,100 Michigan Students
Here in Michigan, we believe that everyone should have equitable access to higher education. That’s why my colleagues and I secured $330 million in this year’s state budget for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, a bipartisan program established to lower the cost of community, private, and public college by thousands of dollars a year for most graduating seniors.
This year, 56,100 Michigan students are benefiting from no- or reduced-cost tuition thanks to our investment in the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. In total, Michigan families are saving over $131.5 million in tuition — which equals around $2,345 in savings per student. We’ll continue working to make higher education attainable and affordable for more families.
New Jobs, Investments Slated for Several Michigan Counties
Seven projects will receive funds through the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) to support the creation or expansion of six businesses and nearly 150 units of housing for communities in several counties across Michigan, as recently announced by the Michigan Strategic Fund Board (MSF). Combined, these projects will create more than 1,300 jobs, retain more than 2,000, and secure up to $1.8 billion in investment for communities in Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland, Kent, and Kalamazoo counties. Check out the full list of projects below, or dive into more detail here or here.
- Kent County: up to 147 news jobs created by a Benteler Automotive battery components factory
- Muskegon County: up to 300 new jobs created by an expansion of Howet Aerospace
- Oakland County: up to 190 new jobs created by an expansion of HTC Global operations in its artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions
- Kalamazoo: at least 125 new jobs created for Landscape Forms, Inc. to expand its manufacturing capacity
- Grand Rapids (Kent Cty.): 48 residential units and 1,500 square feet of ground floor commercial space created through the rehabilitation of a vacant former grocery store
- Ypsilanti Twp. (Washtenaw Cty.): at least 200 high-paying jobs created through new high-performance computing facilities led by the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Redford Twp. (Wayne Cty): up to 436 new jobs created and 2,000 retained through an expansion of Detroit Diesel Corporation
Michigan Achievement Scholarship Unlocks Opportunities in Higher Education for Michiganders
Colleges and universities play a vital role in shaping the future of our state. Recognizing this, Senate Democrats have expanded the Michigan Achievement Scholarship program to create the “Community College Guarantee.” The scholarship is available to most graduating high school seniors and incoming college freshmen this year.
Under the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, students can receive:
- Up to $2,750 annually if they enroll in a Michigan community college, for up to three years.
- Up to $4,000 annually if they enroll in a Michigan private college or university, for up to five years.
- Up to $5,500 annually if they enroll in a Michigan public university or a baccalaureate degree program at a Michigan community college, for up to five years.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you or your student can take advantage of the scholarship, the Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential is hosting a series of informational webinars. Participants will be able to gather the following information:
- Information about the NEW Community College Guarantee
- Michigan Achievement Scholarship eligibility requirements
- Michigan Achievement Scholarship award amounts
- Important action items for students and families
- Additional resources and program information
You can find a date that works with your schedule and register here.
MDHHS Substance Use Disorder Provider Map
The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently launched a new substance use disorder (SUD) mapping tool to identify licensed SUD treatment and recovery locations through a geographic search. Additional information can be found via this press release, and attached you will find a graphic and flyer which can be shared with community partners.
Here is the link to the map: Michigan.gov/opioids/find-help/misud-locator.
Opening Doors to Opportunity: Explore CBCF 2025 Scholarships
For more than 40 years, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation has proudly supported talented and deserving students in their pursuit of higher education. As we continue to build on the legacy of empowering the next generation of Black leadership, we are excited to announce that our 2025 scholarship applications are now open!
These scholarships offer nine diverse opportunities for incoming freshmen, current undergraduate students, and master/doctoral candidates to achieve their academic dreams.
Scholarships Now Open:
- Ally Financial Law Scholars
- CBC Spouses Performing Arts
- CBC Spouses Visual Arts
- HBCU NREI
- The Tracking Foundation Multi-Year
- The Tracking Foundation Scholars
- CBCF Reducing the Financial Barrier (need-based)
- CBC Spouses Education
- CBC Spouses Essay Contest
All CBCF Scholarship applications close in March 2025. Visit their website to learn more about each scholarship opportunity including eligibility, application requirements, and deadline information. To apply, click here.
Check Your Pipes, Livonia
The City of Livonia is committed to helping residents maintain quality drinking water. Livonia’s water source does not contain lead. However, lead service lines can be a source of lead.
The City of Livonia is required by the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to create an inventory of residential water service line materials that connects a home’s private water line to the City’s water distribution system (water main).
If you are a Livonia residential water customer, schedule your free in-home service line assessment today to determine the material of your water service line.
To self-identify your service line pipe material, please take our Water Service Line Material Survey. Check out the video for tips on how to identify your line.
To learn more, visit CheckYourPipesLivonia.org or call the Department of Public Works at (734) 466-2019.
Detroit Legacy Business Project
The Detroit Legacy Business Project seeks to sustain and empower Detroit’s small businesses that have been in operation for at least 30 years and who have helped to shape the cultural identity and collective character of Detroit. Currently, the owners of eligible legacy businesses are encouraged to apply for financial assistance that can be spent on the following:
- Building repairs and renovations
- Product inventory, equipment and machinery, furniture, fixtures, and interior decoration
- Software subscriptions
- Façade improvement and exterior beautification
- Professional services
- Branding and visual marketing, advertising and publicity
- Financial planning, accounting and bookkeeping, legal services
- Architecture and structural engineering
Available Grant Applications
Contact Information
- City of Detroit Webpage
- Contact Email – detroitlegacybusiness@degc.org
Important Grant Resources
- Template for itemized budget
- Tax Clearance Letter (both are needed)
- Information about certificates of compliance
- Individual/business owner
- Business-only
- Commercial certificate of compliance
Promotional Collateral and Informational Documents
- Social media graphics
- PDF of application questions
- Program guidelines
- Slideshow presentation
- Information session recording
Free Probate Assistance
Free Resources from the Wayne County Commissioner Alisha Bell
Important Announcement from Federal Student Aid
On August 7, the U.S. Dept. of Education announced that the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form will be launched through a new process. Starting on October 1, the Department will release the 2025-26 FAFSA form for testing with a limited set of students and postsecondary institutions. The agency will make the FAFSA form available to all students on or before December.
This new process was informed by conversations and feedback from students, institutions, and other stakeholders and is consistent with software industry best practices.
The dept. will invite volunteers to participate in the testing period, and, over time, make the form available to an increasing number of participants, starting with hundreds and expanding to tens of thousands of applicants. This process will allow the agency to test and resolve issues before making the form available to all students and contributors. Using this approach, the dept. will implement full functionality — submission, processing, and corrections — at the same time.
A phased rollout will also allow the dept. to incorporate user feedback to ensure the form’s instructions are clear and easy-to-use and provide resources for the community that supports students and families.
Throughout the testing period, the agency will share regular updates with students, institutions, and stakeholders to make sure they clearly understand progress. This will also boost confidence among students and families, institutions, state agencies, and other partners.
Furthermore, the dept. will continue to seek feedback from stakeholders via listening sessions and a new formal request for information. The agency will publish about what it has learned through these engagements, including releasing a new roadmap with additional tools for those planning for a successful 2025-26 FAFSA season.
The top priority is ensuring students have access to the maximum possible federal financial aid to reach their education goals.
Notably, as a result of investments through the FAFSA Student Support Strategy and the partnership of community and stakeholders, 2024-25 FAFSA submission rates significantly increased the past six months, with the submission gap from the prior year falling from roughly 40% in March to under 4% today.
Rosedale Fun Litter Pick-Up Club
Join the fun! The Rosedale Fun Litter Pickup Club is dedicated to beautifying our neighborhood through once-monthly litter pickups (on second Saturdays), fun, and fellowship. ALL ARE WELCOME! For more information, email funlitterpickupclub@gmail.com or call/text Mary Madigan at (313) 980-8850.
WHEN: Saturday, February 8, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Rosa Coffee Shop, 19180 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI 48223
Recurring Community Meetings
- Grandmont Community Association Board Meeting
WHEN: First Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Basement Community Room of the Detroit Public Library – Redford Branch, 21200 Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI 48219 - Farmington City Council Meeting
WHEN: First and third Mondays of the month from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Farmington City Hall, 23600 Liberty St., Farmington, MI 48335 - College Park Community Association Meeting
WHEN: Second Thursday of the month from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Detroit Police – 8th Precinct, 21555 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI 48219 - Charter Township of Redford Board Meeting
WHEN: Second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Redford Township Board Room – Township Hall, 15145 Beech Daly Rd., Redford, MI 48239 - Detroit Chapter Families Against Narcotics Monthly Meeting
WHEN: Second Monday of the month from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Sheffield Center Complex, 12000 W. Grand River Ave., Detroit, MI 48204
Additional Helplines and Resources
Crisis Lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline that provides confidential and compassionate care for anyone struggling with behavioral health issues, emotional distress or substance use crisis. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit their Lifeline Chat to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
- Veterans Crisis Line: The Veterans Crisis line provides veterans and their family members with 24/7, confidential support. To connect, call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838-255. You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call.
- Trevor Lifeline: The Trevor Project has trained counselors who understand the challenges young people in the LGBTQ community face and are available for support 24/7. Call 1-866-488-7386, text 678-678, or click here to speak with a crisis counselor.
Michigan 2-1-1
Michigan 2-1-1 is a toll-free service that provides residents with information. Specialists trained to assist community members will connect you with the proper resources. From utility payment assistance to household needs, 2-1-1 is a great tool for you and your loved ones to use. You can text, email, or call for help. For more information, click here.
Physical and Mental Health Services
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Visit FindTreatment.gov, a confidential and anonymous resource, to locate treatment facilities for mental and substance use disorders near you.
- Michigan Community Mental Health Services Programs: CMHSPs provide a comprehensive range of services and support to children, adolescents and adults with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders in all 83 Michigan counties. Find your local program here.
- Medicare Assistance: Call (800) 633-4227 or visit Medicare.gov.
- Medicare Scams: Contact the Michigan Dept. of Insurance and Financial Services at Michigan.gov/DIFSComplaints or call (877) 999-6442.
- Wayne State Mobile Health Unit: Click here or call (877) 929-6342.
- Elder Abuse and Fraud:
Call the Office of the Attorney General at (800) 242-2873
Call the Michigan Dept. of Health & Human Services Adult Protective Services: (855) 444-3911 - Wayne County Public Health Community Response Updated Hotline: Call (734) 858-1922.
- Michigan Medicaid Assistance Program Counseling Sites: See image below.
Other Local Resources
- City of Detroit Health Department Resources: A list of programs offered by the Detroit Health Department can be found here or call (313) 876-4000 for more information.
- Redford Township Public Services Department: Visit Redfordtwp.com or call (313) 387-2670.
- Food Pantries:
- CARES Food Pantry: Located at 27835 Shiawassee Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48336, the pantry is open Monday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Redford Interfaith Relief: Located at 18499 Beech Daly Rd., Redford, Michigan 48240, the pantry is open Wednesday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Student Advocacy Center of Michigan Student Helpline: The helpline provides non-legal support and advocacy for students in grades K-12 who are facing challenges at school. Call (734) 482-0489 for more information.
Neighborhood Wellness Centers
