Our economy is in crisis, and families across the state are hurting. Turning our economy around will take a lot of hard work—and it won’t happen overnight.
As your Congressman, I’m fighting to make sure Michigan gets its fair share from Washington as we implement a broad economic plan to get our country back on track. That’s why I voted to pass the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act earlier this year. These bills will bring billions of dollars in federal funding to our state and help save or create 109,000 Michigan jobs.
I’m also fighting to make sure our region receives its fair share in the upcoming appropriations process for 2010. Our team has been working hand-in-hand with local businesses, nonprofits and governments in Branch, Calhoun, Eaton, Jackson, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Washtenaw Counties to outline critical economic development projects that will help create jobs and turn our economy around.
As part of my commitment to transparency, I wanted to share some information about our priority projects and the application process we used.
Step 1: To compile a strong list of worthy projects for the state, our team invited applications from localities, nonprofits and businesses in January.
Step 2: Based on written applications and face-to-face meetings, we prioritized the projects based on their economic impact, ability to create jobs, and cost effectiveness.
Step 3: On April 3, I submitted a letter to the House Appropriations Committee certifying that I will not benefit financially from these projects.
Step 4: When each of the twelve appropriations bills comes up for a vote, it will be accompanied by a list identifying each project and which member requested it. Once requests are reviewed and funded in the legislative process, they are posted on this website and available for public review.
Below is a list of the Economic Development Projects requested by my office to be included in the FY 2010 House appropriations legislation, organized by County.
Branch County
Bus and Bus Facilities, Branch Area Transit Authority
$114,800 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
This funding request is for the purchase of one medium duty bus, one light duty cutaway bus, a security system upgrade, and a radio repeater and equipment. Branch County Transportation Authority provides transit services across Branch County. This request is a good use of taxpayer funding because it will improve and enhance transit options for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and workers in Branch County.
Recipient:
Branch County Transportation Authority
306 S. Clay Street
PO Box 979
Coldwater, MI 49036
Streamlined Green Building, Branch County Memorial Airport, Coldwater MI
$450,000 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it would replace an outdated terminal that is both structurally and energy inefficient. The new building will reduce costs through energy efficiencies, and allow for a streamlined process for receiving pilots and passengers and transitioning them to local businesses and activities.
This project is the final step in the County’s plan to improve capacity at the airport and address environmental concerns. Branch County Memorial Airport serves the residents of Branch County, St. Joseph County, Hillsdale County, and part of Calhoun County. The project would create approximately 25 construction jobs.
Recipient:
Branch County Memorial Airport
351 Airport Rd
Coldwater, MI 49036
Bronson Library Barrier Free Accessibility Project
$144,000 - Labor Health and Human Services
The project is intended to make the Bronson Library accessible for everyone in Bronson, Branch County, and surrounding areas, regardless of physical disability. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will ensure that the library is barrier free and that its technology, equipment and research materials are fully accessible, and also that it has an accessible bathroom for library patrons.
Recipient:
Friends of the Bronson Library
207 N. Matteson Street
Bronson, Michigan 49028
Community Unlimited Community Building
$350,000 – Agriculture
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will renovate and equip a very old school maintenance building into a community building that houses licensed child care, youth, family and adult programs and other community events and services. It will transform a solid brick building with high utility expenses, single-pane windows, flat roof, original wiring, plumbing, and boiler heating systems to an energy-efficient, low maintenance, “green” building. Besides being a local model of green construction, this project will increase local employment, and expand community services and resources.
Community Unlimited is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates before- and after-school programs for children and youth; is a Child and Adult Care Food Program and Michigan Summer Food Service Program site, and offers various community services for rural residents in Branch and Calhoun counties. This project would create an estimated 25 jobs during construction.
Recipient:
Community Unlimited
221 Ellen Street
Union City, MI 49094
Calhoun County
Component Numbered Air Force (cNAF) Warfighting Headquarters Mission
$13,900,000 – Military Construction
This project is also known as the “TFI-cNAF Beddown” at the Battle Creek Air National Guard (ANG) base. The cNAF Warfighting Headquarters mission is located at W.K.KelloggAirport in Battle Creek and includes a Command Support Element, Air Operations Squadron, Air Intelligence Squadron, Air Communications Squadron, Air Operations Center (SCIF), and an Air Mobility Squadron.
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it is Michigan’s top Military Construction priority as requested and ranked by the Michigan National Guard, Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and Major General Thomas Cutler, Adjutant General of Michigan. Facilities support day to day activities associated with wartime skills training and operational reachback capability for cNAF Warfighting Headquarters personnel. This project meets the criteria as specified in Air Force Handbook 32-1084 (“Facility Requirements”) and is in compliance with the base master plan. It is programmed for construction in year 2011, and will continue the proud tradition of the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base and our honored personnel who serve there.
Recipient:
Michigan Air National Guard
W.K.KelloggAirport Installation
Battle Creek, Michigan 49015
Organizational Maintenance Shop at Fort Custer
$7,700,000 – Military Construction
This project is the construction of a combined Unit Training Equipment Site (UTES) and consolidated Organizational Maintenance Shop (OMS) with drive-thru workbays for oversized military equipment fielding by the Army National Guard Division Redesign Study (ADRS) at FortCuster. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it is a Military Construction priority as requested and ranked by the Michigan National Guard, Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and Major General Thomas Cutler, Adjutant General of Michigan. This new OMS will replace an existing OMS at Fort Custer which has been found by engineering investigations to be structurally unsafe.
Recipient:
Michigan Army National Guard
2501 26th Street
Augusta, MI 49012
Next Generation Superchargers to Increase the Performance of Military Engines
$4,000,000 – Defense
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will help soldiers fighting overseas by improving the pursuit, obstacle avoidance and flight capability of their military vehicles, particularly in hot, dusty environments. Military vehicle power and acceleration have suffered in recent years as vehicle weight has increased. This project meets the military’s immediate need for an advanced supercharger specifically designed to meet the harsh requirements of military diesel engines, while still being easily maintainable and cost-effective. The advanced supercharger is retrofitable for HMMWVs and other vehicles with tight under-hood space constraints.
Eaton Corporation employs approximately 2,000 people in Michigan and approximately 1,000 people in Michigan’s 7th congressional district. Approximately 80% of this project’s funding would be spent in Marshall, Michigan (Eaton Corporation’s supercharger division is headquartered in Marshall), and about 10% would be spent in Southfield, Michigan (the headquarters of Eaton Automotive). This project will create/retain 12 jobs at Eaton’s supercharger division in Marshall and anticipates creating a new military market for Eaton Automotive, leading to further job creation in Michigan in advanced engineering, sales and marketing.
Recipient:
Eaton Corporation
19218 B Drive South
Marshall, Michigan 49068
Photovoltaic Rooftop Systems for Department of Defense Buildings
$1,500,000 – Defense
This project is the development of rugged, non-glass photovoltaic (PV) rooftop systems for Department of Defense buildings. The federal government is currently estimated to be the largest single consumer of electricity, spending approximately $5.8 billion annually. The proposed project would accelerate adoption of photovoltaic rooftop arrays for federal buildings by working with the U.S. Army Engineering Center to develop PV roofing materials in accordance with Department of Defense building specifications and required certifications. This will advance the Army Engineering Center’s ability to assess and recommend further PV projects and help reduce deployment costs, facilitating larger scale application of PV for Department of Defense and other federal buildings. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will help provide energy security, save taxpayer dollars, reduce pollution and create green collar jobs.
United Solar Ovonic, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, is the world’s largest manufacturer of flexible solar panels that convert sunlight to electricity. Together with its parent company Energy Conversion Devices, United Solar Ovonic employs about 1500 people in Michigan and is currently constructing a fifth manufacturing plant in Battle Creek that is expected to employ 350 people.
Recipient:
United Solar Ovonic
3800 Lapeer Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Battle Creek, MI manufacturing facility
International Food Protection Training Institute
$16,000,000 – Agriculture
This project is the establishment of an International Food Protection Training Institute to train state and local food safety professionals by providing first-in-class, career-spanning, certified curriculum in accordance with recognized food safety program standards. The Institute will be the centerpiece of a broader initiative being established by Battle Creek Unlimited, the National Center for Food Protection. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will improve food safety inspections and protect consumers from health hazards that cost lives.
There is a critical need to modernize the way the national food protection system prepares its field forces to meet the growing challenges and complexities of an increasingly global food supply, wherein technology has outpaced traditional regulatory approaches, and the increasing reliance upon imports and just-in-time supply chains challenges regulatory expertise. The International Food Protection Training Institute will be run in partnership with the Association of Food and Drug Officials, a non-profit professional organization established in 1896 consisting of state, federal, local regulatory officials, and industry representatives, and a vast array of public health associations. The Institute is expected to create 30-40 FTE positions, and to train up to 45,000 food protection professionals over 5 years, beginning with 1,000 trainees in FY2010. These trainees will travel to and stay in Battle Creek for the duration of the 1-week course they will attend.
Recipient:
International Food Protection Training Institute
4950 W. Dickman Road, Ste. A-1
Battle Creek, MI 49015
Homer Lake Environmental Restoration and Protection
$150,000 – Energy and Water
Homer Lake in Calhoun County, Michigan, is at the headwaters of the St. Joseph River watershed. Surface runoff sediments and nutrients have contributed to vegetative growth and alteration of the lake's natural conditions. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will provide sediment removal and the reestablishment and enhancement of fishery and aquatic habitat in the lake. Dredging the lake is necessary for removing sedimentation and creating areas with depths that will limit weed growth and provide a more balanced ecosystem.
Recipient:
Village of Homer
130 E. Main St.
PO Box 155
Homer, MI 49245
Starr Commonwealth Battle Creek Parent-Referred Day Treatment Facilities Renovations
$900,000 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
These facility renovations will allow Starr to expand its successful programs for at-risk youth in Battle Creek. Currently, Starr’s Day Treatment program provides supervision and treatment for boys & girls who have been adjudicated. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because these renovations will allow Starr to expand its Day Treatment program to also accommodate youth referred by parents and teachers. Renovations include new classroom and conference room space, bathroom renovations, a new elevator, and office space for 18 new staff.
Recipient:
Starr Commonwealth Battle Creek Campus
155 Garfield Avenue
Battle Creek, MI 49037
Expansion of Starr Commonwealth Battle Creek Parent-Referred Day Treatment Program
$1,300,000 - Commerce-Justice-Science
This project is the expansion of Starr Commonwealth’s successful programming for at-risk youth in Battle Creek. Currently, Starr’s Day Treatment program provides supervision and treatment for boys and girls who have been adjudicated. With this funding Starr will be able to expand its Day Treatment program to also accommodate youth referred by parents and teachers and triple its overall program capacity for youth, providing training and support for more than 100 families a year. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because expanding this program will strengthen the community’s ability to address issues of increased violence, gang activity, and teen aggression. Expansion of Starr’s Day Treatment program will result in the addition of approximately 12 new employees at the Starr Commonwealth Battle Creek campus, in addition to the 29 employees currently there who would be retained. Starr currently has a total of 350 employees in Michigan, the majority of whom are located in the 7th Congressional District.
Recipient:
Starr Commonwealth Battle Creek Campus
155 Garfield Avenue
Battle Creek, MI 49037
Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Academy
$500,000 - Commerce-Justice-Science
This project will allow the Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Academy to meet increasing demand for its services by expanding into available space in Building #13 of the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. MichiganYouthChalleNGeAcademy is a public/private partnership that provides a voluntary, 22-week residential program for at-risk youth ages 16-19. The program is available to participants at no-cost and provides education in a disciplined, military-style environment.
This project will allow Youth ChalleNGe to make modifications and add necessary equipment to the available space to meet residential requirements. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Academy estimates that expansion of this successful program will create or retain 50 jobs in CalhounCounty.
Recipient:
Michigan Youth ChalleNGe Academy
5500 Armstrong Road Bldg
Battle CreekMI 49016
Retooling Our Region for Automation and Alternative Energy
$795,000 - Labor Health and Human Services
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will expand Michigan’s trained workforce in the areas of advanced manufacturing and alternative energy. Kellogg Community College will deliver this program through its award winning Regional Training Center and using the innovative open entry/open exit delivery mode for the training. The Automation project will be a 30 credit hour certificate program aligned with national standards established by the Robotics Industry Association. The Alternative Energy project will be a 15 credit hour non-certificate, skill upgrade program to be combined with the Electricity/Electronics program.
This project also includes purchase by the College of welders, PLC (electronics) simulators, and CNC simulators for the College’s “Mobile Trainer Unit,” which will allow the College to move equipment throughout the region to meet demand for training in these specialized industrial trades areas.
Recipient:
Kellogg Community College
450 North Avenue
Battle Creek, MI 49017
Eaton County
City of Eaton Rapids Flood Damage Reduction
$100,000 – Energy and Water
This project will help the City of Eaton Rapids reduce damage from flooding. The city is located at the intersection of the Grand River and Spring Brook, and in the past year there have been two flood events during which the city required sand bags around the river. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to complete a flood mitigation study of the area including elevation studies of the land in and around the water shed area, and review of the dams in Eaton Rapids and the power producing dam at Smithville, to reduce the likelihood of flooding in the future, particularly in the city’s historic district.
Recipient:
City of Eaton Rapids
200 S. Main St.
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827
Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Initiative
$700,000 – Energy and Water
This project is for the design, engineering, and construction of five plug-in hybrid electric car charging stations to be located in highly accessible public locations in Delta Township. The Department of Energy estimates that the deployment of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in America would reduce fuel consumption by 50%, and help shift electric demand to cleaner and cheaper off-peak usage. “Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles: Current Status, Long-Term Prospects and Key Challenges,” Tony Markel, DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2006). This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the Board of Water and Light anticipates that this project would create 25-40 new jobs.
Recipient:
Board of Water & Light
1232 Haco Drive
Lansing, MI 48912
BioEnergy Generation Demonstration Project
$4,000,000 – Energy and Water
The project is the conversion by the Board of Water and Light of the existing pulverized coal facility at its Erickson power plant in Delta Township, into a facility that uses biomass and biofuel for generation. Burning biomass and biofuels will reduce the amount of coal burned and greenhouse gas emissions. The conversion project involves the design and installation of equipment to allow biomass and biofuels to be utilized in conventional pulverized coal fired boilers.
The required project infrastructure includes loading/unloading facilities for handling large quantities of biodiesel, inside storage including agitated tank systems to prevent the bio-diesel from gelling, and biodiesel injection guns. A majority of the power plants in the U.S. utilize pulverized coal fired boilers, so these biomass-biodiesel conversion technologies would have potential application throughout the utility industry. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the Board of Water and Light expects this initiative to create 32 jobs.
Recipient:
Board of Water & Light
1232 Haco Drive
Lansing, MI 48912
Bus and Bus Facilities, Eaton County Transportation Authority
$1,136,500 – Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
This funding request is for the purchase of 4 medium duty buses, 4 minivans, replacement of a 10-year-old maintenance truck, and upgrades or replacement of other equipment. The Eaton County Transportation Authority service area includes DeltaTownship, Grand Ledge, Potterville, Charlotte, Eaton Rapids, Olivet, Bellevue, Dimondale, Sunfield, Mulliken, and Vermontville. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will improve and enhance public transit services for residents across Eaton County.
Recipient:
Eaton County Transportation Authority
916 E. Packard Hwy
Charlotte, MI 48813
Keystone Project to Reduce the Need for Re-Hospitalizations
$500,000 - Labor Health and Human Services
The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Keystone Center for Patient Safety & Quality is a 501c3 organization that works with Michigan hospitals on a voluntary basis to improve patient safety and reduce health care costs through the implementation of best-practice evidence. With this funding request the Keystone Center would focus on the expensive and dangerous incidence of patients who are discharged from the hospital but then subsequently require costly hospital readmissions.
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will allow Keystone Center, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Community Health, to launch a statewide effort in Michigan to reduce the gap between the best clinical evidence for reducing hospital readmissions in such cases and the actual practice in Michigan hospitals, coordinating and supporting implementation teams made up of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospital administrators and other key personnel in the hospital.
This project would create at least one new direct job and retain five jobs in Eaton County.
Recipient:
MHA Keystone Center for Patient Safety & Quality
Michigan Health & Hospital Association
6215 W. St. Joseph Highway
Lansing, MI 48917
LCC West Campus Advanced Technology and Electric Vehicle Jobs Training
$2,000,000 - Labor Health and Human Services
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it would expand Lansing Community College’s existing automotive technology program through the acquisition of equipment and development of curricula to include all aspects of technician training for hybrid/electric/alternative fuel vehicles, including vehicle repair/maintenance, operation, safety, and electric vehicle components (transaxles, batteries). The project would provide training and infrastructure to demonstrate operation of electric vehicle charging stations, and software to access necessary data for new technologies.
Lansing Community College faculty would establish partnerships with key automotive manufacturers and dealerships launching electric hybrid vehicles to create a pipeline for electric vehicle technician training in the region. This training would take place at LCC’s West Campus in Delta Township, in Eaton County.
Recipient:
Lansing Community College
8100 A-Administration
PO Box 40010
Lansing, MI 48901
Hillsdale County
Bus and Bus Facilities, Hillsdale Dial-A-Ride
$400,200 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
This funding request is for the purchase of two medium duty buses, a new storage/maintenance facility, and computer software. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it would enhance and improve public transit services for residents in the City of Hillsdale.
Recipient:
Hillsdale Dial-A-Ride
97 North Broad Street
Hillsdale, MI 49242
The Manor Schoolhouse Construction Project
$750,000 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
The Manor is a 137 bed private, non-profit residential treatment and special education facility. The Manor is a unique facility in that it provides trauma sensitive treatment for developmentally disabled children with behavioral difficulties, ages 6-18 years, through a diverse treatment program combined with an on grounds special education program. This funding request will allow The Manor to construct a new schoolhouse for the youth it serves. The building The Manor currently uses as its school was originally built as a small single-family home over 50 years ago. Although the house has been modified several times over the decades in an effort to address requirements for classroom space, the building remains inadequate to meet the needs of faculty and students.
The Manor employs approximately 250 people in Hillsdale County, the county with the state’s highest unemployment rate (17.3% as of January 2009). This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will help retain those jobs, and will create an additional 80 construction jobs in the community.
Recipient:
The Manor
115 East Street
Jonesville, MI 49250
The Manor Children’s Safety and Security Updates Project
$250,000 - Commerce-Justice-Science
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will provide essential security and safety upgrades at The Manor, a 137 bed private, non-profit residential treatment and special education facility for developmentally disabled children with behavioral difficulties. This funding will allow The Manor to replace and/or upgrade security cameras, fire safety systems, and other equipment and technology, which in many cases are as much as 30 years old, in its residential, educational and administrative buildings.
The Manor employs approximately 250 people in Hillsdale County, the county with the state’s highest unemployment rate (17.3% as of January 2009). This project will help retain those jobs, and will create an additional 80 construction jobs in the community.
Recipient:
The Manor
115 East Street
Jonesville, MI 49250
Hillsdale County Public Health Dental Clinic
$400,000 - Labor Health and Human Services
This project is the construction of a Public Health Dental Clinic to serve citizens in Hillsdale and surrounding counties who do not currently have a dental health provider. (Approximately 47,500 people meet this definition.) This clinic will be located adjacent to the existing community health facility in Hillsdale.
The Public Health Dental Clinic would primarily serve children who live in southern, central Michigan and have Medicaid. Children and adults without Medicaid or dental health insurance would be eligible to receive services on a sliding fee schedule. No local dentists within Hillsdale County are currently accepting new Medicaid patients.
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the clinic would employ nine full-time and part time professional staff (dentists, hygienists, office staff). Additionally, 20-30 construction jobs would be necessary for the construction of this facility.
Recipient:
Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency
570 N. Marshall Road
Coldwater, MI 49036
Jackson County
Connected Vehicle Test Laboratory and Proving Grounds
$3,000,000 – Defense
The Connected Vehicle Test Laboratory and Proving Grounds will provide a “one stop shop” wireless testing laboratory and evaluation environment for developing and testing connected vehicle systems and applications that can be used for both: (1) Department of Defense systems and projects involving vehicular mobile wireless communications, and (2) Civilian telecommunications in areas such as intelligent transportation systems and active safety in vehicles.
This laboratory will support all stages of Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle to Roadside (V2R), and Vehicle to Wherever (V2X) products development lifecycle—from specification of requirements to interoperability testing, with feasibility and concept testing, alpha and beta testing, compliance testing, and product certification. This dual use, shared laboratory model provides the most economical approach for the National Guard, TARDEC, automotive companies, suppliers, and others to develop, test and evaluate advances in the vehicle-based wireless communications and connected vehicle technology. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the program is expected to create at least 25 jobs in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.
Recipients:
Michigan International Speedway
12626 U.S. 12
Brooklyn, Michigan 49230
In Public/Private Partnership with:
Connected Vehicle Proving Center/Center for Automotive Research
1000 Victors Way, Suite 200
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Bus and Bus Facilities, Jackson Transportation Authority
$600,000 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
This funding request is for the replacement of medium duty buses in the Jackson fleet that have exceeded their vehicle life. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it would allow Jackson Transportation Authority to improve its fixed route and demand-response transit services to residents in the City of Jackson and Jackson County.
Recipient:
Jackson Transportation Authority
2350 East High Street
Jackson, MI 49203
Cascades Environmental Restoration
$2,400,000 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
Cascades Park is a unique 465-acre multi-use open space near the center of Jackson County that abuts the Jackson city limits and attracts 300,000+ visitors annually. It features a lagoon system of ponds and canals built in 1932, and provides recreational, educational and environmental opportunities that are unique in the region, and that are enjoyed by both urban residents and rural visitors. Over the years sediment has built up and the waterways have deteriorated significantly. Now some canals are only a foot deep, and the ponds are as shallow as five feet. This project would provide for dredging of the canals to five feet and the ponds to ten feet to improve water quality and circulation, and restore the natural systems and value of this community centerpiece.
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the Jackson County Parks Department estimates that the dredging of Cascades’ ponds and canals would create approximately 20 jobs, and that the resulting improvements to Cascades Park would increase park usage sufficient to support an additional 24 permanent part-time jobs in recreational equipment rental and food service.
Recipient:
Jackson County Parks Department
1992 Warren Avenue
Jackson, MI 49203
Michigan Theatre Rehabilitation: Electrical, Plumbing & Heating
$568,000 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
Michigan Theatre of Jackson, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the restoration, operation and maintenance of the Michigan Theatre in downtown Jackson, which has been in operation since it was built in 1930, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its architectural significance. This project would provide for the renovation of the Michigan Theatre’s outdated plumbing ($68,000) and electrical systems ($375,000), and repair defective steam lines and valves ($125,000).
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the project would directly create an estimated 12 construction jobs in Jackson, where the unemployment rate is 12.1% as of January 2009. Michigan Theatre of Jackson, Inc estimates additionally that, upon completion of the entire renovation and restoration, the Theatre will add approximately 5 full-time jobs and 10 part-time jobs.
Recipient:
Michigan Theatre of Jackson, Inc.
124 Mechanic Street
Jackson MI 49201
South Central Michigan Red Cross Project Preparedness
$191,500 - Labor Health and Human Services
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will allow the South Central Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross to provide cutting edge training and equip its facility as a more complete disaster relief center. The funding will be spent to construct a garage for the secure storage of emergency response vehicles, purchase office and communication equipment, and complete the Chapter’s building renovation project to provide additional space for community blood drives and disaster response training. The South Central Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross is the only supplier of blood and disaster assistance in Jackson and Hillsdale counties.
Recipient:
South Central Michigan American Red Cross
3425 Francis Street
Jackson, Michigan 49203
Ella Sharp Road Construction and Building Improvements
$200,000 - Labor Health and Human Services
This project is for the preservation and restoration of the major historic resources at the City of Jackson’s Ella Sharp Museum. It includes the repaving of the original lane on the Merriman farm; relocating a school house on the property; and erecting a windmill replicating the one used on the farm circa 1900. This effort will recreate one of the region’s largest and most influential family farms to its condition during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the project will create 40-45 short term skilled trades jobs over a period spanning six to seven months.
Recipient:
Ella Sharp Museum Association
3225 Fourth Street
Jackson, MI 49203
Work Supports Through 2-1-1
$733,000 - Labor Health and Human Services
This project is the expansion of 2-1-1 services across the 7th Congressional District. With unemployment rates now between 12 and 17% in our region, more residents have found themselves in need of services they may have never imagined needing. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the United Way’s 2-1-1 system connects people with important services and work supports including job training, financial literacy, utility assistance, foreclosure prevention, child care, transportation, food assistance and more. Calls are free and answered anytime, day or night, by a professional information and referral specialists located in a Michigan 2-1-1 CallCenter. This request will allow 2-1-1 to meet the growing demand for 2-1-1 services in Jackson, Hillsdale, Washtenaw, Lenawee, Branch, Calhoun and Eaton counties.
The United Way estimates that this project will directly create an estimated 17 full-time positions in the operation of the 2-1-1 call centers, and aid thousands of workers in their efforts to find new and better jobs, and better job supports.
Recipient:
Michigan Association of United Ways
1627 Lake Lansing Road, Suite B
Lansing, MI 48912
Lenawee County
Automotive Research for Ultra Light Weight Transmissions
$3,350,000 – Defense
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the project will help protect our soldiers serving overseas by ensuring that their HMMWVs (Humvees) and other military vehicles have the engine power and fuel economy they need now that HMMWVs are heavier than ever due to the need for greater armor. The project completes the development and provides for Department of Defense field testing of the Ultra Light Weight Transmission (ULWT) for military vehicles.
ULWT hydraulic hybrid technology was developed based on input from the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), and it has both military and commercial vehicle applications. The ULWT is a weight neutral system that provides a significant increase in vehicle fuel economy, and a significant increase in torque, greatly improving acceleration and towing capabilities. In testing to date, the ULWT has demonstrated a 60% improvement in vehicle fuel economy for the HMMWV (Humvee) military vehicle. This project would allow the ULWT to reach Technology Readiness Level 8.0 and to incorporate the ability to select engine-off capabilities for operation with zero electro-magnetic emissions.
Hybra-Drive Systems currently creates more year-round jobs in Deerfield, Michigan, than any other company. With this project they plan to add 20 additional jobs in Deerfield in 2009 and more than 50 new jobs in 2010. The jobs are expected to be primarily well-paid engineering, skilled trades and managerial positions, with about ten of the jobs being entry level.
Recipient:
Hybra-Drive Systems LLC
420 Carey Street
P.O. Box 355
Deerfield, MI 49238
Portable Hand-Thrown Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)
$1,100,000 – Defense
This project will support the final prototype assembly and field testing of Ann Arbor Aircraft’s Portable Hand-Thrown Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), a light-weight, lower cost, easily-maintained low speed UAS. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the technology will protect military personnel on the ground by giving them the ability to conduct effective surveillance in dangerous areas without physically entering those areas. The Portable Hand-Thrown Unmanned Aerial System will meet the requirements for Tier I (surveillance) and Tier II (armed), and overcomes insufficiencies identified in hand-thrown UASs currently available for military purchase. The requested funding will advance this project from Tech Readiness Level (TRL) 5 to TRL 6. The United States Air Force (USAF) has requested to purchase 600 of these units once the unit qualifies as TRL 6.
Ann Arbor Aircraft is working closely with the Lenawee Economic Development Corporation on this project. To meet the USAF’s initial request for 600 hand thrown UAS units, Ann Arbor Aircraft would create approximately 15 new full-time jobs in Lenawee County, and envisions adding additional Michigan jobs to meet an estimated potential future demand for approximately 10,000 units.
Recipient:
Ann Arbor Aircraft LLC
(together with Lenawee Economic Development Corporation)
5285 West US-223, Suite A
Adrian, MI 49221
Siena Heights Center for Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
$1,000,000 – Homeland Security
This project is the development of a Center for Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (CHSEP) at Siena Heights University. This model program will merge homeland security and emergency preparedness education and training, including development of a well-focused program in Emergency Management in partnership with the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. The CHSEP will maintain educational partnerships with the Naval Postgraduate School, the Center for Homeland Defense & Security and the Homeland Security/Defense Education Consortium, as well as professional partnerships with the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, and other federal, state and local agencies.
This is a valuable use of taxpayer dollars because it will increase the safety and security of our citizens now and into the future, training Homeland Security professionals and providing for improved coordination of law enforcement and homeland security efforts. This funding request will allow Siena Heights University to secure the necessary technological resources for this Center; enhance the University's facilities to support Center operations; expand recruitment of practicing professionals to assist in the next levels of professional development; and support expanded opportunities for student-based research and training. The University expects to create approximately 20 jobs at its main campus in Adrian to staff the Center of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Recipient:
Siena Heights University
1247 E. Siena Heights Drive
Adrian, MI 49221
Siena Heights Nursing Initiative
$1,000,000 - Labor Health and Human Services
This project will expand Siena Heights’ nursing program by increasing its technological library and electronic student reference resources; supporting the recruitment and staffing components of the Bachelor of Science in nursing program; completing and equipping a Skills Learning Laboratory; and creating a distance learning classroom to educate more registered nurses across Michigan. In a statement released in March 2008, The Council on Physician and Nurse Supply determined that 30,000 additional nurses should be graduated annually to meet the nation's healthcare needs.
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the Nursing Initiative will create 40 nursing jobs annually at more than 30 health care facilities throughout Southeast and South-Central Michigan, including Bixby and Herrick Hospitals; Chelsea Community Hospital; Great Lakes Home Care; Hospice of Lenawee County; Lenawee Medical Care Facility; the Lenawee Board of Health; and Hillsdale Community Hospital.
Recipient:
Siena Heights University
1247 E. Siena Heights Drive
Adrian, MI 49221
Bus and Bus Facilities, Lenawee Transportation Corporation
$124,000 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
This funding request is for the purchase of one 29-foot lift-equipped diesel vehicle, replacement bus tires, and computer software for dispatch purposes. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will allow the Lenawee Transportation Corporation to enhance and improve its semi-fixed rural bus services and demand-response services for residents across Lenawee County.
Recipient:
Lenawee Transportation Corporation
100 East Church Street
Adrian, MI 49221
Bus and Bus Facilities, Adrian Dial-A-Ride
$81,500 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
This project is for the purchase of replacement bus tires, computer software for dispatch purposes, facility equipment, and replacement two-way mobile radios for their vehicles. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because it will enhance and improve Adrian's Dial-A-Ride program, which provides curb-to-curb service to the residents of the City of Adrian.
Recipient:
Adrian Dial-A-Ride
100 East Church Street
Adrian, MI 49221
Holy Cross Children's Services Clinton Campus Capital Improvements
$200,000 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
This project will provide renovations and needed upgrades to the residential facilities located at the Clinton Campus of Holy Cross Children's Services (HCCS). HCCS is a residential facility for youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who are temporary court wards, permanent court wards or permanent wards of the State of Michigan needing residential services. These improvements include upgrades to the living quarters for children residing on campus, roof repair and replacement, improvements to the educational and dining buildings, and improvements to the heating/HVAC services for several buildings.
HCCS employs over 120 individuals at the Clinton Campus, making it a significant employer in LenaweeCounty. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the project will help retain those 120 jobs and will create, through construction work, approximately 25 additional short-term positions.
Recipient:
Holy Cross Children's Services
8759 Clinton Macon Road
Clinton, MI 49236
Washtenaw County
Total Perimeter Surveillance
$2,000,000 – Defense
This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the project will help protect our military personnel from the threat of chemical or biological weapons. The project completes development of a Total Perimeter Surveillance (TPS) system for Department of Defense buildings, which uses a new infrared technology to identify and respond to threats from chemical or biological attacks. There are over 200 key Department of Defense facilities in the U.S. alone which currently lack perimeter monitoring capabilities for the presence of chemical and biological weapons. Passive infrared spectroscopy has been the standard technique for identifying chemical threats at a distance. However, FTIR-based systems are bulky, complex and maintenance intensive, and don’t perform well at sensing threats released close to the horizon. Instead, the TPS system would provide a networked array of unattended passive/near-passive infrared sensors to provide 360 degree detection and identification of threats with sufficient advanced warning to Department of Defense facilities to respond effectively.
Dexter Research Center has been in business in Dexter, Michigan, for 30 years, growing from 2 employees to over 70 today. Upon completion of this project and when Dexter Research Center would begin to produce, manufacture and sell these arrays, Dexter Research Center anticipates that it will add a new production line to its present facility and add 15 new jobs, including high level engineers, manufacturing, and sales, with the potential for more jobs as production expands into other commercial and industrial applications.
Recipient:
Dexter Research Center, Inc.
7300 Huron River Drive
Dexter, MI 48130
Shipboard Wireless Maintenance Assistant (SWMA) On Demand Information System
$5,000,000 – Defense
The Shipboard Wireless Maintenance Assistant (SWMA), a critical technology for the Navy’s Integrated Ship Control System, will help protect our Sailors and improve shipboard and ship-to-shore communications. The SWMA is a rugged handheld wireless device for providing critical on-demand logistics and maintenance information to shipboard and supporting Navy personnel. It allows information integration from multiple legacy software platforms to provide quick, responsive support tools to the hands-on logistics or maintenance provider while providing that individual the ability to “reach back” to senior technical support staff located on ship or in remote environments.
This technology is essential to enable the Navy to meet its objectives of improving readiness, ensuring operational effectiveness, improving Sailor productivity and reducing naval manning requirements. The SWMA also serves as a critical need platform for Expanded Maritime Interception Operations (EMIO) for anti-piracy actions, by providing data collection hardware and software in one portable platform. The SWMA works both in a wired and wireless configuration, providing capabilities that do not exist in the fleet today. SWMA is currently being validated through the Navy’s Trident Warrior evaluation deployment program.
Founded in 1989, Cybernet is a certified woman-owned small business comprised of engineers, scientists and skilled business professionals. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the funding will allow the SWMA to move into Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and to team with a manufacturer in Jackson County to begin manufacture of deployable units, creating 10 to 15 additional engineering jobs in Ann Arbor and an estimated 254 manufacturing jobs in Jackson, Michigan.
Recipient:
Cybernet Systems Corporation
727 Airport Blvd.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Tactical Athlete Cooling System (TACS) for Troops in Hot Environments and Fire Personnel
$1,000,000 – Defense
The Tactical Athlete Cooling System (TACS) is a portable “core-cooling” glove that will allow troops to avoid major health threats such as heat-related injury or loss of consciousness due to extreme heat. TACS is a non-invasive technique for effective manipulation of body core temperature. It extracts heat from blood circulating through subcutaneous vascular structures called “AVA’ structures in human hands and feet. It operates with and without vacuum and will allow the war fighter to maintain dexterity to perform manual tasks. A commercial variant of this technology is already being used domestically by firefighters and first responders. This project will provide for development, testing, and then procurement of tactical mobile (TACS) technology that meets Department of Defense specifications.
AVAcore Technologies is headquartered in ScioTownship (Ann Arbor), Michigan, and is a world leader in core cooling technology. This request is a good use of taxpayer dollars because the project would result in 8-10 full time positions in Dexter, plus an undetermined number of additional part-time assembly and manufacturing positions in the future.
Recipient:
AVAcore Technologies
333 Parkland Plaza Drive, Suite 700
Ann Arbor (Scio Twp), MI 48103
