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Hello,
I chatted with a resident in the community the other day, and, as he was leaving, he said to me, “Hey, I’ve got a question – are you related to Congressman Haadsma?”
“I know of him,” I answered.
To keep up to date with the happenings in Lansing, you can visit my website or follow me on Facebook @HouseJimH.
Legislative Updates
Haadsma Welcomes $25 Million Investment That Leads to 91 High-Wage Jobs in Battle Creek The Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) announced a business expansion with Cives Corp., a subsidiary of Viking-Cives. The project is expected to generate a total private investment of $25 million and create 91 high-wage jobs in Battle Creek with the support of a $755,300 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.
House Votes to Repeal Tampon Tax Teenage girls miss many hours of school each year due to “period poverty.” My colleagues and I voted to advance bipartisan legislation that would repeal sales taxes on tampons and other feminine hygiene products. Providing this needed financial relief will help address some of the learning losses that young girls face. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the bills into law this week.
State Budget Increases Road Funding By $129 million The state budget increases Michigan’s total transportation budget by $129 million, including $12 million for state roads, $53 million for local road agencies and $28 million for a local bridge program. The money will repair or replace 100 crumbling bridges.
Michigan State Police Will Get an 8 percent Funding Increase Under the New Budget $3.8 million for body cameras and support staff and $4.5 million for a professional development bureau that will oversee training on topics like mental health, cultural competency, communication and de-escalation to avoid violent encounters.
Events and ResourcesBack-to-Work Playbook Ready to get back to work but need some help preparing yourself? The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has resources to assist you. Information such as resume and cover letter tips, local job fairs in Calhoun County and apprenticeships can be found on their website.
Attorney General Dana Nessel and I Host Power Outage Roundtable On Oct. 25, state Attorney General Dana Nessel and I hosted a forum to discuss power outages in the area. Several concerned citizens participated to discuss the issue and what is being done to prevent them in the future. I want to thank the AG Nessel for coming to Battle Creek and everyone who participated for coming to the Full Blast Auditorium on a rainy Monday evening.
Weatherization Assistance Program The local Community Action Agency receives state grant funding for weatherizing people’s homes. Their weatherization program provides weatherization services to save energy and lower utility bills. Weatherization services may include free attic/wall insulation, caulking, refrigerator replacement, venting, weather-stripping, glass replacement, door repair/replacement, and minor roof and foundation repair. They’re always looking for new applicants to the program.
Coffee Hours with Me In-person coffee discussion hours are again held regularly on the first Saturday of each month. 9-11 a.m., at Mr. Don’s and 1-2:30 p.m., at Stirling Books and Brew. Please come to discuss state legislation, issues you’re having with the state government, or join me for some good conversation. I enjoy meeting and catching up with constituents (and I buy the coffee).
Mr. Dons: 341 N. 20th St. in Springfield Stirling Books and Brew: 119 N. Superior St. in Albion
News From the DistrictBattle Creek Seeks Community Input on $30.5 million in ARPA Funding The city of Battle Creek announced a series of upcoming town halls seeking community input on spending money from $30.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Upcoming scheduled town halls can be found on the city’s website.
Albion College Alumni Donate $1.2 Million for Renovations An alumni couple from Albion College donated $1.2 million to the school to improve its gym and other campus projects. Congrats, Albion!
I hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out. You can email me at any time at JimHaadsma@house.mi.gov or call my office at (517) 373-0555. Respectfully,
Jim Haadsma State Representative House District 62 |
