Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I apologize if it was confusing at all for you folks to receive a part one and part two edition of the March e-news this month, but we wanted to get those community events out as soon as possible as we are now under a photo blackout period from March 17 through Nov. 3. This means that no photos containing any other person other than myself can be sent through mass communications by my office. As always, it is an honor to represent the residents of the 69th House District and Genesee County. The purpose of this e-newsletter is to keep you updated on my work in Lansing and around our community.

As some of you may know, I have an ongoing series on my substack, @jaspermartus, reflecting on the lessons we can learn from our nation’s history as we countdown to July 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary. My most recent article from last month, Generational Trauma, discusses the gap in progress between our Founders generation and the following generation of leaders and what we can learn from those struggles between today’s political generations. I invite you to join me on this journey and interact with these articles by posting a comment of your own thoughts and reaction to it, which I will be sure to respond to. Be on the lookout for my March edition later this month. 

In between these updates, I encourage you to please follow me on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, where myself and my office post frequent updates. You can also always get in touch with us, for the time being, through our website, office number, (517) 373-1786, and by email, [email protected].  

We are here to serve you,

State Rep. Martus drawn headshot over blue lettering that reads: Jaz

State Rep. Jasper Martus Signature

Jasper R. Martus

State Representative

69th House District

Office: (517)-373-1786

Email: [email protected]

 

 In this Edition:

  • Lansing Updates
  • In-District Event Updates
  • Resources

LANSING UPDATE

Update to My Office Communications

This year, Michigan House offices are limited in our ability to send mass communications 30 days prior to July 6 and Nov. 3. This includes mailers, text campaigns, social media ads and enews. We are also limited in what photo content we can share on those channels starting this month. As a result, our office will shift from monthly e-newsletter updates to quarterly e-newsletter updates after our April installment. 

As I stated in previous e-newsletters, we are still trying to increase our presence on social media to foster easier and more open communications with you in case you’re not able to make it to our in-person events. I will still be posting photos and videos of what I’m doing in and for our community on my social media pages. Please follow along on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for the latest!

I hope this update is clear as to how our communication will be changing. If you have any questions about our future office communications, please feel free to call my office number, (517) 373-1786, or email me at [email protected]. 

My Reaction to the Governor’s Final State of the State Address

It was  good for my colleagues and I to reflect on the legacy of the governor, especially the accomplishments we got across the finish line together, including expanding Michigan Reconnect, codifying Affordable Care Act protections in state law, quintupling the Earned Income Tax Credit, instituting gun violence prevention measures, updating the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act and so much more. Today, Michiganders are dealing with an affordability crisis in health care and housing. I was glad to hear the governor’s plans to take these issues seriously, and I am looking forward to working with her in the coming year to address them. As we continue to work on those issues this year and after the governor is out of office, I can say for sure that her impact and legacy here will be felt for generations to come. 

IN-DISTRICT EVENT UPDATE

Local Spotlight

For young people in our district who are thinking about what their future may hold, but are perhaps unsure what that might look like, the Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD) has launched their Beyond Graduation website for Genesee County residents aged 14-26. This site includes information for students who are just starting to think about their life post high school, are about to graduate and could use some help mapping that future out or young adults who are re-launching their career or college plans. There is something for everyone on the Beyond Graduation website. They have resources related to career planning, exploration and training along with college planning, with a guide and timeline for a journey that works for you. They also include resources on how to pay for college with resources about FAFSA, Genesee Opportunity and scholarship tips. They also have employment support services and information on skilled trades or apprenticeships as well as transition planning for those with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan. I encourage you to take advantage of this resource or share this resource with the young people in your life so that everyone in our district and Genesee County at large can feel a little more confident about their personal future plans.  

If you’ve ever had an idea for a business or are currently running one and running into issues of stagnation, but are unsure of how to get the capital needed to start or grow a business, one group that may be able to help is the team at the Funding Desk from Michigan Women Forward (MWF) who host free, one-on-one office hours for local entrepreneurs and small business owners at their Flint location (100K Ideas, 601 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502) every Thursday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Michigan Women Forward is a community development financial institution whose mission is to expand economic opportunity for women and entrepreneurs of color by providing access to capital and business resources. At their Funding Desk office hours, they offer personalized advice from MWF lending team experts who can help you learn how to raise capital and prepare for funding, strengthen your loan applications and financial strategy and have additional resources and programs designed to help you start or grow your business.

Recent Community Events

Thank you to those of you who showed up to my most recent coffee hour! I always appreciate getting to hear and connect with constituents. My favorite part of this job is getting out with the community, listening to my neighbors and friends, and hearing what issues matter to them. I’m hosting a series of coffee hours this year, and I invite you all to stop by any of them to express your thoughts on the issues that surround our community. My next coffee hour I will be hosting is on Friday, April 10 at the Clio Area Senior Center, 2136 W. Vienna Road, Clio, MI 48420 from  10 to 11 a.m.

If you haven’t got the chance to stop by at one yet, I hope to see you there soon!

 

RESOURCES

Below is a compiled list of federal, state and local information and resources that may be useful to you. 

State and Local Resources

State and Federal Government Contacts

Metropolitan District, City, Township and County Governments

 

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

I want to hear from you. What do you need? How can we help you? My office is here to assist you or answer any questions you may have. Please, reach out to me by phone at (517) 373-1786 or email at [email protected].