Dear Friends,
I hope this newsletter reaches you and your family safe and healthy. Spring is officially here, which means warm weather and sunny days are just around the corner!
Featured in this newsletter:
- Lowering the cost of tuition at Wayne State University
- Apply for home heating tax credit
- Better understand financial aid award letters at upcoming webinars
- $3 million awarded to help under-represented youth build brighter futures in Michigan
- Virtual baby safety fair
- Helping Medicaid members keep their coverage
If you have any other questions, want to comment on pending legislation, or resolve any issues in state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-8360 or by email at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov.
Warmest regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
LOWERING THE COST OF TUITION AT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined Wayne State University officials to announce the Wayne State Guarantee, a new initiative offering incoming Michigan students with family incomes of $70,000 or less a tuition-free degree with zero out-of-pocket expenses. The program will begin in the fall of 2023 and cover the full cost of tuition and standard fees. This is made possible thanks to the bipartisan Michigan Achievement Scholarship program, which Governor Whitmer signed into law in 2022, saving students up to $8,250 on their associate degree at a community college, up to $20,000 at a private college, or up to $27,500 at a public university.
Who’s Eligible for the Wayne State Guarantee
- Incoming first-year undergraduates who are Michigan residents admitted for fall 2023 as a first-time undergraduate in a degree-program.
- Household income of $70,000 or less and assets of $50,000 or less as confirmed on the 2023-24 FAFSA.
- Michigan residents eligible for the Pell grant in 2023-24 are also eligible.
- Must be enrolled full time (12 or more credit hours per semester) each semester. Funding is for the fall and winter semesters.
- WSU must receive your 2023-24 FAFSA by April 1, 2023, and be eligible to receive federal student aid.
- Must be admitted to WSU by April 1, 2023.
APPLY FOR HOME HEATING TAX CREDIT
Michiganders who need help with their energy bills can now apply for the Home Heating Credit, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.
Low-income, deaf, disabled or blind persons, disabled veterans and senior citizens may qualify for the Home Heating Credit. Applicants are not required to file a Michigan individual income tax return to receive the credit.
Forms and instructional materials are available on the internet at Michigan.gov/IncomeTax or by calling (517) 636-4486. Forms are also available at many libraries, Northern Michigan post offices, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) offices across the state.
All applications for the credit must be received by Sept. 30, 2023.
BETTER UNDERSTAND FINANCIAL AID AWARD LETTERS AT UPCOMING WEBINARS
Students and families who have completed their Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) and received a financial aid award letter from their chosen college or university are encouraged to attend an upcoming webinar, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.
- How to compare college financial aid award letters,
- Tools to help students and families make the best financial decisions,
- Better understand the individual scholarships, grants, and loans offered,
- Scholarship search resources and easy to use budgeting tools,
- Submit general aid related questions via Q&A and receive real-time answers.
$3 MILLION AWARDED TO HELP UNDER-REPRESENTED YOUTH BUILD BRIGHTER FUTURES IN MICHIGAN
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) announced the recipients of Young Professionals grants totaling $3 million to provide under-represented young residents with a meaningful introduction to the world of work, including on-site, hybrid and virtual career exploration and job preparation activities.
Young Professionals grants support young residents, ages 14-24, who face barriers on the path to obtaining employment by exposing them to multiple career and educational opportunities, earning a short-term training certificate, and obtaining work experience.
These grants have been awarded to the state’s Michigan Works! network, with the 16 agencies receiving awards ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 to support the creation and/or enhancement of a locally developed Young Professionals employment initiative to meet the unique needs of the communities they serve.
Michigan Works! provides career preparation, employment opportunities, and supportive services throughout the state. These agencies play a crucial role in the recruitment of employees, with a focus on regionally in-demand industries such as construction, energy, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, and mobility.
The Young Professionals initiative aligns with Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60% by 2030.
Parents and young Michiganders should contact their local Michigan Works! Agency to find out what programs are available to support their academic and career training goals. To contact the nearest Michigan Works! Service Center, call (800) 285-WORKS (9675) or visit MichiganWorks.org.
VIRTUAL BABY SAFETY FAIR
On April 4, 2023, from 10 – 11:30 am, join the Oakland County Health Division for a virtual baby safety fair to learn about important safety information to keep your baby or grandbaby safe. You don’t need to be an Oakland County resident to participate.
- Child Passenger Safety,
- Marijuana and Vaping Risks & Cessation,
- Referrals through WIC,
- Postpartum Depression and Coping,
- Wellness Visits,
- Infant Safe Sleep Friendly Gifts.
HELPING MEDICAID MEMBERS KEEP THEIR COVERAGE
Take action to avoid a gap in coverage
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE), allowing Medicaid members to keep their health care coverage. Per recent federal legislation, eligibility renewals will start again in June. Monthly renewal notifications will be sent by mail beginning in May.
- Make sure your contact information is up to date.
- Check mail or text messages for a letter.
- Complete your renewal form (if you get one).