Dear Neighbor,
The snow and cold that we Michiganders dread all year is finally here. As temperatures remain low and snow continues to plague our roads, I hope you are staying safe and warm. Be sure to take extra care when going outside or traveling in these conditions: bundle up, watch out for ice, and pay attention to the changing weather. Also, please know that warming centers are available for those looking to escape the cold temperature.
In this newsletter, I want to take a moment to catch you up on the many things happening across our lakeshore district — including our upcoming events and some investments we’re making in our community to grow opportunities for Michiganders of all ages.
As we head into 2026, I encourage you to stay involved and keep reaching out to me and my team. You can reach my office by emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov, calling our Lansing office at (517) 373-7315, or calling our district office at (586) 252-2157.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12
- Exciting investments are coming to our community to expand families’ access to PreK, support workers, and make recreational opportunities more accessible. Read more below.
- If you, a loved one, or a neighbor need a place to escape the frigid temperatures, find a warming center near you by dialing 2-1-1 or clicking here.
- Join me for my upcoming Coffee Hour event on February 13th at 10:00 a.m. in Mount Clemens. RSVP here.
Happy Hour at Atwater in the Park
Our January happy hour was a great opportunity to come together with community members. We discussed the work we’ve been doing in the first weeks of the new year, including introducing legislation to reduce utility rates and keep our kids safe online.
Thank you to everyone who braved the cold and snow to make it out, and big thanks to Atwater in the Park for hosting us!
Celebrating St. Clair Shores’ 75th Anniversary
What a night celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the City of St. Clair Shores! It was an honor to present a tribute from the Michigan Senate to commemorate this historic occasion.
Presenting the St. Clair Shores Waterfront Environmental Committee’s Annual Student Scholarship
I recently had the pleasure of attending the St. Clair Shores Waterfront Environmental Committee’s meeting, where I was honored to help present scholarships to dedicated, environmentally minded students right here in our community.
Macomb Ministerial Alliance’s Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice” — Martin Luther King Jr.
This is one of my favorite quotes, but I know that we must all do our part to bend that arc towards justice. During these divisive times it gives me so much hope to spend time with those doing that work across our community. This past MLK Jr. Day, I joined the Macomb Ministerial Alliance for their annual breakfast. The event served as a powerful reminder that his dream lives on through our collective action.
Grosse Pointe Congregational Church’s Day of Hope and Advocacy
Also in remembrance of MLK Jr. Day, I stopped by Grosse Pointe Congregational Church for their Day of Hope and Advocacy event. It was a pleasure being able to connect with community members and organizations who are dedicated to advancing justice and turning Dr. King’s words into action.
State of the Bay Address
The Anchor Bay Chamber of Commerce put on a wonderful State of the Bay event earlier this month. It’s always great to catch up with business owners and local officials. Together, we put partisanship aside and deliver results for our communities.
Kicking Off the New Year with New Baltimore Seniors
There’s no better way to kick off the new year than by chatting with seniors over lunch in New Baltimore! From tackling the rising cost of prescription drugs to expanding access to quality health care, our seniors are facing real challenges — and I’mcommitted to working with my colleagues to deliver real solutions.
Also, I want to give a huge thanks to the Pink House Tea Room for helping us provide a wonderful lunch to everyone who joined us!
$9.7 Million Awarded to Expand Access to Free, High-Quality PreK
Recently, the Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) awarded $9.7 million to open or expand nearly 250 PreK classrooms across the state. This funding continues Michigan’s commitment to helping more families find safe, affordable early learning options that meet their needs.
A portion of these dollars will help open 33 new classrooms and expand seven classrooms throughout Macomb County. Grant recipients plan to use the funds to build high-quality, learning environments that foster cognitive growth, social-emotional skills, and support all domains of development. Funds will also be used to provide teachers with training focusing on evidence-based practices and foundational literacy concepts.
Read more about this exciting investment here.
$1 Million Awarded to Support Worker Training in Macomb, St. Clair Counties
The strength of Macomb and St. Clair counties has always and will always come from the people who power our local economy. From opening doors to good-paying careers and strengthening our small businesses to keeping opportunity right here in our community, programs like the Going PRO Talent Fund invest in our workers and deliver real results.
Recently, the program announced a nearly $1 million investment in 19 businesses across these two counties that will support the training of over 100 new hires and 360 current employees in high-demand, skilled positions.
Read more here.
St. Clair Shores to Receive $150,000 Grant to Improve Civic Arena
The Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources recently announced that 15 communities will share $1.9 million in grants for local recreation projects. Among those communities selected for funding is the city of St Clair Shores who is set to receive $150,000 to make improvements to the Civic Arena. More specifically, the funds will be used to bring the arena bathrooms into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Read more here.
Local Warming Centers
With Michigan’s infamous cold weather here, please make sure to stay warm. If you, a loved one, or a neighbor need a place to escape the frigid temperatures, below is a list of warming center locations in or around District 12 that are heated and open to the public.
- Chesterfield Township Library | (586) 598-4900 | 50560 Patricia Ave., Chesterfield Twp. | See hours here.
- Clinton-Macomb South Library | (586) 226-5070 | 35891 South Gratiot Ave., Clinton Twp. | See hours here.
- Harrison Township Public Library | (586) 329-1261 | 38255 L’Anse Creuse, Harrison Twp. | See hours here.
- Martha T. Berry Medical Care Facility | (586) 469-5265 | 43533 Elizabeth Rd., Mount Clemens | See hours here.
- Macomb County Sheriff’s Department | (586) 469-5151 | 43565 Elizabeth St., Mount Clemens | See hours here.
If possible, call ahead to ensure the warming center has space and capacity. For additional locations, please dial 2-1-1 or find a complete map online here.
Utility Assistance Programs
Winter can become stressful with high utility costs. Depending on your household income, you may qualify for assistance:
- State Emergency Relief: State Emergency Relief is a crisis intervention program that provides assistance for energy-related expenses like heating fuel, electricity, and home repairs. Those who can demonstrate need are encouraged to apply online through MI Bridges.
- Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP): The Michigan Public Service Commission administers the MEAP, helping establish and administer statewide programs that provide energy assistance and self-sufficiency services to eligible low-income households. To seek help, contact 2-1-1 or your utility company to find programs in your area.
- Weatherization Assistance Program: The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free home energy-conservation services to low-income Michigan homeowners and renters. These services can reduce energy use and lower utility bills. Some of the services include insulation, air leakage reduction, smoke detectors, and dryer venting. You can contact your local Community Action Agency to start the application process.
It is one of my top goals as your State Senator to have myself and my office be as accessible to you as possible. To share your thoughts on legislation or seek assistance with an issue, please join me at one of our upcoming district events:
Coffee Hour with Sen. Kevin Hertel
WHEN: Friday, February 13, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. |
WHERE: Lighthouse Coffee, 45 N Main St., Mt Clemens, MI 48043
Community Office Hours with Team Hertel
Mount Clemens Office Hours
WHEN: Tuesday, February 3, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Mount Clemens Public Library, 150 Cass Ave., Mount Clemens, MI 48043
Harper Woods Office Hours
WHEN: Tuesday, February 10, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Harper Woods Public Library, 19601 Harper Ave., Harper Woods, MI 48225
Weekly Office Hours in St. Clair Shores
WHEN: Every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and by appointment.
WHERE: District Office, 22424 Greater Mack Ave., Saint Clair Shores, MI 48080
Please note that these office hours are hosted by staff.
If You Need Help
If you have a problem dealing with any department of state government, such as accessing unemployment benefits, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to help direct you to the appropriate person or organization for help.
You may always feel free to email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. You can also call our Lansing Office at (517) 373-7315 or our District Office at (586) 252-2157.
Keep Up to Date
Our bi-weekly newsletters are full of updates on what Team Hertel has been working on both in Lansing and District 12 to deliver results for Michiganders. To keep up to date with what we’ve been up to — sign up here to receive my bi-weekly newsletter, or access previous editions online here.
For more frequent updates, I also encourage you to follow our team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and BlueSky.