Dear Neighbor,
I hope you had an enjoyable Fourth of July weekend and have been staying safe and dry with the past few rainy days. Recently, my Senate colleagues and I passed the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. I am proud of the work we did to design a budget that builds up our vibrant communities and supports our residents of all backgrounds.
As always, it is an honor to serve you in the State Senate. If you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office.
Featured in this newsletter:
- Michigan Senate Passed State Budget Dedicated to Building Up Michigan
- Protecting the Great Lakes from Invasive Species
- Vision OPEN Challenge to Help Small Businesses and Start-ups Unlock $150 Million in Federal Funding
- Summer Energy Savings and Rebates
- SisterFriends Detroit
- Sterling Heights Sterlingfest Art and Music Fair
- AG Nessel Issues Consumer Alert on Alternative Gas Suppliers
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
Michigan Senate Passed State Budget Dedicated to Building Up Michigan
Last year marked a significant milestone for the state of Michigan — my Senate Colleagues and I passed a budget that focuses on directing vital resources into historically neglected sectors like infrastructure, education, and local communities.
Recently, the Senate successfully finished negotiations with the House on the state budget for Fiscal Year 2025. These investments build on last year’s transformative budget by continuing to invest in children and families, students and workers, public safety, community development, and more.
Paired with last year’s transformative investments, this budget is a blueprint for building a better future in Michigan. The 2024 budget enabled us to lay a solid foundation, one we are continuing to build on for years and years to come for all Michiganders.
Protecting the Great Lakes from Invasive Species
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michigan signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Illinois to cosponsor the construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. This milestone agreement with the Biden Administration unlocks $274 million in federal and $114 million in state funding for the first of three phases of the $1.15 billion project that will prevent invasive carp and aquatic nuisance species from entering the Great Lakes.
Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois, is a critical point to stop invasive carp from moving into the Great Lakes. The Brandon Road Interbasin Project will implement a complex series of invasive carp and aquatic nuisance species deterrents.
Vision OPEN Challenge to Help Small Businesses and Start-Ups Unlock $150 Million in Federal Funding
The Michigan Infrastructure Office has announced $10 million for the Vision OPEN Challenge, funded through the Make It In Michigan Competitiveness Fund, to help start-ups and small businesses secure funding from the Federal Department of Energy’s (DOE) ARPA-E Vision OPEN 2024 grant. This challenge will provide matching grants to bring advanced clean energy and innovative technologies from the lab to the market. The DOE is offering up to $150 million in federal grants, with the Vision OPEN Challenge covering half of the required 10% match.
Initial applications to the Competitiveness Fund are due by July 15, 2024, to meet the DOE’s concept paper deadline of July 16, 2024.
For more information, visit the Make It in Michigan Competitiveness Fund website.
Summer Energy Savings and Rebates
Summer is a great time to explore ways to reduce your energy bills! One way to achieve this is through energy efficiency programs. Michigan utilities offer energy efficiency programs and rebates for the following:
- Energy Star products and appliances;
- Insulation and air sealing; and
- Efficient heating and cooling upgrades.
Michigan utilities also provide information on the following:
- Low-income programs for single family and multi-family homes offered at no cost;
- Custom and prescriptive programs for commercial and industrial businesses;
- Appliance recycling; and
- Education on the benefits of energy efficiency.
For more about energy waste reduction and what other programs your utility may offer, contact your utility provider, view consumer tips on Energy Waste Reduction for the Home, or check out the MPSC’s EWR webpage.
SisterFriends Detroit
Are you or someone you know a new mother or expecting soon? If so, SisterFriends Detroit is a volunteer effort to support women and their babies until the baby’s first birthday. This program works to improve birth outcomes and infant mortality rates in Detroit by connecting volunteer mentors to women who are pregnant or recently had a baby to gain access to services and resources while creating a circle of caring families around Detroit. SisterFriends Detroit provides services to women who live in Detroit and are either pregnant or recently delivered a baby within the last six months.
This program would allow you to be linked with a mentor, community health worker, or nurse who will:
- Commit to being there for you and your baby from pregnancy to the baby’s first birthday
- Connect with you every week (in person, by phone, or through text)
- Link you to community resources and services
Additionally, this program includes enrichment classes and free transportation to your doctor appointments. For more information, call 313-876-0412 or 313-961-BABY. To enroll please use the following link.
Sterling Heights Sterlingfest Art and Music Fair
The city of Sterling Heights will be hosting its annual Sterlingfest on July 25-27, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. This art and music festival has activities for everyone in the family! This event is free to attend and will have music, art, food, a drone show, and carnival rides. Please note, wristbands are sold separately for the carnival rides.
Sterlingfest is located on the city of Sterling Heights campus at 40555 Utica Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313.
Free parking during the Sterlingfest Art and Music Fair is available throughout the City Center complex located near the corner of Utica and Dodge Park Roads and at various schools and houses of worship.
Free on-site/walkable parking is available at:
- 41-A District Court, 40111 Dodge Park Rd.
- Stevenson High School, 39701 Dodge Park Rd.
- Great Lakes Church, 39051 Dodge Park Rd.
- Walsh Elementary (Community Education Center), 38901 Dodge Park Rd.
- Davis Junior High School, 11311 Plumbrook Rd.
- Heritage Junior High School, 37400 Dodge Park Rd.
- Grass Lot at the NW corner of 18 Mile Road and Utica Road
- Metro Church of Christ, 40100 Dodge Park Rd. (across from City Center)
Free handicapped parking is available at:
- Senior Center (limited availability; must show handicapped pass)
- City Center Lot in front of the library (limited availability; must show handicapped pass)
AG Nessel Issues Consumer Alert on Alternative Gas Suppliers
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is issuing a Consumer Alert regarding Alternative Gas Suppliers (AGSs) following numerous complaints about deceptive practices. Since the beginning of 2024, over 125 complaints have been filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) concerning Alternative Gas Suppliers (AGSs).
AGSs are third-party companies authorized to sell natural gas to residents in the Consumers Energy, DTE, SEMCO, or Michigan Gas Utilities service territories. While these suppliers can offer competitive rates, AGSs rates are not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), unlike rates from local utility companies.
AGSs must be licensed by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). If a consumer encounters a company that is not licensed, the Attorney General advises them not to engage their services and to file a complaint with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).
Consumers interested in AGS services should:
- Ask AGS representatives to include details on how savings are calculated, the contract length, the per unit rate, and any associated fees;
- Understand the duration of any promotional pricing, the process, and fees for switching AGSs or returning to the local utility, and contract terms after promotional periods expire;
- Be aware of any cancellation fees and how the process works; and
- Check eligibility for budget plan customers and those with past due balances.
If a consumer believes an AGS has engaged in a misleading or deceptive promotion leading them to sign a contract, the Attorney General encourages them to file a complaint with the MPSC online or by calling 1-800-292-9555.
Consumers considering an AGS can learn more at the MPSC’s Natural Gas Customer Choice webpage, which includes information on licensed suppliers in each utility’s service territory. The Attorney General also encourages consumers to visit the MPSC’s Compare MI Gas website, which has answers to frequently asked questions about gas customer choice.