Be Counted Michigan March Newsletter Released

Be Counted Michigan 2020 E-Newsletter
—March 2, 2020—

Welcome to the Be Counted Michigan 2020 E-Newsletter to highlight events,
resources and other useful information!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIELD

As the 2020 U.S. census gears up nationwide, Grand Rapids residents will renew their role in the once-every-decade effort to get as complete a count as possible of how many residents are living in the city; and the nation by extension. “The importance really is about, ‘How does it affect me?’” emphasized Shannon Blackmon-Gardner, vice president of community impact at Heart of West Michigan United Way (HWMUW). “That’s the question that we’ve been getting asked from a lot of the residents in the community: ‘How does it affect me?’”

HWMUW is advancing its engagement with Grand Rapids residents about the census this year through taking on the responsibility of being the city’s first-ever Census Administrator Hub. With funding through Michigan Nonprofit Association, HWMUW is leading the effort of recruiting, organizing, and training local organizations, now totaling 18 in number, to be able to engage with those in their respective neighborhoods about how getting counted positively affects the lives of those in their neighborhood.

Read more here.

RESOURCES & INFORMATION

— U.S. Census Bureau

The Census Bureau has established the government’s first-ever “Trust & Safety” team to protect the 2020 count.  This team will be tasked with preventing the spread of fake, false and inaccurate information that could negatively impact the 2020 Census participation and response.  The Census Bureau strongly encourages individuals to report inaccurate, suspicious or fraudulent activities/information via email at rumors@census.gov; via social media accounts “@USCensusBureau”; or call the Census Bureau Customer Service Hotline at 1-800-923-8282.  For more information on the new Trust & Safety team, please visit the US Census Bureau website.
The Census Bureau provides information about how to spot and/or avoid scams and fraud.  That information can be found on the 2020 Census website.  The AARP also has information specifically for senior citizens about how to avoid Census scams and fraud. That information can be found on their website.

— U.S Census Bureau Video Guides

The Census Bureau has released Video Guides for completing the 2020 Census in more than a dozen languages including Khmer, American Sign Language, Romanian, Punjabi, Lao, and more!

— March Action Calendar & Resources
 
Click here for March action calendar resources, including sample Letters to the Editor and Talking Points for phone banking.

EVENTS

— Event (TODAY!)

What: State of Michigan Census Town Halls
Date: March 2 | 4:00 PM- 5:30 PM (ET)
Location: Second Ebenezer Church | 14601 Dequindre, Detroit, MI 48212
Details: The State of Michigan has launched a series of Census 2020 Town Halls with the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State.  For all the details about the state’s Census 2020 Town Halls, please visit the events page of the state Census 2020 website.



— Event

What: Michigan 2020 Census Town Hall
Date: March 2 | 4:00 PM- 5:30 PM (ET)
Location: Macomb Intermediate School District | 44001 Garfield Road, Room TBD, Clinton Township, MI 48038
Details: Please join us at the Michigan 2020 Census “Be Counted” Town Hall. This event will feature Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Michigan 2020 Census Director Kerry Ebersole Singh and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. 

Learn more and register here.


— Event

What: Census Workshop for Service Clubs
Date: March 4 | 5:30 PM (ET)
Location: Community Foundation for Muskegon County | 425 W Western Ave, Ste 200, Muskegon, Michigan 49440
Details: Please join us for a light dinner, followed by a workshop to learn strategies that will collectively engage our communities and ensure a successful Census count. The event is FREE and open to all Muskegon County service clubs, neighborhood associations, and anyone else interested.

For more information about the event, please contact Jocelyn Hines 231-332-4118 or Amy Moore 231-332-4138.

— Event

What: Census Social Hour: A Happy Hour for Detroit's Young Leaders PT 3
Date: March 4 | 5:30 PM- 7:00 PM (ET)
Location: The Block | 3919 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201
Details: Join Leaders from the City of Detroit for an informal discussion on one of the hottest issues in the City right now, the 2020 Census! Find out how YOU can play a part in Detroit's revitalization. The time is NOW Detroit! Light refreshments and appetizers will be provided.

Learn more and register here.
 
— Event

What: Be Counted! Census 2020 Town Hall
Date: March 5 | 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM (ET)
Location: Chaldean Community Foundation | 3601 15 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48310
Details: Speakers include the following: 

• Martin Manna, President and CEO, Chaldean Community Foundation

• Mayor Michael Taylor, Sterling Heights

• Chief Dale Dwojakowski, Sterling Heights Police Department

• John Paul Rea, Macomb County Deputy County Executive

Take a photo with our special guest, Sterling B. Mascot! All are welcome. Giveaways, snacks and refreshments will be available. For questions, contact Mirna at (586) 722-7253.

Learn more and register here.

— Event

What: City of Detroit Census 2020 Kick-Off
Date: March 14 | 11:00 AM (Doors Open at 10 AM)
Location:

Martin Luther King High School | 3200 E. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit 48207

Details: Join the City of Detroit Census Team and elected officials for a rally kicking off the 2020 census. You will be able to complete the census onsite and there will be raffles for those who do so. Volunteers will be able to pick up materials to distribute. 
 
— Event

What: Tigers Count! Benton Harbor Community Fun Day & Census Celebration
Date: April 18 | 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM (ET)
Location: Union Park | 1250 Union Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Details: This free event is open to the public and will feature games, food, raffles, prizes, face painting, and an inflatable bounce house. Laptops will be on-site, with volunteers helping those interested in completing their Census form. Those who complete their form will be entered in a drawing for prizes.

Learn more and register here.

IN THE NEWS

— Poll: Most Americans plan to participate in census (WBNS-10TV CBS)
 
— Census Bureau reaching Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders through music (WWLP-22News, NBC affiliate) 

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU JOBS

— The Census Bureau is ramping up its national recruiting efforts to hire up to 500,000 temporary,

  part-time census takers for the 2020 Census in communities across the country. The positions offer competitive pay, flexible hours, paid training, and weekly paychecks. Read more here.

As we know, the timely recruitment and hiring of enumerators who have cultural competency, necessary language skills, and are local to communities where they will be going door-to-door is a key strategy to combat fear in communities. Encouraging people within hard-to-count neighborhoods to work for the 2020 Census can help ensure people in these communities hear from trusted voices when an enumerator comes to their door. The Census Bureau has received authorization to hire work authorized bilingual noncitizens – mainly to be enumerators - where the Bureau is not able to find enough citizens with the necessary language skills.

To help with these efforts, you may find the 2020 Census Recruitment Toolkit here. Additionally, the Census Bureau released a new interactive map to help partners and job seekers identify areas where hiring is taking place.

 becountedmi2020.com | mivoicecounts.org

Spring weight restrictions on state roads expanding Monday in Lower Peninsula

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020
CONTACT: Dan Weingarten, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-250-4809
                      WeingartenD@Michigan.gov

Spring weight restrictions on state roads expanding
Monday in Lower Peninsula

February 28, 2020 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and local agencies are enacting additional annual spring weight restrictions to protect roads.

            Effective 6 a.m. Monday, March 2, weight restrictions will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways within the following area of Michigan:

            - Highways north of a line on M-43 in the city of South Haven east to US-131 in Kalamazoo County, then south to I-94 in Kalamazoo County and east to I-69 in Calhoun County, then north to Lansing and continuing east on I-69 to Port Huron in St. Clair County.

            - Highways south of a line on M-55 from the US-31 intersection in Manistee County east to M-66 in Missaukee County, then north on M-66 to M-55 in Missaukee County, then east on M-55 to the intersection of US-23 in Tawas in Iosco County.

            All state trunk lines between these two lines will have weight restrictions imposed and enforced. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations.

            In the restricted areas, the following will apply:

            - On routes designated as "all-season" (designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.

            - On routes designated as "seasonal" (designated in solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be a posted weight reduction of 25 percent for rigid (concrete) pavements and 35 percent for flexible (asphalt) pavements.

            - All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight-restricted area on the restricted routes. Single-trip permits will not be issued for any overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes.

            County road commissions and city public works departments put in place their own seasonal weight restrictions, which usually, but not always, coincide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which routes have weight restrictions in effect.

            For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787-8960, or you can access this information on MDOT's website at www.Michigan.gov/Truckers, under "Restrictions." All-season routes are designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map, which is available online. You also may sign up to receive e-mail alerts.

Trucking companies located in New Jersey and Canada can obtain information by calling 517-373-6256.

Annual spring weight restrictions start Monday to protect Michigan's roads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020
CONTACT: Dan Weingarten, MDOT Office of Communications, 906-250-4809
                      WeingartenD@Michigan.gov

  Annual spring weight restrictions
start Monday to protect Michigan's roads

February 21, 2020 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and local agencies are enacting spring weight restrictions, an annual move to protect roads.

            Effective 6 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, weight restrictions will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways within the following area of Michigan:

            - Highways north of a line on M-43 in the city of South Haven east to US-131 in Kalamazoo County, then south to I-94 in Kalamazoo County and east to I-69 in Calhoun County, then north to Lansing and continuing east on I-69 to Port Huron in St. Clair County.

            - Highways south of a line on M-46 in Muskegon County from US-31 Business Route in the city of Muskegon east to US-131, then north on US-131 to M-46 and east to I-75 near Saginaw, then north on I-75 to M-25 near Bay City and continuing east on M-25 to M-46 in Port Sanilac in Sanilac County, including the entire Thumb region. All state trunk lines between these two lines will have weight restrictions imposed and enforced. State routes typically carry M, I, or US designations.

            When roads that have been frozen all winter begin to thaw from the surface downward, melting snow and ice saturate the softened ground. During the spring thaw, the roadbed softened by trapped moisture beneath the pavement makes it more susceptible to damage. This also contributes to pothole problems already occurring due to this winter's numerous freeze-thaw cycles.

            In the restricted areas, the following will apply:

            - On routes designated as "all-season" (designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.

            - On routes designated as "seasonal" (designated in solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operators Map), there will be a posted weight reduction of 25 percent for rigid (concrete) pavements and 35 percent for flexible (asphalt) pavements.

            - All extended permits will be valid for oversize loads in the weight-restricted area on the restricted routes. Single-trip permits will not be issued for any overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width, 11 axles and 150 feet in overall length on the restricted routes.

            MDOT determines when weight restrictions begin each spring by measuring frost depths along state highways, observing road conditions, and monitoring weather forecasts. Weight restrictions remain in effect until the frost line is deep enough to allow moisture to escape and the roadbeds regain stability.

            County road commissions and city public works departments put in place their own seasonal weight restrictions, which usually, but not always, coincide with state highway weight restrictions. Signs are generally posted to indicate which routes have weight restrictions in effect.

            For weight restriction information and updates, call 800-787-8960, or you can access this information on MDOT's website at www.Michigan.gov/Truckers, under "Restrictions." All-season routes are designated in green and gold on the MDOT Truck Operators Map, which is available online. You also may sign up to receive e-mail alerts.

            Trucking companies located in New Jersey and Canada can obtain information by calling 517-373-6256.

State of Michigan Launches 2020 Census Website

LANSING – In preparation for the 2020 Census, the state of Michigan has launched a new website to provide information and resources to Michiganders.

Live as of Tuesday, Jan. 14, the website will be available throughout the census-taking season so residents can have their questions answered, keep up to date on the latest census news and obtain a better understanding about the importance of the census. The website includes a list of frequently asked questions and an interactive map of hard to reach areas, among other things.

To find more resources about the census or to get involved, go to www.michigan.gov/census2020.

The website is one piece of a larger effort to ensure that every Michigander is counted. In particular, the “Count Me In” campaign seeks to let Michigan residents know that responding to the census this year is convenient, confidential and critical to the future of our state.

Residents can fill out the census in multiple languages online, by phone or on a paper form. All answers are completely confidential.

By law, the data can be collected for statistical purposes only and cannot be used against a person. The Census Bureau cannot share or publish any household-specific census data, even to other government agencies.

Ensuring an accurate count of Michiganders is important because roughly $30 billion in federal funding for public safety, schools, housing, health care, and more, as w ell as one congressional seat, are at stake for Michigan.

The census count will shape Michigan’s social infrastructure for the next decade.

ICYMI: Applying for Rural Broadband Funding Through the USDA's ReConnect Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun taking applications for the second round of $550 million in ReConnect Program funding.  Connected Nation hosted a webinar February 5th to help local units understand how YOUR area can leverage this program to connect more homes and businesses. 

Officials explained how the ReConnect program works, answered questions about applying, and provided tips on how to improve your chances of being awarded funding.

A recording of the webinar is available to watch at your convenience here:

https://connectednation.org/blog/2020/02/06/webinar-the-usda-answers-your-questions-on-funding-for-rural-broadband/

In Student Housing, Off Campus or With Parents, College Students Count in 2020 Census

A freshman living on campus in student housing. A junior varsity athlete sharing an off-campus house with teammates. A senior living solo in an off-campus apartment.

Even though many residents of a typical American college town might move away after they graduate, they have to be counted while they live there. 

College towns across the country depend on students’ responses to the census. The reason: Census results help determine how much federal funding communities will receive over the next 10 years.

“Young college students may be going off on their own for the first time, and when they see a postcard or a census worker and are asked to take the census, they may not understand that they’re supposed to take it where they’re living.” 

— Evan Curtis, state planning coordinator and co-chair of the Utah Complete Count Committee

Read the full story here.

MATS Issues FY 2019 Annual Obligation Report

MIDLAND, Mi., December 17th, 2019- The Midland Area Transportation Study (MATS) has released its Annual Report, showing increased Federal funding obligated in the MATS area for Fiscal Year 2019, for roads and transit.  State and Local funds are included in the report for reference.  

The 2019 MATS Annual Report:

·         Shows that overall Federal investment in the MATS area is down significantly from FY 2018, returning to slightly below historical levels.

·         Federal funding decreased from 31 to 4.4 million dollars, with roads and bridges being the largest beneficiary, largely due to the completion of the new M-20 Bridge.

·         Overall transportation funding totaling $10.2 million was invested into the MATS area transportation network.

·         Transit obligations have returned to historical levels, at 1.5 million.  This is partially due to several new buses purchased by local Transit agencies.

According to MATS Director Maja Bolanowska, these obligations "are small MPO surface transportation, safety, rural roads, transit operating and transit capital funds.  They allow many projects to be completed each year. All these categories of funding represent federal gas tax revenues coming back to the local community”. 

The entire document can be found HERE.

Dial-A-Ride to Expand Saturday Bus Service Hours

November 25, 2019 – Dial-A-Ride, the City of Midland’s curb-to-curb demand response bus service, has announced an expansion to its Saturday bus service hours. Effective Saturday, December 7, Dial-A-Ride bus service will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Saturdays for rides within the Midland city limits.

The change, which will provide bus service one hour earlier than the previous 9 a.m. start time on Saturdays, comes in response to passenger requests for earlier Saturday ride times and will streamline start times for DART’s weekend bus service hours. DART provides bus service on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Phone service hours will remain unchanged and are as follows:

• Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Sunday, no phone service hours

For more information, please call Dial-A-Ride at 989-837-6940 or visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/dart.