Michigan Unemployment Office Adds Staff, Increases Hours

Would Return to Work Grant Help Employers Fill Open Positions

The  National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is reporting that 44% of small business owners have job openings they can’t fill, and 92% of them report few or no qualified applicants are applying for their open positions.

Small business owners who attended a hearing of the House Government Operations Committee in Lansing in April, were concerned that increased unemployment benefits and the pandemic are continuing to keep people out of the work force.

Traditionally, those receiving unemployment benefits in the State of Michigan were required to prove they were searching for work. That requirement was lifted due to the pandemic, but representatives from the Unemployment Insurance Agency told the House Government Operations Committee that the requirement would be reinstated by the end of May.

NFIB Michigan State Director, Charlie Owens said the work search requirement would help employers as well as an incentive such as a “Return to Work Grant”.

“The return to work incentive would provide grants of $1,000 to workers who leave the unemployment system and return to work,” said Owens.

The incentive is included in House Bill 4420 which is currently making its way through the legislative process.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Golf Outing Supports Women Facing Breast Cancer

Port Huron, MI — Summer is just around the corner, and Lake Huron Medical Center is getting ready for its annual Pink Ribbon Golf Outing on Friday, June 25th. The event supports the Pink Ribbon Fund which provides advanced breast cancer screening and treatment for vulnerable women in the community.

The Pink Ribbon Golf Outing is an inclusive event for men and women with all levels of golf skills to gather in support of those facing a breast cancer diagnosis. The outing offers a nine-hole flight at 7:30 AM or an 18-hole flight at 11:30 AM, and golfers can register as individuals or as a team. Boxed meals are provided with each registration.

The deadline to register for the event is June 18th, and sponsorships are available for individuals or businesses who want to provide even more support to the Pink Ribbon Fund.

Register online <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

EGLE Publishes “State of the Great Lakes” Report

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has released the 2020 State of the Great Lakes Report. Some of the topics covered include Asian Carp, high water, algal blooms, and climate change.

EGLE Director Liesl Clark said, “While 2020 had its many challenges, our team didn’t lose its focus on the important work they do related to the health of our Great Lakes. From high water levels to coastal resiliency to testing wastewater for clues to COVID outbreaks to stopping Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, EGLE and its partners went to great lengths to protect our valuable water resources under trying circumstances.”

The St. Clair River is still listed as an area of concern due to “legacy contamination”, but is also listed as a reef-building success story as the sturgeon habitat has been restored after years of destruction from dredging.

Clark said that “EGLE remains committed to partnering on efforts that include protecting the Great Lakes, promoting equity for all residents and planning for the impacts of climate change.”

A link to the full report:

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/ogl/2020-State-of-the-Great-Lakes-Report_723597_7.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

CAER Donates to City of Sarnia

Sarnia, Ontario — Mobile Command Vehicles are used by police and other first responders to serve as a portable office space and equipment storage unit, and the Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) organization has just committed $200,000 toward new vehicles to the City of Sarnia.

CAER assisted the city with the purchase of their current Mobile Command Vehicle several decades ago, and this new investment ensures that first responders will be able to provide a coordinated response in the event of a future emergency.

The City of Sarnia has several unique public safety challenges due to the close proximity of many industrial facilities. CAER works together with the city and other organizations such as the Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment & Sustainability (BASES) to protect the area’s people and environment.

BASES provides information for the community about local safety issues on its website: lambtonbases.ca

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Imagination Library Receives Large Donation

Having books in the home has been proven to be an indicator of future educational success for children. The Imagination Library Fund of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County is the recipient of a major gift that will keep new books in the hands of young children in St. Clair County for years to come. The estate of Angelina O’Bar has donated $55,000 to the Imagination Library.

O’Bar was an educator who dedicated her career to early childhood education and a creator of the Growing Up Strong curriculum. She had ties to the Blue Water Area as a result of her extensive travels.

Jackie Hanton, Vice President of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County said, “When the Imagination Library Fund was created in 2018 it was for building long-term sustainability of the program. The endowment can be thought of as the gift that keeps on giving to allow local children the opportunity to receive one free book each month up until they turn 5 years old.”

The Imagination Library was founded by the entertainer, Dolly Parton and is administered locally by the St. Clair County RESA. Families who sign up for the Imagination Library will receive a free book for a child every month until the age of five.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Why Don’t You Want the COVID-19 Vaccine?

As leadership both federally and at the state level push for a vaccination rate of 70%, St. Clair County hovers around 44% with many walk-in vaccine clinics experiencing lower turnout than anticipated.

As your local news source, WGRT wants to hear from our listeners who may be reluctant or opposed to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. We are asking listeners to submit their vaccine questions and concerns by email to jessie@wgrt.com from now until May 24th.

We will address your concerns in special editions of LIMElight with Jessie over several weeks in interviews with Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer of the St. Clair County Health Department.

The interviews will be broadcast during the regular LIMElight showtimes of 12:20 & 6:20 PM, and they will also be available on our podcast platform and in video form through GBS Media.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand