Capitol & Community Updates

Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to my monthly Capitol and Community Updates e-newsletter! As your state representative in the 102nd Michigan Legislature, I am happy to provide these regular updates on my legislative work. In this issue, you will find information on my upcoming events, a legislative update, news on funding coming to our district, grant opportunities, and resources for how my office can assist you!

Neighbors and friends in House District 103 are encouraged to also sign up for these updates at my website, RepCoffia.com. You can reach my office by phone at (517) 373-3817 or by email at BetsyCoffia@house.mi.gov. Be sure to check out the latest on my social media platforms as well. As this legislative session continues, I welcome your continued feedback and encourage you to reach out if my team and I can ever be of assistance to you!

In Service,

Betsy Coffia

State Representative

House District 103

Upcoming Events

Please join me for my upcoming coffee hours, where I will give a legislative update and take your questions about the issues facing our state and our community. These events are a great way to find out what policies I’m working on and to share your ideas and concerns with me!

My 2024 in-person coffee hours occur monthly in one of the three counties of the 103rd District — Grand Traverse, Benzie and Leelanau — on a rotating basis, with a virtual session later in the day. This month, my in-person coffee hour will be in Leelanau County!

June meeting information:

In-Person Coffee Hour

When: Monday, June 10, from noon to 1 p.m.

Where: Leelanau County Government Center

(8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682)

Virtual Coffee Hour

When: Monday, June 10, from 4-5 p.m.

Where: Zoom (Register here)

Legislative Update

This has been the most productive legislative term in years, if not in decades! The Legislature passed over 360 bills that have been signed into law so far, the vast majority with bipartisan support. It is my great honor to put the people of Michigan first by delivering on our promises, and I am ready to keep the momentum moving forward as this legislative term continues.

Michigan House Democrats have been hard at work to ensure the fiscal year 2024-25 budget invests locally, where it matters. Over the coming weeks, the governor’s team as well as the House and Senate will continue negotiations to come to consensus before the final budget is signed into law by the governor.

I recently had the honor of welcoming students from AP government teachers Paige Paul and Tak Ready’s classes at Traverse City West and Traverse City Central senior high schools to the state Capitol after I visited Mr. Ready’s classroom the previous week. My colleagues, state Sen. John Damoose, state Rep. John Roth and I did a Q&A with the students in the Capitol, and I had the chance to formally welcome and acknowledge the students from the House floor as they joined us from the House gallery.

On this same day, I was also honored to host our 2023-24 National Cherry Queen, Carmen Beemer. Together, we spoke with my fellow legislators to promote awareness of Michigan’s world-class cherry industry, and Carmen delivered Grand Traverse Pie Company cherry pies to House Speaker Joe Tate and slices of cherry pie to all our House and Senate colleagues. We were delighted to welcome and acknowledge Cherry Queen Carmen and National Cherry Festival Executive Director Kat Paye from the House floor. My resolution, HR 265, recognizing Cherry Industry Day in Michigan, was also adopted by the House. You can watch my floor speech here.

State Rep. Betsy Coffia on the House floor on May 22.

Additionally, my House colleagues state Reps. Erin Byrnes, Jason Morgan Julie Brixie and I recently co-authored an op-ed encouraging passage of the Bringing Reforms for Integrity, Transparency, and Ethics (BRITE) Act, a seven-bill bipartisan package we introduced in March 2024 during Sunshine Week. I am pleased the piece was recently published in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. My fellow bill sponsors and I continue to lead the charge for the Michigan Legislature to pass the BRITE Act and aim for a more transparent and accountable state government. The first hearing on two of the bills in the package took place on April 18 in the House Ethics and Oversight Committee, with Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as key participants testifying in support of the package.

In the district, I had the opportunity to connect with numerous constituents one-on-one and attend a number of community events. A few highlights — I was honored to join local physical therapists at their annual social event to discuss legislative opportunities we are considering in the Health Policy Committee to help them expand their health care operations to more patients.

I was also very moved by a handwritten letter by a Glen Lake Community Schools ninth-grade student inviting me to participate in a student-led Hike for Hope in Glen Arbor. I was pleased to join Glen Lake students to spread awareness for mental health needs. The hike was in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Tommy’s First Mates, a student-lead organization named in honor of a former Glen Lake student, Tommy Reay, who died by suicide in 2021.

Also in May, I participated in a legislative panel with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Northern Lower and Traverse Bay Area Traffic Safety Networks (TSN) discussing policies we’ve passed this term to promote traffic safety and how we can continue to improve public safety on our roads. The Michigan Legislature has enacted House Bills 4250-4252 to reduce distracted driving by requiring drivers to only use electronic devices in a hands-free capacity. Earlier this term, the House also passed House Bills 4132-4133, a bipartisan pair of bills that would allow MSP and MDOT to authorize the installation and use of an automated speed enforcement system in a work zone. The bills also require proper signage in such enforcement zones so that drivers are notified and include privacy protections. I also joined a town hall with local social workers late in the month to share a legislative update and get their thoughts and feedback on policy and budget decisions that impact their vital work with our community’s most vulnerable constituents.

Finally, while the weather unfortunately forced cancellation of the Memorial Day ceremony at the Traverse City Veterans Memorial Park, I was grateful to still join a small group of veterans, family and community members to commemorate a solemn day of remembrance and the playing of Taps. As the proud granddaughter of a World War II veteran and a Korean War veteran, I will never forget the sacrifices they and countless veterans and their families made to protect and defend our country, nor the sacrifices of the countless members of our Armed Forces who laid down their lives over the generations.

State Rep. Betsy Coffia attends a Memorial Day ceremony at Traverse City Veterans Memorial Park on May 27.

Additional Updates

• Life-Saving Legislation Signed into Law; NFL Donates 50 AEDs to Michigan schools
• Governor Whitmer Announces Bold New Housing and Energy Initiatives to Lower Costs for Michigan

As always, legislation I have sponsored or co-sponsored can be found here. Real-time updates on my legislative work can also be found here.

Funding Coming to the 103rd District

I am thrilled to share that our communities in Benzie, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties in the 103rd House District have recently been awarded the following federal or state grant and loan funding:

• Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau — $49,500: The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) approved this allocation of federal Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) funds to conduct community accessibility audits and to provide a more accessible experience to all users, increasing tourism and driving growth in Michigan’s economy.
• M-72 Infrastructure Upgrades — $175,000: MDOT has invested funding to build right-turn lanes for both directions of M-72 at the Williamsburg Road/Elk Lake Road intersection in Grand Traverse County. Adding the right-turn lanes will provide drivers more space outside of the through-traffic lanes to safely slow down before turning.
• Traverse City Fish Pass — $1,000,000: The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Dam Safety Unit has awarded this grant to replace the high-hazard, fair-to-poor-condition Union Street Dam with an enhanced structure that maintains a barrier to invasive species, allows for selective fish passage, provides improved hydraulic conveyance, and helps connect the river system.
• The Flats at Carriage Commons — $12,000,000: This loan was approved for a new construction project in Garfield Township, financed through Limited Obligation Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds. The development will have 48 family units with 16 accessible units, 21 units reserved for tenants at or below 70% of AMI, 19 units reserved for tenants at or below 60% of AMI and eight units will be reserved for tenants at or below 30% AMI.

Grant Funding Opportunities

Current federal and state grant and scholarship opportunities include:

• Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) will award grants for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the state’s supply chain. Those interested should apply directly through MDARD’s MiAgGrants Grants Management System by June 17.
• Community Energy Management Grant: EGLE has made funding available to local governments, tribal governments and other public-service entities for energy-related projects. Applications close June 30.
• Renewables Ready Communities Award: EGLE is establishing a new funding opportunity to award Michigan communities for hosting renewable energy projects. This adds to the existing value provided through tax revenue, community benefits opportunities, advancement of clean energy commitments and more. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until Sept. 30.
• MI Neighborhood Grant: Applications are now open for this grant through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to address the regional goals identified through the implementation of the Statewide Housing Plan. This grant is open to developers, nonprofits and units of local government, and applications will be accepted as long as funding is available.
• Wastewater Infrastructure Fund (WIF) Grant Program: This grant from MDARD aims to help the state’s food and agriculture businesses ensure compliance with Michigan’s environmental regulations. Applications will be accepted continually until funding is exhausted.

Double Up Food Bucks

For those who shop for groceries with a SNAP/Michigan Bridge Card, you can double your benefits to purchase fresh, Michigan-grown fruits and veggies using Double Up Food Bucks!

The program is available at 230+ participating farmers markets, farm stands, and grocery stores across Michigan. With farmers market season around the corner, it’s a great time to use the program! Learn how it works and find a participating location near you at DoubleUpFoodBucks.org.

Apply for State Boards and Commissions

As you may know, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer makes appointments to nearly 250 statewide boards and commissions. These appointments are opportunities for Michiganders to engage with their state government on the issues they care about and represent their expertise and communities at the state level. Vacancies can be viewed online. Each board listed includes the number of total members, number of vacant seats and specifications for each vacancy.

E-News Archives, Publications and Recognitions

My e-news archive is available on my website here.

State publications on various topics are also available here. Physical copies of any of these publications can also be mailed to you by emailing my office with your request!

Do you know someone in the district who is retiring and would like a legislative tribute to celebrate their years of service? Has a local team or group reached a milestone that they would like to be acknowledged with an official certificate for each member? Our office can provide legislative tributes, letters and certificates on a wide range of recognitions for constituents and local small businesses. If you would like to request any of these materials for yourself or others, please fill out this form or email my office at BetsyCoffia@house.mi.gov. Please provide as much information as possible, and we will work with you to arrange delivery or presentation of the recognition!