Community Investments, Connections and More

Dec 20, 2023 | Email

Friends and Neighbors,

With the holidays here, I hope you and your loved ones are finding time to relax and reflect, celebrate traditions and share the joys of the season.

This newsletter shares district happenings and the latest from Lansing, including a big announcement about the tax relief I championed for Michigan’s working families.

Be on the lookout for our Year In Review newsletter to arrive in your inbox between Christmas and New Year’s Day. It recaps some of the major work accomplished in 2023 by your Senate District 35 team and the Democratic Majority to make Michiganders’ lives better.

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

In This Edition

  • Legislative Updates
  • Community Connections 
  • Community Investments & Opportunities
  • Helpful Resources & Links
  • Contact Us

 

Legislative Updates

McDonald Rivet’s Long-Championed Tax Relief Going to 700,000 Families in February 

On December 14, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her administration will disperse the Working Families Tax Credit ahead of schedule. Starting February 13, 2024, more than 700,000 Michigan families will get tax rebate checks for 2022, averaging approximately $550. This is the result of the expansion I championed for years and introduced on the Legislature’s opening day to quintuple Michigan’s match of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit from 6% to 30%.

While the expanded match takes effect in 2024, the legislation also applies retroactively to 2022, meaning eligible Michiganders will receive the additional check from their 2022 tax return and the full 30% match on their 2023 tax return when they file next year. The combined credits will put an average of $3,150 back in the pockets of families hit hardest by inflation — parents of half our state’s children.

Our Democratic Majority continues to do exactly what we said we would — deliver on kitchen table issues. Visit the Earned Income Tax Credit for Working Families website or read my full statement to learn more.

Sharing Voting, Election Law Changes

The turnout to learn about Michigan’s Election Law Changes at our town hall was dedicated and diverse. We had folks in the room who participated in every election since 1952, others whose first vote followed the Voting Rights Act and eager 2024 first timers. With students, election officials and engaged citizens from every corner of our Great Lakes Bay Region attending, we had standing room only! 

I’m grateful to our voting and election experts State Senator Jeremy Moss and Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie; County Clerks Vanessa Guerra and Katie Zanotti; and NAACP Saginaw Branch President Terry Pruitt for sharing their time and wisdom with us. Thanks also to Saginaw Valley State University’s Dylan Hellus for making sure all went smoothly on site.

Overviews of the laws passed in 2023 which will be in effect for Michigan’s 2024 elections are here:

 

Community Connections

Connecting With Bay City Leaders to Boost Small Businesses

I had a great conversation with Downtown Bay City leaders about their work, issues impacting our small businesses and related efforts in Lansing. Workforce, childcare, placemaking, awareness and access to state dollars are all vital to spur success in the small business sector. I want to thank Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Joe Frost for spotlighting important economic development tools and Bay City’s Downtown Development Authority & Downtown Management Board members for this discussion.

Stepping Up for Kids at Saginaw Youth Summit 

The December 9 Saginaw Youth Summit at the Saginaw YMCA was about showing up, showing what’s possible and showing love. It was everyday people coming together, taking on positive roles in our youth’s lives — making sure every kid knows their value and strength and the big community support behind each of them. I’m grateful to Healing Engagement Love Presence (H.E.L.P.) for their work to improve outcomes, the invitation to speak at this summit and every hand and heart working for better. Baldwin Media’s video gives a great sense of this important effort.

Touring Hausbeck Pickles & Peppers 

To appreciate the operations that process and package 72 million pounds of pickles, banana peppers and jalapenos annually, you’ve got to see it in person. State Rep. Matt Bierlein and I toured Saginaw’s Hausbeck Pickles & Peppers with Tim Hausbeck giving us an up-close look and smell. This family-owned company has expanded to 100+ employees in its 100th year in business, thriving by adopting environmentally and financially smart innovations.

Disability Community-Focused Conversation 

To appreciate the operations that process and package 72 million pounds of pickles, banana peppers and jalapenos annually, you’ve got to see it in person. State Rep. Matt Bierlein and I toured Saginaw’s Hausbeck Pickles & Peppers with Tim Hausbeck giving us an up-close look and smell. This family-owned company has expanded to 100+ employees in its 100th year in business, thriving by adopting environmentally and financially smart innovations.

Disability Community-Focused Conversation 

Stories like the ones shared at our disability community-focused conversation deserve to be heard and should help shape legislation. Held in partnership with Heart of the City Development Center and United Way of Saginaw County at the Buena Vista Community Center, this discussion highlighted several needs and challenges, and that decision-making is stronger when we involve people who are most impacted.

If you are a disability community stakeholder (advocate or organization), I encourage you to join the Michigan Legislative Disability Caucus using the form linked here. Questions about the Caucus or the form are best directed to MLDC Chair Rep. Sharon MacDonell’s Legislative Director, Matt Dargay, at mdargay@house.mi.gov.

Visiting Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy Middle-Schoolers

I joined our Director of District and Constituent Services Kevin Hayes on a recent visit to Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy. Kevin is a proud SASA alum, and it was awesome to watch these middle-schoolers take in everything he shared about our team’s work and his role. They had great questions for both of us, and I hope we sparked an interest in some of these students to consider public service in their future.

Additional Events, Meetings
Senator McDonald Rivet’s other commitments included presenting a tribute to our local PFLAG; attending the Citizens Action Committee Saginaw Bishop’s breakfast; participating in a housing discussion with MDL Companies of Bay City; touring LyondellBasell’s Bay City manufacturing site; attending an informational briefing with Hemlock Semiconductor and Corning leadership; meeting with Midland’s Mayor and City Manager; attending the Great Lakes Bay Pride Holiday Social; and participating on Saginaw County Chamber Of Commerce’s Leadership Saginaw Government Day panel.

Director of District and Constituent Services Kevin Hayes represented the Office of the Senator at the Saginaw County Superintendents’ Legislative Breakfast; Saginaw Fairgrounds Association meeting; the Region VII Area of Aging Holiday Lunch; the UAW Bay Christmas Party; and several of the Senator’s events referenced above.

Legislative Director Stephen Prince attended Public Transit and Bay-Saginaw Connection Memorial Cup meetings; the Bay County Township Officials Association December meeting; the Midland Business Alliance Advisory Committee on Infrastructure meeting; and Bay-Arenac ISD’s Early Childhood Dept. Winter Staff meeting.

Community Communications, Interviews

DEC 7, ROUTE BAY CITY: Long-time advocate for children, Sen. McDonald Rivet plans to focus on child care in 2024

DEC 8, MIDLAND DAILY NEWS: Gov. Whitmer signs bills to change the teacher evaluation system in Michigan

DEC 11, WNEMTV5 Video: AT&T, Human-I-T donate 100 laptops to Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan

DEC 12, WNEMTV5 Video: State Sen. focusing on issues affecting those with special needs

DEC 14, MIDLAND DAILY NEWS: Over 700,000 Michigan families will receive Working Families Tax Credit checks starting in February


Community Investments and Opportunities

Empowering Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan Clients with Chromebooks 

Think of everything we do with home computers — faster, easier connections to education, jobs, telehealth, goods and services and each other. It was a joy to help celebrate Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan clients receiving Chromebooks donated by AT&T and Human I-T. In all, Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan clients will receive 100 of the 1500 Chromebooks being donated by these companies throughout Michigan.

Michigan Arts and Culture Council Awards
Major Chords For Minors received a grant award of $2,300 from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council toward their Ensemble Band program, benefiting involved Saginaw students, their households and neighboring community members.

LEO Awards Over $1.5M to Holy Cross Services to Support Mid-Michigan Youth
I’m thrilled to share that the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has awarded $1.57 million to Holy Cross Services toward expansion of their services for teens and young adults transitioning out of the child welfare system or foster care. The grant is one of ten awarded from the $15 million MI Impact Grant program to Michigan’s large nonprofits who provide programming to lift people out of poverty.

Holy Cross Services primarily provides mid-Michigan youth with healthcare services, case management, access to basic needs and mental health counseling, though their services are open to any youth in the state. This grant will help empower more young people with tools and guidance necessary for building successful, independent futures.

MSHDA Announces $5M Grant Program Toward Clearing Local Housing Hurdles
With its newly launched $5 million Housing Readiness Incentive Grant Program, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority is taking a significant step to help local governments pave the way for new housing. Cities, villages and townships may apply for a maximum grant of $50,000 to cover costs associated with pro-housing policy changes including the adoption of land use policies, master plan updates, zoning text amendments and similar activities.

When I participated in our region’s listening session around the Statewide Housing Plan, it was clear that lowering regulatory hurdles and streamlining local rules would help Michigan build new housing and rehabilitate existing stock faster. I am glad to see MSHDA acting to increase available, affordable housing in communities needing it most. Details on the grant application process are in this press release.

EGLE Seeks Input to Help Tap into Billions of Federal Dollars for Climate & Energy Projects
Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is seeking input on a historic opportunity to leverage significant federal financing for clean energy generation and infrastructure, economic development, supplier retooling and diversification and other related projects in our state.

Billions of dollars in federal loans and loan guarantees are available to invest in climate- and energy-related projects through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO). These dollars will align with the implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan and recently signed Clean Energy & Jobs Act.

Who, When and How: Anyone planning to invest in clean energy and looking for attractive financing options or with ideas for moving the state forward in deploying clean energy and expanding the clean energy economy at scale is invited to comment by Jan 31, 2024. More about applicable entities and how to submit input may be found in EGLE’s news release.

Helpful Resources and Links

“Get Ahead of Lead” Strategy, Resources
As shared in our prior enewsletter, “Get Ahead of Lead” aims to identify and prevent lead exposure from household plumbing. Saginaw households with Medicaid-enrolled children or pregnant persons can receive the following upon request: Home visit and visual plumbing assessment; filter and replacement cartridges; single faucet replacement; and assistance with sign up for Medicaid’s Lead Abatement program. Learn more here.  

Consumer Protection Against Holiday Scams

Vaccine Recommendations, Testing Information

Utilities resources you may find helpful:

Michigan Senate Webpages:

Contact Us

  • Website Contact Form: This is the best, fastest way to reach us.
  • Upcoming Events: Includes our monthly constituent hours and more.
  • Phone: (517) 373-1725 | Email: SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov
  • 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.