Dear Neighbor,
It is hard to believe August is already almost over and the first day of school is almost here for many students across our community. While this may be a busy time for families with back-to-school shopping, the start of new school sports seasons and extracurricular activities, I hope you still find time to pause and enjoy the final days of summer in our beautiful state.
If you’re looking for activities to help you soak up the last bit of sunshine, Lake St. Clair Metropark is just a short drive away! Click here to learn more about the many opportunities this space provides for people of all ages.
Throughout the summer, I have been busy connecting with residents across our lakeshore district. Together with an incredible team of young folks, we knocked over 10,000 doors and had some great conversations with residents about what we’re doing in Lansing to build up our community. We’ve also had the pleasure of attending many local events to talk about issues such as clean water infrastructure and affordable housing — read more about this below! As we gear up to return to session in the coming weeks, I plan on bringing all of these conversations back to Lansing with me to guide our office’s work.
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office to share your perspective or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments — we are here to serve you. You can reach my office by calling (517) 373-7315 or emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12
Included in This Newsletter
- Community Connections
- Investments in Our Lakeshore Community
- Helpful Resources
- Upcoming Events
- Contact Us
Community Connections
Coffee and Conversation at the St. Clair Shores Senior Center
Got to start this week off on a high note by sharing some coffee and conversation with folks at the St. Clair Shores Senior Center! Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to stop by. I always enjoy the opportunity to connect with residents and hear about the issues that matter most to them.
Recognizing John Agnello for His Bravery and Service to Our Community
Last month, John Agnello — a Grosse Pointe North High School student — recognized a car driving into Lake St. Clair. He and a fellow bystander jumped into action to safely evacuate the driver.
In a time where too many people are focused on serving themselves, John ensured that his community was put first. His strength, morality, and mental alertness were put directly to the test in his home community, and he answered the call with grace — prepared to do what was right.
This week, I had the privilege of joining St. Clair Shores Mayor Kip Walby and the city council in recognizing John for his bravery and his service to our community.
Joining Advancing Macomb for a Nonprofit Town Hall
Our state and our community are fueled by the nonprofit sector. Across Michigan, there are more than 50,000 nonprofits that work tirelessly to uplift the most vulnerable among us, creating a safety net that supports individuals and families in times of need.
Throughout my time in the State Legislature, I’ve had the opportunity to see just how much impact these organizations can have on our community. But I’ve also seen how too many nonprofits here in Macomb County lose out on resources.
To ensure local nonprofits can access the resources they need to thrive and serve our region, I worked with State Representative Denise Mentzer to connect these organizations with Advancing Macomb. Thank you to everyone who came out to our first Nonprofit Town Hall in Mount Clemens! We plan to host more of these events, so make sure to keep an eye out.
Conversations on the Lake with Commissioner Candice Miller
From ensuring clean water is coming out of the faucet at home to providing a stable paycheck to thousands of families, Michigan’s water sources provide so much to residents’ everyday lives. Here in our lakeshore district, we know this more than most. Lake St. Clair alone supplies drinking water to 4 million people and generates $1.6 billion in economic activity through businesses, recreational opportunities and more than 18,000 jobs.
Protecting Lake St. Clair for current and future generations cannot be a partisan issue — it’s a community issue. That’s why I’ve made it a priority to work with both Democrats and Republicans at the federal, state, and local level to bring back more than $95 million to our district to support critical water infrastructure projects.
Recently, I had the pleasure of joining Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller and St. Clair Shores Mayor Kip Walby for a community conversation where we discussed this multi-level, bipartisan approach we’re taking to improve water quality for residents.
Talking Water Infrastructure with the Grosse Pointe Rotary Club
As we see the frequency of severe weather events increase, it’s vital we make investments to ensure our water infrastructure can meet the moment and keep pollutants out of our waterbodies. Continuing our discussions on water infrastructure, I recently had the pleasure of meeting with the Grosse Pointe Rotary Club to break down some of these investments we’ve secured for local projects that will help us protect Lake St. Clair for generations to come.
Shorewood Kiwanis Club Annual Backpack Drive
Smiles, backpacks, and a whole lot of community spirit! Thanks to a great group of volunteers, the Shorewood Kiwanis Club had another successful back-to-school event, helping kids in our community get the clothes and resources they need to be ready for the new school year. It was a pleasure getting to be a small part of this event and providing students with backpacks and the supplies needed to excel in the classroom.
Chesterfield State of the Township Address
The sun might have been in full force the day of the Chesterfield State of the Township, but I can say the community’s future looks even brighter! It was a pleasure to join Supervisor Kersten and other local leaders recently to hear about the many great things happening in Chesterfield.
St. Clair Shores Native Named 2024 Miss Hockey
Congratulations to Sophie Ancona on being named the Michigan Girls Hockey League’s 2024 Miss Hockey! Despite coming back from an ACL injury, Sophie hit the ice her senior year with tenacity and grit, bringing with her a lifetime’s culmination of hard work, dedication, and love of hockey. A true leader at heart, Sophie’s talent, teamwork, and sportsmanship will undoubtedly serve to inspire a new generation of women hockey players.
I was proud to join her and some of her teammates recently to present her with a congratulatory tribute signed by Gov. Whitmer and myself.
Checking Out the New Telescope at Walter and Mary Burke Park
Thanks to the incredible efforts of the Anchor Bay Rotary Club, Walter and Mary Burke Park in New Baltimore is home to a new telescope that’s equipped with special lenses to help those with visual impairments see colors! Team Hertel had a great time joining the organization to celebrate their efforts in improving Lake St. Clair’s accessibility so more Michiganders can enjoy the beautiful view it provides.
Celebrating New Improvements Made to Prince Drewry Park
It was great joining state and local leaders to celebrate the exciting improvements Clinton Township has made to Prince Drewry Park! From new soccer and football fields to a freshly paved walking path — there’s many new features for the community to check out. Read more about the township’s project here.
Welcoming New Businesses to Clay Township
Team Hertel had a great time celebrating the grand opening of a new Verizon store in Clay Township recently. Thank you, Brian, for choosing to build your business here in our District 12 community. We’re thrilled to welcome you and your team to Clay Township and look forward to seeing your business thrive!
Investments in Our Lakeshore Community
Breaking Ground on New Housing Project in Mount Clemens
Between the state budgets for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, Rep. Denise Mentzer and I secured $10 million to demolish the abandoned Victory Inn in Mount Clemens and construct a new housing complex with 100 available apartments.
After a 2020 fire caused heavy smoke damage to the structure, the building sat vacant, serving as a hotspot for illegal activity. Thanks to state funds, however, the site will no longer be a blemish on the city’s landscape but will be home to a transformational project that will help us combat our state’s housing crisis and attract more folks to Macomb County.
At the end of July, I joined Rep. Mentzer and other local leaders to witness the building’s demolition and break ground on this exciting project. Read more about this project here or watch WXYZ Detroit’s coverage here.
Bolstering Our Water Monitoring Efforts in Southeast Michigan
Access to clean drinking water is not just a priority, it’s a necessity. That’s why I fought to include $1.5 million for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments’ (SEMCOG) Drinking Water Protection Network. This program helps ensure the 14 water treatment plants that exist along the American-side of the Huron-Erie corridor are aware of potential source water risks and can properly respond in a timely manner.
The network is composed of many elements, including a variety of monitors, data logging, and website access. Despite the important role the program serves in the region, they face a number of challenges, including dwindling budgets, as well as high costs to maintain and upgrade equipment. The $1.5 million secured in the 2025 State Budget will go towards enhancing SEMCOG’s monitoring efforts at these community water intakes along the corridor, helping them protect public health from the harmful impact of potential spills and discharges.
Read more about the program here.
Welcoming New Manufacturing Jobs to Chesterfield
A lot goes into building an environment where people want to live and work. From passing tax relief for retirees and working families to investing in education, building up our infrastructure and expanding our clean energy portfolio — we’ve been putting in the effort to make Michigan a place where workers and businesses alike can thrive.
Recently, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced new incentives for Gestamp, an automotive supplier, which will aid them in building a new 460,000-square-foot plant in Chesterfield that would create 390 jobs. This announcement builds on the Legislature’s work to build a conducive environment for workers and businesses to help us create good-paying jobs and keep our state competitive in the evolving auto industry. I’m proud to see our community selected to play a vital role in our automotive supply chain, and I look forward to continuing working to build a stronger, more inclusive state where everyone can raise a family, find economic security, and chase new opportunities.
Read more about this project from the Voice News here.
Helpful Resources
National Immunization Awareness Month
With summer in full swing and flu season just around the corner, we recognize National Immunization Awareness Month to highlight the importance of routine vaccination for Michiganders of all ages. Vaccines are the best way for you to protect yourself from preventable diseases and avoid spreading those diseases to others in your community.
To locate a health department nearest you and get up to date on your vaccines, click here.
Learn more about the vaccines you and your family members may need to stay healthy, visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website here.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Application Open
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a program for small businesses that links learning to action. Through their program, participants will gain practical skills in topics such as negotiation, marketing, and employee management that can immediately be put into action. In addition, participants can receive the tools and professional support to develop a strategic and customized growth plan that will take their business to the next level.
Our team has worked with their organization to bring much of this knowledge and expertise to communities across our lakeshore district through our Small Business Town Hall Series. Currently, they are recruiting participants for an upcoming cohort which starts in January 2025. The deadline to apply is October 11th, 2024. Learn more about the program and submit your application here.
Upcoming Events
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:
Constituent Services on the Road
Please join State Rep. Denise Mentzer, Governor Whitmer’s team, my office, and other state and local agencies on Friday, September 6th at the Cairns Community Center for a constituent services fair. If you need assistance or have questions you’d like answered, this event is meant for you!
Agencies who will be in attendance at this event include:
- Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA)
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
- Representatives from the Secretary of State
- Representatives from the Attorney General’s Office
- MyCare Health Center
- Macomb Community Action
- Mount Clemens Library Book Mobile
WHEN: Friday, September 6 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Cairns Community Center, 58 Orchard St, Mt Clemens, MI 48043
If you are interested in attending, please register here.
Coffee and Conversation
WHEN: Friday, September 20 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081
District Office Hours with Staff
WHEN: Every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and by appointment.
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081
Contact Us
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 call my office at (517) 373-7315 or email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov.
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 and Instagram.