Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced ambitious housing and energy initiatives at the Mackinac Policy Conference this year, increasing Michigan’s five-year housing production goal by 53% and securing federal funds to lower energy costs for 28,000 low-income households. The initiatives are part of the MI Healthy Climate Plan that aims to build 115,000 housing units and incorporate measures to drive energy efficiency, with the ultimate goals of making housing and utilities more affordable for Michiganders.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has already invested $1.23 billion to build and restore homes, creating 20,000 new jobs. The Governor also proclaimed that the state has received $367 million in federal funding to support the Michigan Solar for All initiative and the Home Energy Rebate programs. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will head the project to cut utility costs, install solar equipment on roofs, and decrease the costs of energy-efficient appliances. Together, these programs aim to reduce energy costs and promote renewable energy for low-income Michigan homes.

At the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson recently announced a new collaboration with the Detroit Regional Chamber and business leaders from across the state, which they’re calling Michigan Business United for Elections coalition. This nonpartisan group was created to educate citizens about their voting rights and encourage participation in elections. The coalition has committed to serving three key goals: (1) Partners will encourage their employees to volunteer to work the polls in August and November, (2) they will promote education around voting in a nonpartisan manner, and (3) they are guaranteeing that employees will have adequate time off to vote either on Election day or beforehand. This collaboration unites the state with Michigan businesses in efforts to support safe and secure elections.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced several appointments to various boards and commissions, showcasing our state’s diverse talent pool. Notable appointments are listed below. The complete list of new appointments is available at the Governor’s Press Releases.

¶Appointments Include:

Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission:

• Alison Dickson: Reappointed to represent physicians
• Alan G. Vanderberg: Reappointed to represent local government

Michigan Board of Speech Language Pathology:

• Dr. Denise Ludwig: Appointed to represent speech language pathologists (Succeeds Abaries Farhad)

Michigan Board of Licensed Midwifery:

• Angela Wells: Appointed to represent nurse midwives (Succeeds Geradine Simkins)

Michigan Board of Nursing Home Administrators:

• Alethea Nichols-Taylor and LaTosha Agee-Gussman: Appointed to represent the general public
• Dr. Mark DeLano: Appointed to represent licensed physicians
• Daniel Velez: Appointed to represent nursing homes (Succeeds Donald Haney)

Certificate of Need Commission:

• Dr. Amy McKenzie: Reappointed to represent a nonprofit health care corporation operating pursuant to the nonprofit health care corporation reform act and Independents
• Renee Turner-Bailey: Reappointed to represent organized labor unions and Democrats
• Dr. Eric Ferguson: Reappointed to represent physicians and Independents
• Dr. Mark DeLano: Appointed to represent licensed physicians and school of medicine and Democrats (Succeeds Justin Dimmick)
• Daniel Velez: Appointed to represent nursing homes and Independents

Michigan Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee:

• Kassem H. Elhelou and Rachael Prusi: Appointed to represent pharmacists