Dear Neighbor,
The first day of spring is a few days away and warm weather is among us! I hope you can get outside, see the sunshine, and maybe even do some spring cleaning.
Featured in this newsletter:
- FEMA Disaster Assistance Deadline is April 8, 2024
- Congratulations to The Center Line Connection’s Boy’s Swim and Basketball
- Community Center Grant Funding in Local Communities
- Detroit Area Agency on Aging In-Home Vaccinations
- Women’s History Month
- New Wayne County Medical Debt Program
- Certified Tech Hubs in Detroit
- ProtectMIChild Registry
- Spring Cleaning Guide
- Problem Gambling Awareness Month
- MDOT Urges Drivers to Utilize Zipper Merging to Reduce Construction Delays
If you have any 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
FEMA Disaster Assistance Deadline is April 8, 2024
Michiganders effected by the August 24-26, 2023, severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, and Wayne counties have just one month left to apply for federal assistance. The deadline to apply with FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration is Monday, April 8, 2024.
More than 43,800 households have been approved for FEMA grant funding, totaling more than $40.7 million. This funding includes $32.7 million in housing grants, including short-term rental assistance and home-repair costs, and $8 million for other essential disaster-related needs, such as expenses related to medical, dental, and lost personal possessions.
For more information, please visit One Month Left to Apply: Survivors Receive More than $41.9 Million to Date | FEMA.gov.
Congratulations to The Center Line Connection’s Boy’s Swim and Basketball Teams
I would like to take time to congratulate The Center Line Connections boys’ swim and basketball teams for their success. The boy’s swim team took 1st place in the MAC Silver, and the boys’ basketball team are MAC Silver/Bronze Champs and advanced to the District Finals. Go Panthers!
Community Center Grant Funding in Local Communities
On March 1, 2024, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity announced $64 million in Community Center Grant funds for 100 Michigan municipalities and organizations. These grants will expand programming or work on capital projects to serve 1.6 million Michiganders and build on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s ‘Make it in Michigan’ strategy to win projects, invest in people, and revitalize places. Community centers serve as a local resource hub for education, recreation, and fellowship.
The grantees provide the following services: after-school programming, workforce development, recreational activities, supporting older adults, and more. Grants will be awarded to 69 nonprofit agencies, 22 local government agencies, and 9 schools and universities across the state.
To learn more about grant recipients, please click here.
Detroit Area Agency on Aging In-Home Vaccinations
The Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) offers in-home vaccinations for homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. DAAA and has partnered with the Detroit Health Department to reach the city’s most vulnerable populations. Please note that co-pays may apply for individuals with insurance. Call 313-446-4444 to schedule your in-home vaccination.
Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month, where we honor women’s contributions in American history. Since 1955, each president has issued an annual proclamation designating March “Women’s History Month”. The 2024 theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion”.
This month we celebrate all that women have done for both the United States and Michigan. Take this month to acknowledge and celebrate the women in your life. To view Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Women’s History Month proclamation, please click here.
New Wayne County Medical Debt Program
Wayne County has teamed up with a national non-profit organization, RIP Medical Debt, that will work with providers like hospitals, health systems, and physicians’ groups to relieve debt on behalf of its residents. It is projected that up to $700 million in medical debt could be eliminated for Wayne County Residents.
To qualify for this program, residents with medical debt must earn at or below four times the federal poverty level or have debts that are 5% or more of their annual income. Funding is made possible, in part, by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Residents don’t need to apply for the program. RIP Medical Debt identifies individuals who meet the criteria and negotiates with health centers on their behalf to buy the debt in batches. Once this is complete, RIP Medical Debt sends them a letter indicating that their debt has been eliminated.
To learn more about the RIP Medical Debt program, please visit Homepage – RIP Medical Debt.
Certified Tech Hubs in Detroit
The City of Detroit recently launched a new initiative to help Detroiters get online. The city opened eight “Certified Tech Hubs” in several Detroit neighborhoods last month. The initiative was created to provide residents with access to fast, safe, and reliable internet. Certified locations can provide access to free internet, loaner devices to get online, and basic digital literacy training.
To find a certified location near you please visit the interactive map.
ProtectMIChild Registry
ProtectMIChild is a free registry to help block adult-themed content from reaching your child or teen’s phone, tablet, or other electronics. To join this registry, just register your child’s cell phone number, email address, Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter. ProtectMIChild helps to prevent alcohol, tobacco, online gambling, and explicit content from reaching your child.
To register your child, please visit protectmichild.com/index.html.
Spring Cleaning Guide
Now that spring is among us, spring cleaning may be on your agenda. This may include ensuring everything in your home is in its proper place and discarding items you no longer need. While removing unwanted items, it is important to keep recycling in mind.
Here’s some guidance on how to handle materials that are commonly encountered during spring cleaning:
- Household hazardous waste such as cleaners, fertilizers, paint, solvents, acids, fuel, electronics, batteries, aerosol cans, etc. While containers for these items may be recyclable, they still contain chemicals, such as bleach or drain cleaner, that can mix and cause fires at recycling facilities. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has a webpage with drop-off locations and a list of hazardous waste.
- Pieces of metal, such as old grills, rusty lawn mower blades, or pots and pans. Scrap metal is generally not accepted curbside, but some drop-off recycling centers will take it. Some scrap yards will pay for dropped-off metal.
- Hoses, boat shrink-wrap and other types of flexible plastics. Recycling facilities don’t want these materials because they can get tangled in their machinery, but they’re ripe for reuse. In addition, the Recycling Run Program will pick up used shrink-wrap by appointment and find a new use for it.
- Plastic flowerpots and plant containers. Some recycling services will accept these materials curbside, provided they’re not full of dirt. Home Depot stores and Meijer garden centers also collect them for recycling in partnership with East Jordan Plastics.
- Electronic waste, such as old computers or TVs. Please visit Electronic Waste Take Back Program (michigan.gov) to find information on how to dispose of your old electronics.
- Clothing. This is a big no-no for curbside recycling. However, local thrift shops can find new uses for most donated garments. You could also turn them into rags to use for cleaning in place of paper towels.
Problem Gambling Awareness Month
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the Michigan Gaming Control Board is aiming to raise awareness and provide resources to address problem gambling behaviors.
MDOT Urges Drivers to Utilize Zipper Merging to Reduce Construction Delays
Every Michigander’s favorite season — construction season — is almost upon us, which means it’s time to gear up for the usual lane closures, traffic shuffles, and detours ahead. Amidst these changes, it’s important to stay focused on the road and stay tuned in to updates, changes, or any potential delays.