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Healthcare
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute released the fourth annual County Health Rankings on March 20. Nearly every county in the country is ranked on health outcomes (how healthy we are) and on health factors (how healthy we can be).
County Health Rankings is a "call to action" for communities to work together to develop policies and programs that help people lead healthier lives. Examples of specific measures used to calculate the Rankings include: adult smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol use, access to health care, rates of high school graduation, availability of healthy food, air pollution levels, unemployment rates and number of children living in poverty. This information helps counties see where they are doing well and where improvement is needed to ensure that every community is a healthy place to live, learn, work and play.
The focus of the Michigan Department of Community Health is to raise awareness of the County Health Rankings and to support action at the local community level in response to the County Health Rankings. On March 6, MDCH and key partnering organizations sponsored the Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health Legislative Breakfast to discuss how Michigan counties rank and encourage legislators to consider a health-in-all-policies approach when considering new legislation or policy decisions. MDCH is planning to award mini grants to select local health departments to support County Health Rankings activities in communities across Michigan.
Please take a moment to visit www.countyhealthrankings.org to see how your county ranks. Further, take a look at the various health outcomes and factors to see how the issues you're working on affect Michigan.
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Infrastructure
MDOT to invest $44 million in U.P. roads and bridges in 2013
Fast Facts:
- MDOT's Superior Region is responsible for maintaining 302 bridges and 1,830 miles of state trunkline.
- MDOT will improve 115 miles of roads and nine bridges in the Upper Peninsula in 2013.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) plans to invest $44 million in the Upper Peninsula this year, including $41 million to repair 115 miles of state highways, and $3.3 million to repair nine bridges.
"While working within available funding, MDOT remains committed to maintaining Michigan's transportation system," said Superior Region Engineer and Bureau Director of Field Services, Randy Van Portfliet. "Our 2013 construction program is geared toward preserving our roads and bridges, while improving safety for all users and supporting economic growth."
The MDOT Superior Region serves all 15 counties in the U.P.: Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, and Schoolcraft. Major state trunklines include I-75, US-41, US-45, US-2, M-26, M-35, M-95, M-117 and M-28. In all, MDOT is responsible for 1,830 miles of state highway and 302 bridges in the U.P. more->
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Education and Workforce Development
What's Happening JAG ?!!
Jobs for America's Graduates
College Preparation: To prep for ACTs, students learned test-taking strategies. JAG Members are also learning about transition to college and resources available through digital writing collaboration
During Q4, JAG will explore entrepreneurship. $250 in seed money will help take on a project selected by the students. Students will also complete Blazing Service, a customer service training, and participate in the 1st Annual UP JAG Career Development Conference where they will compete against other UP JAG students in team-building and employability events.
The Excellence in Education Dinner honoring area scholarship winners who won award based on highest GPA in 2013 graduating class includes NSA Grads (and JAG Members) Savannah Berthiaume and Derek Auston!!!!
JAG Mock Interviews:
To conclude their Interviewing unit, JAG Members participated in mock interviews. Students were prepped to arrive dressed for success, with resume in hand, and ready to interview.
Rick Sanville, CEO of Upper Peninsula Family Solutions, Jon Becker, Communications & Development Specialist with Superior Watershed Partnership, and Monica Nordeen, Outpatient Clinician/Therapist Pathways assisted with Mock Interviews.
The 3 professionals met with students prior to interviews and shared interview tips. They then acted as interviewers providing constructive feedback to students. Kyle Warras commented, "Wow, I'm glad we did that. I didn't realize I would be so nervous. I definitely feel more prepared for the real thing." A huge thank you to our interviewers for providing this experience for the JAG Members.
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| Greetings!
Please take a moment to review these updates from the UPWard Initiative.
Thanks to the many UPWard members along with others that have provided content for these updates. If you have information you would like to share with the group, please email it to me. Holly Peoples
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Tourism
May 22, 2013
Tourism and Professional Development Conference
What is this event?
The conference is organized by the UPWard Initiative Tourism Advisory Group and provides businesses an opportunity to:
- Sharpen professional and customer service skills by attending a variety of workshops.
- Showcase products and services at the community showcase and tradeshow.
- Network with potential customers and industry professionals by participating in the golf scramble and Business After Hours.
- Connect to community resources to discover new trends and development opportunities.
- Get useful information from keynote speakers and workshops.
- Understand more about ways to take advantage of the positive economic impact of tourism.
Click HERE to see coverage of last year's conference.
May 21, 2013
Golf scramble, sponsored by the Bays de Noc and Marquette County CVBs
May 22, 2013
Workshops, best practices roundtable discussion, keynotes, business and community showcase and Business After Hours, at the Island Resort and Casino.
For more information contact (906)786-2192
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Infrastructure
Nonprofit offering energy audits
By JACKIE STARK - The Mining Journal
MARQUETTE - Delta Green, a nonprofit energy services organization based in Marquette, will be conducting energy audits thanks to a state grant.
The company recently received a $20,000 grant through the Michigan Energy Office's Rebuild Michigan program, which will allow Delta Green to conduct audits for public and private non-residential utility customers across the Upper Peninsula.
"We consider ourselves global stewards," said Douglas Russell, executive director of Delta Green. "It is an added benefit, knowing that, if in fact we can help commercial customers use less energy, that means they're going to use less electricity. We'll burn less coal to have to provide the electricity. They'll use less natural gas ... We're looking at this program as an opportunity to prevent tons of pollution from entering the Great Lakes region."
Audits will include an analysis of 12 months of the customer's utility usage, as well as the identification of energy conservation measures and actions that will lead to energy savings. more->
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Business Growth and Development
Pushing for a 'micropolitan area'
Officials asked to support legislation
By Jenny Lancour - Daily Press
ESCANABA - Municipalities from Delta and Marquette counties are being asked to support legislation that could designate the region as a Michigan development district and spur economic development on a unified basis.
"If our area doesn't step up to compete... we're just going to be left behind," commented Marquette City Manager Bill Vajda during a meeting of area officials at Escanaba City Hall on Wednesday.
Officials from the two-county area are promoting passage of an amendment to designate at least one Next Michigan Development District in the Upper Peninsula.
Officials from throughout Delta and Marquette counties met Wednesday in Escanaba to discuss a resolution of support that may enable the region to become a Michigan development district, creating a unified approach to economic opportunity and growth. A similar meeting is taking place in Marquette on Monday.
Currently there are five such districts downstate that are eligible for economic development incentives like tax abatements.
Escanaba City Manager Jim O'Toole considers this designation as "Michigan's most powerful economic development tool."
Vajda and O'Toole have been working with their staff and other city, county and state officials to create legislation that would enable a region in the U.P. to become a development corporation to promote economic growth.
During Wednesday's joint noon meeting, participants were linked downstate via the Internet with Marty Fittante, spokesperson for Sen. Tom Casperson, and Kevin Korpi of Acuitas who has been working to promote economic development in Escanaba including its waterfront area. more->
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Natural Resources
DNR buys Au Train Basin parcels
By JOHN PEPIN - The Mining Journal
FOREST LAKE - Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh approved a $2.5 million land purchase Thursday for Alger County, which will acquire roughly 2,200 acres around the AuTrain Basin.
The purchase was funded through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and has been in development for more than five years. Creagh approved the purchase at Thursday's meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Saginaw.
The acquisition puts 1,626 acres of Upper Peninsula Power Co. land and 556 acres of U.P. Hydro property under state control. Significant features of the land to be acquired -for the purpose of wildlife habitat protection and public recreation- include the AuTrain Basin Waterfowl Refuge and the Forest Lake State Forest Campground, which the DNR previously was leasing.
The AuTrain Basin at Forest Lake is enjoyed by a variety of users ranging from anglers and hunters to boaters and birdwatchers. (Journal photo by John Pepin)
In 2007, $1.25 million was approved from the trust fund for an initial purchase phase with another $1.25 million allocated from the fund in 2010.
Several local entities recently reaffirmed their support the land purchase including the Alger County Fish and Game Alliance, which was instrumental in the endeavor from the beginning, the Alger County Chamber of Commerce and the Alger County Board.
"The AuTrain Basin historically has been a favorite for both Alger County citizens and tourists for hunting, fishing and camping," said Alger County Board Chairman Jerry Doucette. "These types of attractions also add to the economic stability of Alger County with the interest of using public lands by out-of-area sportsmen and women. This project has been ongoing for a number of years and our local citizenry will be pleased to know of its completion."
The acquisition includes parcels bordering other public lands, including seven miles of border with state forest, six miles of U.S. Forest Service land and six miles of DNR owned Kamehameha Forestland Group conservation easement. more->
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Click HERE for more about the UPWard Initiative.
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