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Local News

Sarnia Ninja Club Supports Local Businesses and Charities

The Sarnia Ninja Club has developed a way to support local businesses and charities while performing socially distanced gift giving. The club launched in early July and is holding a three-month fundraising campaign to support St. Joseph’s Hospice of Sarnia Lambton, The Inn of the Good Shepherd, and Noelle’s Gift.

Becoming a member of the Sarnia Ninja Club involves paying the $5 registration fee (which goes directly to one of the campaign charities), choosing which type of Ninja you would like to be, and anonymously delivering a gift to another Ninja Club member.

Gift Ninjas can choose from four categories of gifts to focus on: wine, craft beer, foodies, or kids. Participants must be 19 year old or supervised by an adult to register.

The Sarnia Ninja Club encourages club members to shop local and have fun with their gift giving. Many members have been dressing up when they drop off their gifts even thought the goal is to stealthily ring the doorbell, drop the gift, and run.

Everyone who registers will be entered into a drawing for prizes that will be distributed at the end of the campaign. To learn more, visit SarniaNinjaClub.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Grants Available to Small Farms to Secure Food Industry

Local farms with less than ten employees can sign up for grants to help protect their hired help from COVID-19 and keep the food supply chain running smoothly. The Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant program is now accepting applications.

The program is administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), who is using federal CARES Act funding. There is $1.25 million in grant money available, with $1000 available for each employee.

Farmers can use the money to pay for testing costs, PPE, facility needs, increased sanitation costs, employee training, and upgraded safety procedures. Mark A. Burton, CEO of MEDC said, “The MEDC Small Farm Safety Grant will allow us additional security in our food industry and provide much-needed relief to farmers across Michigan.” 

Michigan agriculture employs over 800,000 people, exports $1.8 billion of food and agriculture products, and contributes $104.7 billion to Michigan’s economy each year. Applications for the MEDC grants are available at michiganbusiness.org/agsafety and are processed by GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Looking for Michigan Businesses and Startups

Michigan — Entrepreneur and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation are looking for Michigan-based companies to be on a special episode of Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch. The show is a 60-second pitch competition for companies and startups with innovative business concepts.

Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch is open to companies or startups with scalable products and services that are ready for investment, and that have a specific plan for how that investment can help them grow their business. The top 5 companies out of those that apply will have a chance to pitch the show’s investors during a virtual filming of Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Season 6 in August 2020, with the episode airing in November 2020.

“Around the globe, Michigan is increasingly being recognized as the place to build, test, commercialize and scale the high-tech and mobility solutions driving the future,” said Josh Hundt, Executive Vice President & Chief Business Development Officer at the MEDC. “By partnering with Entrepreneur Magazine, we can provide a national platform for some of Michigan’s most innovative entrepreneurs and companies to share their business concepts and demonstrate that Michigan is the place where business gets done.”

Applications must be submitted by August 1st and require submitting a 60 second pitch video that includes why the business was launched, information on growth and revenue, and the amount of capital needed and what it will be used for.  Visit their website to apply <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Budget Leaders Agree to Plan for Balancing FY 2020 State Budget

Lansing, MI — Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Stamas, House Appropriations Chair Shane Hernandez and State Budget Director Chris Kolb on Tuesday announced they have reached an agreement on the details of a plan to balance the fiscal year 2020 state budget.

“Every budget is a statement of priorities,” said Stamas, R-Midland. “In the face of unprecedented and unforeseen challenges in 2020, this budget agreement is evidence of our shared commitment to schools, local governments and everyone affected by COVID-19. We’re all in this together.”

Building on the framework previously announced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield, the agreement will balance the state’s $2.2 billion budget shortfall through spending cuts, hiring freezes and using a portion of the state’s “rainy day fund.”

“This is a uniquely challenging time, but through leadership and collaboration, we have come a long way — and I am encouraged by this progress,” said Hernandez, R-Port Huron. “We have protected Michigan families and taxpayers through tough decision-making, smart planning and the use of already available resources.”

As part of the agreement, the state budget director will present an executive order to the House and Senate appropriations committees this week that reduces state spending. Most state agencies will see reductions, including the executive and legislative budgets.

The supplemental agreement will use federal COVID-19 relief funds and $350 million from the state’s rainy day fund to assist schools, local governments and others affected by the virus.

The bills will include:

  • $512 million to support schools;
  • $200 million to support universities and community colleges;
  • $150 million to local governments; and
  • $53 million for $500 in hazard pay to teachers.

“This is an agreement that protects our public schools, keeps our commitment to students and teachers across Michigan, and maintains necessary health care funding in the wake of COVID-19,” Kolb said. “The reductions we are making will get the current fiscal year into balance while still allowing us to support local government and maintain critical government services to our 10 million residents.”

Both the House and Senate are expected to act on the bills this week.

The budget leaders have committed to immediately beginning work on the fiscal year 2021 budget, which begins Oct. 1.

MHSAA Decides to Maintain Fall Schedule

The Michigan High School Athletic Association plans to keep the traditional schedule for fall sports, with the awareness that a contingency plan may need to come into play.

Acknowledging that the future is unknown, the MHSAA said “That contingency plan could mean that higher-risk sports would be postponed to later in the school year. If all Fall sports must be suspended, they will be rescheduled during a reconfigured calendar that would see Winter sports begin in November followed by the conclusion of Fall and Spring seasons potentially extending into July 2021.”

High-risk sports include football, girls’ volleyball, girls’ swimming & diving, and boys soccer because they include athletes in close contact or are played indoors. According to MHSAA, “Moving only selected Spring sports, like all low-risk to Fall, was not considered sound because it would force student-athletes to pick between sports they’ve previously played.”

The MHSAA Representative Council will meet again on July 29th. Football practices are scheduled to begin August 10th, with other sports following on August 12th.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Back to School Plans Released by Port Huron Schools

Port Huron, MI — Port Huron Schools’ “Return to School Advisory Committee” has released three plans. The use of each plan depends on which economic reopening phase the region is in, as determined by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Right now, the region is in Phase Four. If that remains, school buildings will be open and students will have face-to-face instruction with maximum precautions taken. Those precautions include spacing, restrictions on visitors to the school, and face coverings required for all staff and for students in grades 6-12. Specials and electives will be offered.

If the region moves into Phase Five, precautionary safety practices will be used, but face coverings will not be required.

If the region slips back into Phase Three, buildings will be closed and virtual instruction will be implemented. The meal distribution program will be restarted while extracurriculars and athletics will be suspended.

In all three phases, each student will receive a Chromebook and all students will use the Learning Management System to access course material. Families may choose free online instruction no matter what Plan is in effect for grades pre-K through grade 12. The first day of school is scheduled for August 24th.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland