Congressman Mark Schauer is committed to getting results for the people of Lenawee County. Below is an overview of his efforts to bring jobs and investment to our area.
2009 Omnibus Funding
Under the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which Congressman Schauer voted to support, will receive federal funding. The bill includes $428,000 for the Siena Heights Nursing Initiative, $523,000 to upgrade facilities and equipment at Adrian College, and $95,000 for renovation of living quarters and classrooms at Holy Cross Children’s Services in Clinton.
Recovery Act: School Funding
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Congressman Schauer voted to support, Lenawee County school districts are expected to receive the following funding amounts:
- Addison: $104,576 Title I-A increase; $273,000 IDEA increase
- Adrian: $576,148 Title I-A increase; $1,107,000 IDEA increase
- Blissfield: $101,308 Title I-A increase; $298,000 IDEA increase
- Britton Macon: $32,026 Title I-A increase; $98,000 IDEA increase
- Clinton: $77,778 Title I-A increase; $242,000 IDEA increase
- Deerfield: $22,876 Title I-A increase; $78,000 IDEA increase
- Hudson: $139,955 Title I-A increase; $253,000 IDEA increase
- Madison: $126,320 Title I-A increase; $179,000 IDEA increase
- Morneci: $93,512 Title I-A increase; $192,000 IDEA increase
- Onsted: $105,230 Title I-A increase; $340,000 IDEA increase
- Sand Creek: $50,327 Title I-A increase; $161,000 IDEA increase
- Tecumseh: $148,367 Title I-A increase; $655,000 IDEA increase
Recovery Act: Public Safety Funding
As part of the Recovery Act, which Congressman Schauer voted to support, Lenawee County and the City of Adrian will receive $20,474 and $59,745 grants, respectively, through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. This funding will be used to help communities keep their neighborhoods safer with more police officers, prosecutors, and probation officers; more radios and equipment; more help for crime victims and more crime prevention programs for youth.
Recovery Act: Brownfield Grants
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Congressman Schauer voted to support, the Lenawee County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will receive a $200,000 assessment grant to conduct site assessment and planning for eventual cleanup of brownfield sites. By investing in our communities and cleaning up contaminated sites, we can create green jobs and offer a much-needed boost to our local economies.
2010 Appropriations Requests
As part of the 2010 Appropriations process, Mark requested the following projects for Lenawee County. To learn more about this process, and see a complete list of projects our office requested, click here.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
2010 Transportation Requests
On behalf of Lenawee County, Mark has made the following requests for funding in the 2010 surface transportation authorization bill:
Boysville of Michigan seeks funding to support the continued upgrade and replacement of the agency's fleet of vehicles to maintain compliance with federal and state safety guidelines. Funds sought will also support maintenance of the fleet.
Funding allows Boysville to continue to keep its fleet of vehicles, used to assist in the transportation of over 2,600 youth annually and approximately 1,000 weekly, upgraded and to completely eliminate the use of 15 passenger vans, which is mandated by federal and state requirements. Boysville will emphasize the purchase of fuel efficient hybrid vehicles whenever possible, making certain to identify all probable uses and assembling the fleet according to those projections (i.e. smaller fuel efficient vehicles for court transportation).
Requested amount is $1,920,000.
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Reconstruct or replace East Main Street Bridge in the City of Morenci, Michigan approximately 400 feet west of Weston Road, including engineering, plan, design, environmental review, right-of-way acquisition, and construction.
The economic impact of the structure is significant. Many businesses are located just east of the structure. With the majority of the city population living west of the bridge, the closure of the bridge would have a serious economic impact on those businesses. The condition of the bridge is hazardous and requires constant inspection and repair to insure the safety of those who use the facility. In April 2009, the bridge was posted at 15 tons fora one-unit truck, 17 tons fora two-unit truck, and 27 tons for a three-unit truck. If the structure were closed, the minimum alternative route available for local cars and pedestrians would be a three-mile detour using the local street system. To provide a detour for truck traffic, it would require a 23-mile detour.
Requested amount is $572,000.
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The redesign of Siena Heights Drive in Adrian, Michigan will do more to protect both pedestrians and vehicles. Overall road width will be reduced and on-street parking would be eliminated. The changes will allow for more clear and specific pedestrian crossings which result in efficiencies, and will permit the thoughtful construction of crossings that are attentive to needs of those in the community who are handicapped.
Immediately, the project will put local contractors and sub-contractors to work. Upon completion, the re-invented drive is believed to allow for increased success in recruiting and retention as is will create a cohesive and unified campus, which ultimately translates into increased faculty and staff jobs, which in turn help spur local spending. Re-adjusting the road width will visually assist in keeping speeds at posted speeds and allowing drivers to better understand that there exists heavy pedestrian use. The elimination of on-street parking will permit pedestrians to be viewed in plain sight when crossing the drive and increased, uniform lighting will allow for pedestrians to be seen at all times.
Requested amount is $907,176.
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Reconstruct Sutton Road from Rogers Highway East to Ridge Highway in Lenawee County, Michigan.
The completed road will improve response times of Fire Equipment and EMS to local residents. A smoother road will reduce further injury if the patient is being transported via ambulance for a spinal condition, and enable school buses to stop and load/unload the children in a safer manner. When completed this road will accommodate a greater amount of traffic, will decrease the amount of time it takes to traverse the section of road and reduce the risk of an accident. Re-classing this road to a primary road will increase truck traffic, bringing development to the area and increasing revenue to the area.
Requested amount is $844,800.
Green Schools Funding
Congressman Schauer voted in favor of legislation that will improve our public schools, create clean energy jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower energy costs for taxpayers. According to the House Education and Labor Committee, local school districts are expected to receive the following funding amounts for FY2010 under the House-passed bill:
- Addison, $79,000
- Adrian, $479,000
- Blissfield, $76,000
- Britton Macon, $24,000
- Clinton, $58,000
- Deerfield, $17,000
- Hudson, $117,000
- Madison, $100,000
- Morenci, $81,000
- Onsted, $79,000
- Sand Creek, $38,000
- Tecumseh, $112,000
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