Monthly Archives: August 2020

(August 5, 2020 10:22 AM) School districts in Michigan can compete for additional federal funding from a Michigan Department of Education-created education equity fund to help address the digital divide and to provide mental health services and supports for students and staff, the department announced today. “Additional funding from the federal government is crucial in closing the technology gap and ensuring our kids can receive a great public school education as we continue fighting COVID-19,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “This past school year, we learned how important it is to ensure students have the resources and support they need to continue learning from home. This federal funding will help ensure access to these resources, help our teachers easily reach their students at home, and help our students continue to learn and grow despite the crisis we’re facing.” Congress gave state education departments the discretion to target a small portion of the federal funds to specific areas of need, according to State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) opened its education equity fund grant application today with over $37 million from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and…

(August 4, 2020 7:24 PM) Community Action Agency is partnering in the Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) and has Rental Assistance currently available to residents of Jackson County.  Tenants and landlords will have an opportunity to negotiate settlement of rental amounts owed, repair issues, or other concerns raised in the eviction case. There is no cost or charge to the landlord or tenant for this program. The Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) provides tenants and landlords the opportunity to resolve eviction cases without the need for a trial before a Judge. All eviction cases may access mediation services. These services are provided by: Southeastern Dispute Resolution Services (SEDRS), Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM), Community Action Agency (CAA),  Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Rental Assistance is currently available through special funding from the State of Michigan. This funding is designated through Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and is designed to ensure that residents remain in their homes during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic. These special funds can only be used to pay rent owed for rental periods in March 2020 or later. There is no cost charged to the landlord or tenant for this service. If you…

(August 4, 2020 3:50 PM) Michigan reported 664 coronavirus (COVID-19) positive test cases today, with the state reported total now at 84,050. The State of Michigan is reporting 7* COVID-19-related deaths today, with the state total now at 6,219. *The deaths announced today includes 5 deaths identified during a Vital Records review. See cumulative data page for more information. State Cumulative Total of Recovered COVID-19 Cases (as of 7/31/2020): 60,022.  This information is updated daily at 3 p.m., with COVID-19 results included as of 10 a.m.