My staff and I are still working diligently to assist constituents with their unemployment claims.

I can be most helpful if I have all of the information about your claim, so I created a form on my website for you to submit all of your concerns at once. Please share this link with anyone in the 33rd District who still needs help with UIA.

You can find the form by visiting my website or at: www.SenatorRickOutman.com/unemployment-assistance/.

As more and more schools in our communities are returning to in-person learning, I wanted to remind folks to be cautious and watch out for students coming from and going to school.

One of the most common safety concerns is students getting on and off the bus. This stems from a variety of causes but is largely due to other vehicles not following the law when it comes to school bus signals.

Some common tips offered by the Michigan State Police can be found below:

School bus safety tips for drivers:

If you drive your children to school, be sure to give bus drivers plenty of room, and be prepared to stop if you see flashing yellow lights. Flashing red lights mean one thing: Stop! Be sure to stay at least 20 feet from the bus and remain stopped until the lights turn off and the bus begins to move.

If your students ride the bus, take the time to make sure they know the proper safety procedures for getting on and off the bus. Make sure they stay clear of the roadway until the bus has come to a complete stop and the doors are open; never put their head, arms or hands out of the bus window; and when crossing the street, be sure they know to carefully look both ways.

Finally, when dropping your kids off, watch out for children in parking lots and crosswalks. School zones can be very congested in the dim, early morning hours, so it is important to exercise even more care than usual.

Safety plays a critical role in fostering a successful learning environment. Students, parents and school staff are already facing compounded difficulties during the pandemic, lets do our part to take some of that burden off of their shoulders.

I am pleased to join with the Michigan Strategic Fund in announcing a new project in the 33rd Senate District.

Downtown Alma will be receiving a $2.5 million total investment to revitalize the obsolete property at 313 N. State St. The current building will be transformed into nine residential units as well as commercial space that will contain a nine-room boutique hotel.

The redevelopment will serve as a catalyst for the city of Alma’s growth and improve walkability downtown. The hotel will also provide overnight accommodation for visitors to Alma College that is otherwise not available in the community.

I look forward to seeing this development being carried out and am excited for the final product.

An interactive Projects Map is also available on MEDC’s website should you have interest in other development projects throughout the state. It can be viewed by region, county or legislative district and filtered to make selections for the desired fiscal year and incentive type.

A news release with additional details about this project is available here.

An education beyond high school opens the door to many new opportunities. It’s never too late, and Michigan Reconnect can help you get there. Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship program that pays for eligible individuals to attend their local, in-district community college and offers a large tuition discount for those who attend an out-of-district community college.

Scholarships can be used to complete an associate degree or a skill certificate program. Eligible recipients must be at least 25 years old, have lived in Michigan for one year or more, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and have not yet completed a college degree.

For more information or to apply, visit www.michigan.gov/reconnect/.

Below is a list of resources available to you if you need any type of assistance. Additionally, you can contact my office at any time for more information.

My office recently announced four office hours meetings for the month of March.

I will be available to answer questions and provide information and assistance, as well as take suggestions on issues affecting communities and businesses in the district. No appointment is necessary.

If you plan to participate, please follow social distancing and other recommended guidelines.

For more information or to contact my office, please visit www.SenatorRickOutman.com or call 517-373-3760.

My upcoming office hours are as follows:

Friday, March 19
10 – 11 a.m.
Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce
210 South Lafayette St.
Greenville

Friday, March 19
1 – 2 p.m.
Gratiot Area Chamber of Commerce
110 W. Superior St.
Alma

Friday, March 26
10 – 11 a.m.
Joshua's House Education Center
508 E. Fifth St.
Clare

Friday, March 26
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce
113 W. Broadway, Suite 180
Mt. Pleasant

The 33rd state Senate District includes Clare, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, and Montcalm Counties.

Thank you for subscribing to my electronic newsletter! I am honored to represent you in the 33rd Senate District of Michigan. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Please feel free to forward this on to others who may be interested in receiving the 33rd District E-news. You may sign up for it also at my website.