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Local News

EDA Secures Grant Funding for New Building at Desmond Landing

Port Huron, MI — The St. Clair County EDA just received a $3.4 million grant to build a state-of-the art business center at Desmond Landing in Port Huron. The new EDA business Center will be a hub for existing businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups.

The Desmond Landing property offers waterfront views and easy access to the Blue Water River Walk, Wetlands County Park, and Downtown Port Huron businesses. The EDA Business Center will be built on Parcel A, which is located on the NE corner of Third Street and Griswold Street, just across from the Blue Water YMCA.

Donna Neister, CEO of Acheson Ventures LLC, said, “Dr. Acheson is very happy to support the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County and the  development of the new EDA Business Center to strengthen our region’s business climate. We anticipate the construction of EDA’s modern waterfront facility will also generate new interest in the  remaining parcels at Desmond Landing.”

Funding for the project comes from the $3.4 million U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic  Development Administration grant, $743,421 in local funds, and $101,680 in state funds. The project will cost an estimated $4.2 million.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, “I am grateful to our federal partners for investing in Michigan’s economy to create good-paying jobs in St. Clair County.  As we continue our economic jumpstart, we are laser-focused on investing in our families, communities, and small businesses to foster growth and recovery in all regions of our state. Today’s actions will utilize federal, local, state, and private funds to create good-paying jobs and grow emerging businesses in the Thumb, helping us usher in a new era of prosperity for Michigan.”

Dan Casey, CEO of the Economic Development  Alliance (EDA) of St. Clair County, said, “EDA of St. Clair County is very grateful to the Economic Development Administration and local  partners for this investment which allows us to create a game-changing, south side, entrepreneurial and economic development business center. We are surrounded by neighboring communities in  Macomb and Detroit, as well other communities such as Ann Arbor, whom have dramatically grown their region’s overall business climates through modern entrepreneurial facilities, trending technologies and advanced support services.”

Early Concept EDA Business Center by InFuz Architects + Innovators
Early Concept EDA Business Center by InFuz Architects + Innovators

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

 

Rural Hospitals Get Grants to Deal With COVID

Rural hospitals in Michigan are getting a boost in funding from the $13 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to support COVID-19 testing and mitigation.

Each hospital will get about a quarter of a million dollars to use within eighteen months of receiving the money. The money must be spent on testing equipment, personnel, temporary structures, or education. The mitigation strategies funded by the grants must be part of the Centers for Disease Control mitigation framework which includes education, contact tracing, communication, and outreach.

Several hospitals in Michigan’s Thumb received the grants, including hospitals in Deckerville, Harbor Beach, Marlette, Sandusky, and others.

John Barnas, Michigan Center for Rural Health executive director said, “Rural hospitals have long been the cornerstone of rural communities and have been vital and steadfast in their response to COVID-19.  This funding will benefit the communities greatly, allowing the hospitals to continue their diligent work in the battle against COVID-19 by increasing testing capacity and implementing mitigation strategies to reduce the effects of COVID-19.”  

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Nutrition Services to Continue with New School Year at PHS

Last week, Port Huron Schools Superintendent Theo Kerhoulas sent a letter to all families and staff in the district, explaining policies and procedures for the upcoming school year. School starts on September 7th.

Kerhoulas made special note of the way in which the district addressed nutrition over the last school year and how it will feed children in the district this year. He shared that the district served 1.8 million meals to students and families during the ongoing pandemic.

Breakfast and lunch are available to all students in the district, with no proof of income needed. All students in every school, from preschool to high school can eat up to two meals a day at school.

Those families who choose virtual school for their children can pick up five-day meal packs at Port Huron Northern High School or Port Huron High School on Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., except for the first week of school on which distribution will be on Tuesday.

The Food and Nutrition Department Staff will be recognized for their tireless work in feeding students during the Crosstown Showdown on October 8th.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Bridge Cards Won’t Work During System Upgrade Saturday Night

The Michigan Bridge Card System will be shutdown for an upgrade from approximately 11:30 PM Saturday August 28th – 9:30 AM Sunday, August 29th. EBT Bridge Cards will not work during that time.

Bridge Card Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards used for food assistance, cash assistance, and Women, Infant and Children (WIC) benefits will start working again after the upgrade on Sunday, August 29th at around 9:30 AM.

Nothing will change with the balance or benefits on Bridge Cards during the upgrade, and they should work as normal after the system, upgrade.

Those who rely on Bridge Cards for essential items, should schedule a shopping trip early Saturday before the system upgrade.

Beeler Tours Blue Water Bridge

State Rep. Andrew Beeler and several other state legislators on Tuesday toured the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.

“Port Huron is a hub of international commerce and travel, and the Blue Water Bridge plays a major role in that,” said Beeler, R-Port Huron. “The bridge powers our economy and symbolizes the dependable spirit that thrives in our community.”

The Blue Water Bridge, which opened in 1938, spans the St. Clair River between Port Huron and Sarnia, Ontario. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) oversees the bridge on the United States side of the border. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as with other points of entry, ensures that people and cargo crossing the border do so in compliance with federal law.

On the tour, Beeler heard about the daily operations at the bridge and how the COVID-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions have reduced traffic across the bridge.

“I am grateful to MDOT and the CBP for the opportunity to see their facilities and learn about their work to keep the bridge safe and our border secure,” Beeler said. “It was also great to hear about the upcoming plaza expansion, which will better facilitate commercial and recreational travel to Port Huron.”

A multi-year expansion of the customs plaza is currently being planned to make customs processing more efficient.

Submitted by Rep. Beeler’s Office

Congresswoman McClain Leads Letter to Biden on Afghanistan Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, penned a letter to President Biden, alongside Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Michael Waltz (R-FL) requesting the United States maintain a military presence in Afghanistan until every American citizen is safely evacuated from the country.

“It is imperative the Biden Administration ensures every single American citizen is able to safely evacuate Afghanistan before the military leaves the country,” said Rep. McClain. “The Taliban is becoming increasingly dangerous as the August 31st deadline gets closer. Americans and our allies are in grave danger if they’re not evacuated by the end of the month.”

“We are the United States of America and we leave no one behind – no matter how perilous the situation,” said Rep. Waltz. “We cannot succumb to conditions dictated by terrorists like the Taliban and allow them to tell us who can and cannot leave. We made a commitment to both our citizens and allies to get them out safely and this administration must utilize every option available for extraction.”

“President Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan has needlessly endangered countless lives,” Stefanik said. “I am proud to stand with Congresswoman McClain to hold Biden accountable for his disastrous actions on the world stage and to demand the protection of our citizens, allies, and the Afghan people. Lives are at stake.”

For a copy of the letter, click here.

The full text of the letter is below.

August 25, 2021
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Biden,

As we write to you, the situation in Afghanistan becomes ever more perilous. There are thousands of Americans and our allies trapped in a country that has fallen into the hands of the Taliban.

We as members of Congress have demanded from you, and your administration, for months your detailed plan for the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. Our requests have been either ignored or answered with vague platitudes and assurances that you were prepared for every contingency. On August 15th, the world was shown that your administration was in over its head. Now our own citizens and partners in Afghanistan are under the threat of torture and death from a barbaric, terrorist regime.

We are demanding that you take any and all necessary steps to protect our citizens, allies and the civilian population in the capitol city. We suggest you give careful consideration to either increasing the number of combat forces in the country, change the rules of engagement in Afghanistan to allow our forces to engage Taliban threats, or might we suggest you consult with Allyson Reneau on how best to navigate around the Taliban. Ms. Reneau, a 60-year-old Harvard graduate from Oklahoma, was able to fly into the region earlier this month and rescued 10 members of the all-girls robotics team in Afghanistan.

We are also requesting that you maintain a significant U.S. military presence in the country until every single American citizen is safely evacuated from Afghanistan.

This crisis was created by your failed leadership. You campaigned on being a competent operator in the arena of global affairs. Now prove it to this Congress, the American people, and the rest of the world.

Submitted by Congresswoman Lisa McClain’s Office