Senate District 7 Updates

Friends, 

I hope this newsletter finds you and your family safe and healthy. As the fall leaves begin to make their magical appearance across Michigan, I urge you to continue to take precautions against COVID-19 and the Delta variant as you’re enjoying the season so we can continue to keep our community safe and healthy.  

Featured in this newsletter is a reminder that elections are coming up, information regarding a new program to assist low-income households in weatherizing their home to reduce heating bills, and a reminder that now is the time to apply for financial aid through FAFSA. And, if you’re a small business owner, there’s information about grants available to you that are designed to keep your employees safe. 

As always, it’s an honor to serve you. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance.  

Dayna Polehanki
State Senator
7th District

ELECTION DAY THREE WEEKS AWAY IN MANY JURISDICTIONS, VOTERS HAVE OPTIONS 

With three weeks remaining until elections in many jurisdictions across the state, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson reminds voters that they have options to safely and securely cast their ballot. 

To find out if your community is holding an election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, visit Michigan.gov/Vote.  

Eligible citizens can register to vote online for one more week. Within two weeks of the election, they will have to register in person at their local clerk’s office, where they can also request, fill out, and return an absentee ballot all in the same trip. 

Already registered voters can vote from home by requesting to have an absentee ballot mailed to them. They can make the request in person at their local clerk’s office or online at Michigan.gov/Vote. If voters choose to go to their local clerk’s office, they can fill out their ballot and return it in the same visit. 

Voters can also cast their ballots in person at their polling place on Election Day. Polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

The Michigan Voter Information Center at Michigan.gov/Vote provides important information for voters ahead of Election Day, including a sample ballot, information about how to use voting equipment and how to contact your local clerk. 

WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM MAY HELP MICHIGANDERS REDUCE HEATING BILLS 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is raising awareness during Weatherization Month of a program that reduces household energy costs by an average of $283 per year — benefitting about 1,300 low-income families in Michigan. 

Through a federal Weatherization Assistance Program operated by the state, trained weatherization professionals — or energy auditors — create a comprehensive energy analysis of your home to determine the most cost-effective measures to install, such as insulation, blower-door-guided air sealing of key leakage junctures, and installations like lighting and water saving measures. Trained contractors and crew members then install the identified energy-efficient and health and safety measures. 

Health and safety issues — such as elevated levels of carbon monoxide, moisture problems, mold, ventilation needs, and heating systems safety and efficiency — are also addressed.  

There is also growing evidence the program provides benefits beyond energy savings. Improved indoor air quality and appropriate ventilation strategies lead to healthier living conditions in weatherized homes. These healthier living conditions often lead to improved health outcomes such as reduced asthma triggers and fewer doctor visits.   

Eligibility is based on household income and if the home’s current condition is weatherization ready. Anyone interested in applying for the Weatherization Assistance Program can contact their local provider. 

TREASURY: GET READY. GET SET. FAFSA! 

The U.S. Department of Education began accepting FAFSA submissions on Friday, Oct. 1, and as such, the Michigan Department of Treasury (Treasury) is reminding residents about the need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) when considering applying for scholarships, grants, or other forms of financial assistance.  

Academic Year 2022-23 FAFSA submissions received at the federal processor on or before March 1, 2022, are given priority consideration for the Michigan Competitive S
cholarship and Michigan Tuition Grant. Students who wait to complete their FAFSA after the March 1 deadline may not receive all the financial aid they could have been entitled to receive. 

Prior to completing the FAFSA online, the student and at least one parent or guardian must obtain a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) at www.fafsa.gov, which serves as a legal signature and confirms an applicant’s identity when accessing financial aid information through certain U.S. Department of Education websites. 

To get started with the FAFSA, go to www.fafsa.gov. To learn more about State of Michigan scholarships and grant programs, visit the MI Student Aid website at Michigan.gov/MIStudentAid. 

Administered by Treasury, MI Student Aid is Michigan’s go-to resource for finding the financial resources needed to pay for college. For more information, contact MI Student Aid at mistudentaid@michigan.gov or 1-888-447-2687, or look up @mistudentaid on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. 

$250,000 AVAILABLE IN GRANTS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES PROTECT WORKERS 

Michigan small businesses with 250 employees or less can apply for a Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) matching grant up to $5,000 to make improvements to their workplace safety and health, with Oct. 6 marking the first day that applications were accepted. 

The grants are available through the Workplace Improvement to Safety and Health (MIWISH) grant program and are designed to enable employers to purchase safety and health-related equipment. They will also give them the ability to offer related training that will provide a safer and healthier work environment, reducing the risk of injury and illness to workers in Michigan.   

For more information about the MIWISH grant program and how to apply, visit Michigan.gov/MIOSHAgrants or contact MIOSHA’s Consultation Education and Training grant administrator at 269-275-7155.