USFL Announces Return of Michigan Panthers to Detroit

destination,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “This means we now have five major teams all playing downtown. welcome the Michigan Panthers and USFL fans to our city and look forward to the increased foot traffic these games will generate for out downtown businesses.

Michigan Panthers is set to begin season two when the team plays its first home game at Ford Field on Sunday April 30th. Officials are excited about firing up a news sports fan base that will provide important economic impact.

It was in 1983 when the Michigan Panthers won its first championship against the Philadelphia Stars. A rivalry that will ignite again when the Panthers host the Stars this season in Detroit.

Mayor Duggan’s Jump Start Initiative to Re-engage Long Term Unemployed Residents

program.

The City of Detroit has partnered with 18 community groups and activist organizations on a new program unlike any other in the U.S. that will help long-term unemployed residents get reengaged in the job market. The Jump Start program, which will open to enrollment starting next week, is being funded through American Rescue Plan Act dollars made possible by the Biden Administration.

Mayor Mike Duggan joined with other city officials and President Biden’s point person on the $1.9 trillion ARPA initiative to introduce leaders of the 18 In Detroit Organizations (IDOs) that were selected through a city procurement process.

The IDOs will be the city’s boots on the ground for enrolling long-term unemployed Detroiters in the mayor’s ARPA-funded Jump Start program. Each will be tasked with identifying residents from the neighborhoods they’re already doing work in and enrolling them in education or training programs. They will also coach and mentor each participant, monitor their progress and identify potential barriers to success throughout the program.

Participating IDOs also will be eligible for performance-based incentives of up to $2,200 per participant for each track of the program. As each IDO client reaches their milestones in the program, the IDO will receive a financial incentive.

“In the Jump Start Program, participants have a financial incentive to work hard and succeed, and so do the IDOs that are helping them along the way,” said Mayor Duggan. “We really believe that this approach will result in a lot of Detroiters who had stopped trying to find work getting onto a path to gainful employment that can sustain them. We are deeply appreciative to President Biden for create the ARPA program and making Jump Start possible.”

The innovative, results-driven nature of the Jump Start program and other ARPA-funded city programs brought President Biden’s top ARPA advisor, Gene Sperling, to Detroit to be a part of the announcement.

“Mayor Duggan’s Jump Start Initiative to put those who have faced long-term unemployment on a path to a strong, dignified job is a national model of how to deploy President Biden’s American Rescue Plan to address not only the immediate challenges created by the Pandemic but to ensure a more equitable recovery that leaves no one behind,” said Gene Sperling, American Rescue Plan Coordinator and Senior Advisor to the President. “The entire Detroit-At Work Adult Scholarship program is indeed one that President Biden has highlighted as one of the nation’s most innova- tive, pro-work strategies funded by the American Rescue Plan to build a larger, more skilled, and more inclusive workforce.”

Trusted Voices

A key ingredient in the Jump Start approach is partnering with organizations that already have community trust and already are doing similar work. IDOs will coach and mentor each participant, monitor their progress and identify potential barriers to success throughout the program.

“Knowing where to start when you’re ready to get into the job market can be hard, especially for people who have been out of the workforce for a while,” said Nicole Sherard-Freeman, who serves as the Mayor’s Group Executive for Jobs, Economy and Detroit at Work. “To be better at coming alongside our residents, we’re taking community-centered partnerships to the next level. A stronger, financially supported network of community-based grassroots organizations that have long-standing relationships deep in our neighborhoods is the next frontier in getting thousands of Detroiters on the road to a better job or a new career.”

How the financial incentives will work

Many of these grassroots organizations have been doing this work for years but will now have the opportunity to be paid based on the successes of their clients. The IDOs will be paid monthly by a third-party administrator as program participants reach milestones, up to $2200 per program each participant completes, for a total of up to $8800 per participant.

An example of this would be a person who is enrolled in a literacy program after failing an 8th grade reading test. The IDO would be paid $300 upon participant’s enrollment, another $300 when they complete the first six weeks of training, another $800 when the participant improves two grade levels in reading and another $800 once they have reached an 8th grade reading level. The participant can then move on to another program track.

Jump Start just one of many ARPA funded initiatives Each has unique edu- sonal needs; we will work with IDOs to make sure enrollees are on the best path to achieve success, whether they’re enrolled in a part-time or full-time

Jump Start is just one of nearly 100 ARPA-funded initiatives the City is undertaking after developing the plan through nearly 70 community input meetings. Through the Renew Detroit program, the City is also replacing old roofs on the homes of hundreds of low income seniors, doubling the number of grants it provides to Detroit entrepreneurs through Motor City Match, as well as investing tens of millions of ARPA dollars in public safety, parks and recreation, neighborhood beautification and more. A complete listing with the status of each project can be found at www.detroitmi.gov/arpa

Black History Month

are going.

Wayne RESA’s Superintendent Dr. Daveda Colbert issued the following statement in response to Governor Whitmer’s State of the State Address today, praising the Get MI Kids Back on Track plan and the desire to transition to a universal pre-K program over the coming four years.

“Tonight’s State of the State Address was welcome news for educators, students and parents across the state as Governor Whitmer laid out her plans to continue to strengthen Michigan’s education system. The Get MI Kids Back on Track plan would add a critical tool in the toolbox for educators as districts are focused on improving outcomes for students in Wayne County. By allocating additional funding to districts for tutoring and after-school programming, we can ensure schools and families have the resources they need to help students excel.”

Make It In Michigan

Whitmer also announced her Make it in Michigan plan to reinvigorate the state’s manufacturing and supply chain sectors by returning outsourced cutting-edge projects and jobs back home.

“Make it in Michigan proposes a sustainable funding source for our economic development efforts while growing talent, making our communities better places to live, and helping our state become a place where anyone can thrive,” said Whitmer.

She reminded the legislature that bipartisan collaboration has brought home $13.5 billion worth of projects, with nearly 13,000 jobs secured, and has continued to court national and international business leaders to continue investing in Michigan.

Repealing Abortion Ban And Safeguarding Civil Rights Protections

Whitmer applauded the works of voters and advocates across the state in reinforcing people’s right to make decisions about their own bodies in response to the historic SCOTUS decision last year to overturn Roe v. Wade. Taking it a step further, the governor called for repealing the 1931 law banning abortion and other policy measures that restrict access to reproductive health.

In addition, she called for expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976, which “prohibit(s) discriminatory practices policies, and customs in the exercise of those rights based upon religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status.”

“Protecting these freedoms is the right thing to do and it’s just good economics,” said Whitmer. “States with extreme laws are losing talent and investment because bigotry is bad for business.

Khalil-Lullah Whittaker Ballentine, 17, told the Michigan Chronicle that from his perspective, young people like himself are in the fight still, it is just not as easy to mobilize – but the passion and interest is still there.

He adds that it’s important for young people who might feel disillusioned and disheartened by the continued news of post-Floyd murders of Black people to remember where they came from and connect with their roots to know where they

We should build on our reputation as a welcoming beacon of opportunity where anyone can succeed.”

EDUCATION

Whitmer called for funding MI Kids Back on Track before spring break, to offer every child personalized learning support to get them back on track for long-term success. This would include expansive tutoring programs to help students master critical skills sets and information.

“When a child gets a great start, learns to read and graduates high school, they are on track to land a good-paying job or pursue higher education. Unfortunately, the last few years have disrupted regular learning patterns. In-class instruction alone is not enough— our children need more support to master the skills we know they need

“My mother intentionally raised me in African-centered environments, whether that was attending a ceremony held by the African Diaspora Ancestor Commemoration Institute, visiting the Charles Wright Museum for the African World Festival, or through being around Nsoroma Institute and D-Town Farm,” he said. “It’s through these experiences that I have become the person I am and look to become.” most,” said Whitmer. Public Safety and Gun Control Whitmer said since she’s been elected to office, the state has invested $1 billion in public safety and is committed to continue funding law enforcement “with better training, oversight and access to mental health resources.”

Megan Kirk contributed to this report.

She announced the launch of Operation Safe Neighborhoods with the focus on removing the flood of illegal firearms off the streets before a violent crime is committed. In addition, she called for enacting preventative measures such as universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders and safe storage laws.

To view the recording of Governor Whitmer’s entire 2023 State of the State Address, visit michigan.gov/whitmer/news/ state-of-the-state/2023 the document for public review and comment. The Consolidated Plan proposes an action strategy by which those needs will be addressed and the CAPER reflects activities undertaken between July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022. The annual action plans are funded by five formula programs covered in the Michigan Consolidated Plan (HOME, Community Development Block Grant, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDs, the Emergency Solutions Grant, and the Housing Trust Fund). The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) is responsible for preparing the Michigan CAPER and soliciting comments from the public regarding the outcomes tied to the plan on an annual basis.

The comment period will commence on February 2, 2023 and end on February 16, 2023. The primary focus will be to receive comments regarding the draft CAPER report.

Copies of the CAPER report may be downloaded free of charge from the MSHDA website at www.michigan.gov/mshda.

All interested parties are invited to submit written comments to the attention of Tonya Young, 735 East Michigan Avenue, P.O. Box 30044, Lansing, MI 48909.

Written comments must be received no later than February 16, 2023. Comments can also be submitted to the hidmailbox@michigan.gov attention MSHDA Consolidated Plan Coordinator.

Special Assistance: Feedback is encouraged from mobility-challenged individuals. Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation should contact Housing Initiatives at 517.335.2524 to request mobility, visual, hearing or other assistance.