Choze Powell

First-time Home Buyers can now have tax-exempt savings accounts and deduct contributions from their taxes. A new law has been signed that would establish the Michigan First-Time Home Buyer Savings Program housed within the Department of Treasury.

On signing the bill, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, “Homeownership creates opportunity for Michigan families and sets a foundation for economic success.” 

The bill was met with praise from real estate industry leaders.  James Iodice, Michigan Realtors President, said, “This new law sets up the state’s first dedicated savings vehicle for a new home purchase. These accounts will help individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership, retain our talented college graduates, and promote financial literacy and smart savings.”

The law allows for tax exemption for accounts that are used to save for and purchase a single-family residence. Michigan home buyers can claim up to $5,000 for a single return and $10,000 for a joint return.

The average price for a single-family home is over $200,000 in Michigan.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

For businesses looking to recruit employees, there’s no need to look any further than downtown Port Huron. St. Clair County Community College is hosting an in-person Career Fair this spring and the time for employers to reserve their spot is now.

The Career Fair will be held on April 28th in the SC4 Fieldhouse. The popular event is part of a partnership between the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works!, the City of Port Huron/McMorran Place, and SC4’s TRIO Program.

Bonnie DiNardo, Executive Director of Community and Public Relations at SC4, said, “The Career Fair is a great opportunity for employers in our region to showcase their company, network with other employers, and above all, find the best candidates from our community’s rich talent pool.”

The annual Career Fair is expected to quickly reach capacity, so employers should sign up as soon as possible.

For registration details, go to the news section at WGRT.com.

https://sc4.edu/employment/career-fair/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center (BWROC) started its recovery support program in a local church and funded its mission with pop can drives. Just a few years later, the organization has its own bustling recovery center on 10th Street in Port Huron and is planning improvements with a $415,000 grant from the City of Port Huron.

The Port Huron City Council approved the funding at the end of January after City Manager James Freed reached out to Executive Director of BWROC Patrick Patterson and requested a proposal for how they could utilize funding from the city.

Freed said, “Programs that offer services to mitigate the effects of substance use disorder in our community are eligible for American Rescue Plan Funding.” The American Rescue Plan is President Biden’s plan to provide economic relief to families and communities affected by COVID-19.

Patrick Patterson, Executive Director for BWROC, presented the city council with a proposal that included building updates, technology upgrades, and funds the salary of two Recovery Coaches for the next three years.

Recovery Coaches for BWROC are all certified Peer Recovery Coaches and life coaches. They are in recovery themselves and must have at least 2 years of continuous sobriety. Recovery Coaches meet individually with those in recovery and provide guidance and support along with help navigating available resources in the community.

BWROC’s vision is to be the hub of recovery in the heart of the community, and their volunteers and staff make activities and community service a priority. According to their grant proposal, “Every dollar spent on drug treatment yields a return of 4 to 7 dollars because of reduced crime rates and reduced costs for the criminal justice system. If savings for the health care system are also included, total savings exceed a ratio of 12:1.”

According to Patterson, the grant to BWROC is the largest amount a Recovery Community Organization (RCO) has ever received from a municipality in the State of Michigan.

“People who dealt with this in silence now have a voice. We are honored the City supports the work we are doing and grateful to our City Council, Mayor Pauline Repp, City Manager James Freed and all the community leaders for coming behind us,” said Patterson.

To learn more about Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center, visit their website here:

https://www.bwroc.org/

Join me for a video visit to BWROC to learn more here: https://fb.watch/b5792_nOlM/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

 

The St. Clair County Drug Task Force released their drug crime map for 2021 which enables citizens to see where in the county illicit drug activity took place.

The map, available <HERE>, has a zoom feature that focuses in on streets and neighborhoods, allowing users to see drug activity in their neighborhoods. More information about the crimes is available, by clicking on the map markers.

Sheriff Mat King said, ““Even as the Covid-19 pandemic continued throughout last year, the Drug Task Force continued to bring drug dealers to justice. Getting drugs and weapons off the streets of our community helps to make St. Clair County a great place to visit, live and raise a family.”

King encourages citizens to help get drugs off the street by contacting the Drug Task Force if they notice illegal narcotic activity.

Anonymous tips can be left for law enforcement at (800) 243-DRUG

Submitted by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office

UPDATED 2/9/22 – 10:00 AM – The backup of trucks on eastbound I-69 and I-94 headed toward the Blue Water Bridge continues even though the Ambassador Bridge reopened Tuesday afternoon.

Traffic is currently backed up on I-94 just south of the Dove Road exit, and it slows down just west of Wadhams Road on I-69.

Wait times for commercial vehicles headed into Canada are reported to be 4 hours and 30 minutes as of 9:37 AM this morning.

Those who live in the area and commute to the Flint or Detroit areas are advised to take alternate routes until the situation resolves.

Sheriff Mat King said in a press release, “all eastbound on ramps to I-94 in St. Clair County are closed, as are eastbound on ramps to I-69 out to and including M-19. All off ramps remain open.”

UPDATED 2/8/22 – 12:29 PM – Backups at the Blue Water Bridge are causing significant traffic issues on east-bound I-94 and I-69. The on ramp to Blue Water Bridge from Pine Grove Avenue has been closed. There is currently a 1 hour 45 minute wait for commercial traffic headed into Canada and an 85 minute wait for commercial traffic headed into the U.S. on the Blue Water Bridge.

2/8/22 – 6:30 AM: A Canadian protest is showing signs of affecting travel in the Blue Water Area. The Ambassador Bridge in Detroit was closed last night, and Canadian Border Services advised travelers to reroute to the Blue Water Bridge. This morning, trucks are beginning to line I-94 and fill up area rest stops.

The protest is in response to vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers and started when unvaccinated truckers were refused entry to Canada. It began as a truck convoy on January 9th and moved to a demonstration in Ottawa that has been going on for almost 2 weeks.

A truck convoy lined up at the Ambassador Bridge on Monday night, and the bridge was closed to all traffic. It remains closed this morning, and it’s unclear how this will affect cross-border travel at the Blue Water Bridge.

At 6:30 AM this morning, wait times at the bridge were being reported as no delay for personal vehicles and a 15 minute wait for commercial vehicles, but commuters were observing trucks parked along the shoulder of I-94 and packing area rest stops.

Protestors insist they will not stop until COVID-19 mandates and restrictions are lifted.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand