More than 600 agriculture jobs are expected to be available at a June 22 job fair being sponsored by Reps. Kevin Elsenheimer, Wayne Schmidt and Dan Scripps and Sens. Jason Allen and Michelle McManus who are teaming up with Northwest Michigan Works! and the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments to bring food-producing jobs to area residents.
“Michigan is going through tremendous changes economically and technologically, but one of the constants we can count on is the strength and vitality of our agricultural heritage,” said Elsenheimer, of Kewadin. “I’m encouraged that we will be able to connect potential employers and employees for jobs ranging from working on a potato farm to assisting with fruit processing through this job fair.”
The Agricultural Jobs Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 22 at the Park Place Hotel Dome.
“Agriculture is one of the few industries that is not only keeping jobs in Michigan, but adding more,” said Schmidt, of Traverse City. “This event is an opportunity for local producers to hire local workers who may not have been available in recent years.”
Allen, of Traverse City said: “The agriculture industry is not only from our soil, but on our soil, and it provides stable jobs that can’t be taken away from Michigan.”
Elsenheimer has been contacted by several residents from his House district whose unemployment benefits are ending and were searching for various methods to contact potential employers. After talking with area companies and Michigan Works! the idea of the job fair was developed, and Elsenheimer approached House and Senate colleagues with the idea.
“This is a great idea to help the farming and food production industry in Michigan continue to grow, and it also can lead to keeping food on local families’ tables through the jobs being offered,” said McManus, of Lake Leelanau.
Job providers interested in participating can contact Elsenheimer’s office at 1-877-536-4-105 or by e-mail at kevinelsenheimer@house.mi.gov.
“Putting people and jobs together is a top priority in this tough economy and I think the ag producers, Michigan Works! and other officials making this a possibility have found a proactive step to improving Michigan’s economy,” said Scripps, of Leland.
The Park Place Hotel is located at 300 East State St. in Traverse City. Residents interested in applying for a job should bring a resume if possible. Michigan Works! will also have staff on hand to meet with area residents.
In this Issue: ● FYI Notes ● Message to Fellow Lawmakers: The Priority is JOBS ● Reader Request: Business Success Stories ● Video Update ● Bi-Weekly Survey ● Michigan Website for Kids Available ● DNR Reminds Public to Leave Wildlife in the Wild ● Help Wanted: Visit the Michigan Talent Bank Website ● Free booklets available regarding underage drinking
Dear Friends,
I would like to keep you updated on what is happening in Lansing and how it affects us all in northern Michigan. Therefore, I will be sending bi-weekly e-newsletters containing a legislative update and other useful information. I hope that you will find this helpful, and if you have any questions or concerns, you will feel free to contact my office. Thank you for your time and interest in district events.
Kevin Elsenheimer State Representative 105th District
UPDATE -- MAY 29, 2009
FYI Notes
Tributes and Congratulatory Notes Looking for a unique way to commemorate a special occasion for a co-worker, friend or family member? My office is pleased to offer legislative tributes in honor of a number of noteworthy events such as retirement, anniversaries of businesses in our community, awards and public recognitions. To request an official state of Michigan tribute from my office, please visit www.gophouse.com/elsenheimer.htm, select "Recommend someone for a congratulatory certificate" and fill out the request form.
Coming to Lansing? As House Republican Leader, I receive invitations to countless legislative conferences and events. Please know my priority is you. If you plan to visit Lansing for a conference or meeting, please contact my office in advance so I can make every effort to meet with you while you are in town.
Message to Fellow Lawmakers: The Priority is JOBS As Michigan continues to lose jobs our unemployment staggers at 12.9%, almost one full percentage higher than the next closest state (Oregon at 12%). For 28 consecutive months, we have led the highest unemployment rate in the nation. Almost a half of a million people have left Michigan since 2002, equivalent to every resident in Michigan's second, third and fourth largest cities combined. More government, additional regulations, and increased taxation are driving people out of our state. It's clear that it is time for smaller government, fewer regulations and less taxation.
So in the last few weeks, you'll understand that I've been a bit flabbergasted by some of the legislation that has moved through the Legislature. We've voted on unnecessary regulation on children's toys (federal government already covers the issue) and an unemployment benefits hike which amounts to a tax increase on businesses.
We must act now to get the state's budget in order to do the things necessary to create jobs and move our state forward. Every day that we wait to act, the budget deficit grows and 1,000 more jobs are lost. I continue to focus my caucus and my voting around what we can do to protect and foster Michigan jobs, to restrict state spending to expenditures that reinvigorate Michigan's economy, reform government and reinvest in essential services.
Reader Request: Business Success Stories Do you know a business that is finding unique ways to survive in our tough economy or even grow? We are looking for the great success stories - the bright spots - in northern Michigan. E-mail your stories today to kevinelsenheimer@house.mi.gov.
Video Update
Bi-Weekly Survey Please click on the link below to answer a few questions on how you think we can cut our state government's wasteful spending.
Michigan Website for Kids Available Summer is almost here and that means one thing - soon enough the kids will be out of school. If you need a rainy day activity or have a kid who always asks 'why', I encourage a visit to www.michigan.gov/kids. This site provides great state history, fun projects, and games. It also has links to other great resources like the DNR Outdoor Explorers Club.
DNR Reminds Public to Leave Wildlife in the Wild As wildlife birthing season proceeds in the spring, it is not unusual for people to come across seemingly abandoned fawns or other baby critters. The first instinct many people have is to try and help. DNR wildlife personnel offer a word of advice: DON'T. The truth is, the animal doesn't need help.
It is not uncommon for doe, rabbits, ground-dwelling birds and other wildlife to leave their young unattended for up to 8 hours at a time. This is an anti-predator mechanism because it minimizes scent left around the newborn animals.
In the event that you know a deer or other animal has been orphaned early in the year, for example if the doe is dead nearby, call your local DNR office, which can refer you to a licensed rehabilitator. Licensed rehabilitators are trained to handle wild animals and know how to release them so that they can live in the wild.
Help Wanted: Visit the Michigan Talent Bank Website Michigan Works! provides access to more than 40,000 employers and 15,000 new job openings monthly at the Michigan Talent Bank website. As a job seeker, you can post your resume so more than 40,000 employers can find it. If you are an employer, search more than 600,000 resumes for the ideal candidate and post your jobs to let job seekers find you. Whether you are looking for a job or looking for employees, the Michigan Talent Bank is the place to go. Best of all, it’s free for all users!
Free Booklets Available Regarding Underage Drinking Since 2002, the Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association and the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals have teamed up and created Parents Unite to Prevent Underage Drinking - a free booklet parents can use as a valuable tool to speak to their children about underage drinking. More than 470,000 copies have been distributed. If you are interested in receiving a copy of this booklet, please contact my office at 877-536-4105.
As another 1,000 jobs were lost in Michigan today, state House Democrats again ignored the state's massive economic crisis and instead forced the chamber to vote on feel-good legislation that overregulates job providers.
Democrats today considered bills that place unnecessary regulations on children's toys. The federal government already oversees toy safety.
"House Democrats continue to bat 1,000, and it's a stat that will get them nowhere near the Hall of Fame," said House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer. "Michigan is losing an average of 1,000 jobs per day. In our opinion, the only legislation that would feel good right about now is anything that creates a job.
"Democrats continue to overregulate the state and disregard Michigan workers. Not only are Democrats ignoring our economy, they're taking active steps to make it worse with politically-charged bills that create even more regulations that will drive away more jobs and businesses."
Earlier this year, the Democrats' moratorium on clean, coal-fired electricity generating facilities led LS Power to cancel a planned facility in Midland, which cost the state 1,500 jobs. House Democrats also recently enacted bills to expand unemployment benefits, which will place a $60 million tax increase on job providers starting in 2011, and approved budget bills that allocated taxpayer dollars that don't exist.
Elsenheimer said there must be more urgency on the part of the Michigan House, especially with a Revenue Estimating Conference planned this Friday. Some analysts are predicting the state could have another $1 billion deficit.
"Safe toys is an important issue, but Michigan has a thousand other priorities right now, and there will be 1,000 more tomorrow," Elsenheimer said. "We must enact reforms that attract new jobs and investment to our state. That is our top priority; everything else comes in a distant second."
It's Monday and that means Michigan House Democrats are holding yet another publicity stunt (last time it was a 25-foot inflatable rubber duck) to draw attention away from the fact that for each day they refuse to take up meaningful reforms, the state loses another 1,000 jobs.
"The single most important issue in Michigan is jobs," said House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer. "For each day Democrats in the Legislature waste on budget-busting programs, Michigan loses another 1,000 jobs."
Elsenheimer welcomed House Democrats' willingness to address ways to save health-care costs -- reforms Republicans long have advocated for under Democrat control -- but added the Legislature needs to focus on revving up Michigan's economy and removing the barriers that keep businesses from investing and creating jobs.
The Republican leader added that recent legislative proposals from Democrats have raised taxes on job providers, increased state spending for 2010 in the face of an expected $1 billion-plus deficit, and used nearly all of federal stimulus money to fill holes in Michigan's current budget instead of stimulating the economy.
"Republicans proposed more than $500 million in cuts this year so we could use stimulus money to actually stimulate the economy and create jobs," Elsenheimer said, noting that more than $1 billion of stimulus funds will be used to balance the 2009 budget. "We cannot stimulate the economy when all we do is stimulate government spending.”
Elsenheimer said House Republicans have proposed substantial reforms -- which Democrats have so far blocked -- that would save money and create a more welcoming regulatory environment that will attract business development and jobs. Republican-led reforms being blocked by Democrats include:
Ending lifetime health benefits for legislators (House Bill 4080);
Fighting the governor's moratorium on clean-coal plants that has already cost 1,500 jobs and billions of dollars in investment in Midland;
State spending reform initiatives such as government transparency (House Bills 4043, 4121 and 4150); and
Eliminating unfair property tax increases as property values drop (House Bill 4135 and House Joint Resolution I).
Eliminating unfair property tax increases as property values drop (House Bill 4135 and House Joint Resolution I).
Senator Jason Allen and Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer are bringing state and regional experts to meet with community leaders in Central Lake on April 15 at 6:00 p.m.to discuss options and opportunities as northwest Michigan continues to grapple with a struggling economy.
The public meeting will be in the cafeteria of Central Lake High School, 8190 West State Street.
Tremendous economic difficulties are hitting area companies like Barnes Precision and Second Chance. Their workers and other local residents deserve as much information as possible, according to the lawmakers organizing the event.
"Transitions may be filled with opportunities, but they are extremely hard to navigate," said Allen, who chairs the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee. "There are no easy answers, but these experts can help workers and job providers strategize for the future as they attempt to rebuild their lives."
The free forum has invited representatives from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center, and Michigan Works. There will also be staffers from local family health centers and resource centers.
"Residents and community leaders can come to learn more about what resources are available," said Elsenheimer. "Individual workers and their families, as well as the community, region and state, all have a stake in establishing a direction that will lead to a better future for people in this area."
For more information about the meeting, contact Sen. Allen’s office at 1-866-525-5637 or Elsenheimer’s office at 1-877-536-4105.
Grad School:
Wayne State University '93
JD, Law
Undergraduate:
Michigan State '87
Pre-Law
Northwestern Michigan College '85
Associates Degree
High School:
Traverse City High School '83
