Governor’s Visit, Community Investments and More SD35 News

Aug 25, 2023 | Email

Friends and Neighbors,  

Back to school advertisements are everywhere, and stores are stocked with student supplies. Whether your family has been gearing up for the start of another school year like mine — or you are making plans to enjoy Labor Day weekend — I hope you will take a little time to read about Governor Whitmer’s recent visit to our district, investments improving opportunities and quality of life in our region, and more in this newsletter. 

Kristen McDonald Rivet
State Senator
District 35
(517) 373-1725
PO Box 30036
Lansing, MI. 48909
SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov

 

In This Edition  
  • Governor’s Visit 
  • Community Investments   
  • In the Community  
  • Legislative Updates   
  • Helpful Resources and Links   
  • Contact Us and Stay Informed    
 
Gov. Whitmer, Sen. McDonald Rivet Focus on Child Care, Pre-K in Midland Visit
On August 10, I was honored to host Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and lead a roundtable discussion on child care and preschool with community partners and staff at Midland’s Longview Early Childhood Center.
Every child deserves a strong start. As a mom and as someone with decades of experience in the field, I understand how vital it is for children to have a good foundation before kindergarten — a statement echoed by all during this event.  
 
In the most recent budget, the legislature prioritized making big and smart investments in child care and pre-K.  We’re setting Michigan kids up for success while saving local families thousands of dollars a year and getting more young parents into our workforce. 
 
Advocates for years have been working at the ground level to improve access and affordability for early childhood care and education, but they can’t do it by themselves. My amendment to expand pre-K was a key step, but it’s not the only one we need to take. As Gov. Whitmer noted during our visit, we must continue to build out and support the early childhood system if we want to improve outcomes. 
 
I’m looking forward to working with the Governor, my legislative colleagues, community partners, and parents this fall to craft legislation addressing child care needs for parents, providers and workers.  
 
Community Investments
 
Bringing Home $2 Million to Boost Saginaw’s Teacher Workforce
One of the best parts of my job is making a real difference on real issues. At their August meeting, the Saginaw Public School Board recognized the work State Rep. Amos O’Neal and I did to secure $2 million to help them fill vital classroom positions through “Grow Your Own.” This is a program where public school employees can pursue accelerated teaching credentials. It was an honor to be recognized along with Rep. O’Neal for securing these critical funds. 
BCBS Awards Grants to Health Clinics in Bay, Saginaw Counties
In its nineteenth year of Strengthening the Safety Net, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan awarded a combined $934,500 to 50 Michigan clinics providing free or low-cost medical, dental and behavioral health services to uninsured or vulnerable Michigan residents. Two clinics in our district received grants up to $15,000 each for operations: Central Michigan University Street Medicine in Saginaw and the Helen M. Nickless Volunteer Clinic in Essexville.
Talent Fund Awards $761,000 to Elevate Great Lakes Bay Workers, Businesses
One dozen businesses in our Great Lakes Bay Region will receive over three-quarters of a million dollars from the Going PRO Talent Fund, a talent development grant program offered by the state of Michigan. These recently approved grants will help 442 local workers receive the training they need to gain and retain high-skill, high-wage careers.
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity awards Going PRO Talent Funds to employers through Michigan Works! agencies. A majority of the $761,000 awarded through our Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! will benefit workers in agribusiness (243 employees at Michigan Sugar) and construction (92 employees at Three Rivers Corporation and 22 employees at Granite Construction). Funds were also awarded to train workers in local manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality and energy businesses.
Every step that Michigan can take towards higher-skilled, higher-paying jobs is a step in the right direction. Working with employers to equip their workforce with industry-recognized credentials or college credit sets Michigan businesses and workers up for success. Since the Talent Fund’s launch in 2014, wages for 175,000 new and existing workers who completed training increased by an average of 9 percent.
EGLE Awards $35,000+ for Watershed Conservation, Education in Saginaw
The Saginaw County Health Department ($19,960) and Saginaw Conservation District ($16,075) are receiving two of 19 Watershed Council Support grantsannounced by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) earlier this month.
These grants help local stakeholders reduce pollution and excess runoff by supporting efforts to develop and launch watershed management plans. They also fund outreach and educational activities including assessment of environmental justice issues and audiences. The next round of requests for grant proposals will be posted later this month at Michigan.gov/NPS.
In the Community  
Backpack Drive
Legislative Director Stephen Prince and I joined volunteers from local labor unions and community partners in a “many hands make lighter work” effort. Together, we stuffed 200 backpacks with school supplies which will be distributed through Underground Railroad Inc., Mustard Seed Shelter, Youth Protection Council and the Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan.
Thanks to everyone who donated money, supplies and their time toward this effort, including the following: CWA Local 4108, IUOE Local 324 Stationary Engineers Education Center, OPEIU Local 459 Techs, UAW Local 668, UAW local 699, United Way of Saginaw County and their Labor Liaison Josh Winiecke, John Wirtz & Sons, Inc.

Midland Area Farmers Market Pie Contest 

Apples and berries and peaches, oh my! I got to celebrate National Farmers Market Week by emceeing the Inaugural Pie Bake-Off at the Midland Area Farmers Market. Contestants had to use ingredients available through the market, and donations made by marketgoers who wanted to taste the competition will go to support the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network. Thanks to all who had a hand in this event and to Jolt Credit Union for sponsoring the youth and adult competitions. 

2nd Annual Peace & Unity in the Community Event  

Saginawesome!!! That’s the perfect way to describe the 2nd Annual Peace & Unity in the Community Tri-City Adult Kickbowl. This year’s event had high expectations after its inaugural effort drew a huge crowd in 2022, and the kickball tournament, concert, food and kids’ activities did not disappoint. Kudos and thanks to organizer Chuckie Lawrence, the Midland County Sheriff’s Department and everyone who helped make this a great community experience.

My Community Dental Centers Tour, Bay City 

The Bay County Health Department partners with My Community Dental Centers(MCDC) to ensure residents have access to affordable, quality dental care. Touring the MCDC facility in Bay City, I learned they participate in the Healthy Kids Dentalprogram and provide dental services to Medicaid enrollees and low-income uninsured individuals through the Healthy Michigan Plan. They also serve individuals with private insurance seeking a dental home. 

DaVita Dialysis Tour, Saginaw

Director of District and Constituent Services Kevin Hayes and I recently toured the DaVita Dialysis facility in Saginaw. Across their six locations in our district, DaVita serves over 380 patients and employs nearly 100 nurses, dieticians, social workers and technicians. I appreciated getting this on-site perspective of kidney care services and challenges.  

Additional Events, Meetings 

Senator McDonald Rivet’s other events included participating as a panelist with fellow elected officials in Saginaw to discuss issues with active and retired union workers; speaking at the Citizen’s Climate Lobby chapter meeting; attending the Bay Area Women’s Center’s 12th Annual Power of the Purse auction, the Annual Membership Meetings for the Saginaw County and Bay County Farm Bureaus, the Michigan County Road Association’s East Central Council quarterly meeting, and meetings with the Saginaw Fairgrounds Association and elected officials from the City of Saginaw; and joining in Sunday morning worship at the Saginaw African Cultural and Arts Festival.
Director of District and Constituent Services Kevin Hayes offered resources at the Great Lakes Bay Health Centers Fair to celebrate National Health Centers Week and attended several of the Senator’s events and meetings listed above. Correction: UAW Local 467 Retirees did not meet last month; our prior edition inadvertently included it as attended.

Legislative Director Stephen Prince attended the monthly meeting of the Midland Business Alliance Advisory Committee on Infrastructure.

 

Community Communications 
Saginaw County Coffee & Conversation
WHEN: Monday August 28, 2023, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Creation Coffee, 2575 Tittabawassee Rd, Saginaw, MI 48604
Legislative Updates  
Growing the Clean Energy Project Pipeline Through C-PACE
At the end of last month, Gov. Whitmer signed a set of bipartisan bills to expand clean energy, create jobs and lower energy costs. I was proud to sponsor Senate Bill 303 in that package which, along with Senate Bill 302, expands the eligibility of properties and projects for Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing.
The C-PACE program allows local government to work with building owners and contractors on projects that would improve energy efficiency, climate resiliency and environmental hazard mitigation. In the past decade, before expansion, C-PACE saved Michigan property owners over $332 million in energy savings.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recently published Commercial PACE Project Origination: Leverage Points for Growing the Project Pipeline. This new brief is for public-sector C-PACE program sponsors who want to increase program uptake. It identifies project origination challenges and ways to overcome them to help promote clean energy deployment through C-PACE investment. If you are a government official or third-party partner aiming to increase the volume of projects leveraging C-PACE financing, refer to that brief for strategies including marketing, education and selecting capital sources.
Correction: This paragraph was inadvertently omitted from our segment on the Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget signing in the newsletter we emailed on August 12. It was intended to accompany the graphic below it.
I am especially proud of the balance we struck, making historic and meaningful investments across Michigan, all while lowering costs for families. Two big ways that this budget saves families money are by funding my Working Families Tax Credit increase and my budget amendment to expand preschool options.

Helpful Resources and Links   

Back to School Round Up

WHEN: Saturday, August 26 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Bay County Health Department, 1200 Washington Ave, Bay City, MI 48708

August is National Immunization Awareness Month
Immunization is the most effective way Michiganders can protect themselves, their families and communities from preventable diseases. The FY ‘24 budget ensures local health departments have the resources to provide essential health services like immunizations. Free or low-cost vaccinations are available at your local health department.

Here are additional resources you may find helpful: 

 

Contact Us and Stay Informed 
Website Contact Form:  This is the best, fastest way to reach us.  
Website News Page:  This page archives our official press releases and statements.  
Past ENewsletters: This page archives our prior enewsletter editions.
Social Media: Social media sites are neither official government websites nor are they well suited for constituent correspondence. However, since we post frequently, social media can be a very timely way to access news and information. Visit Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet’s Facebook page here.