Michigan Business Beat | Director Phil Roos, EGLE News from This Michigan Department Spring 2024

Michigan Business Network

Chris Holman welcomes Director Phil Roos at EGLE, Lansing, MI. Phil, Remind the Michigan business community about EGLE? How is EGLE engaged with the business community? News from Mackinac Island included that EGLE is partnering with MSHDA and Gov. Whitmer, you made an announcement on the Island about the home energy rebate program? What are you hoping to see passed in the budget this year? Michigan increases housing goal and announces programs to lower home energy costs for 28,000 families, helping more Michiganders reach their dreams of owning a home LANSING, Mich.– At the Mackinac Policy Conference Wednesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced significant strides in housing and energy initiatives, continuing Michigan’s national leadership in leveraging climate and clean energy-related federal funding. This includes raising the state’s five-year housing production goal by over 50% and investing federal funds to lower energy costs for 28,000 low-income households through the Solar for All and Home Energy Rebate Programs. The initiatives will lower housing and utility costs for Michiganders and will put the state closer to achieving the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan. The initiatives will lower housing and utility costs for Michiganders and will put the state closer to achieving the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan. “Together, we’re going to lower housing and energy costs for Michiganders,” said Governor Whitmer. “By raising our statewide housing goal to 115,000 units, we will build more housing to drive down costs and ensure every Michigander has a safe, affordable place to call home. Thanks to our partners in the Biden-Harris administration, we have federal resources headed our way to lower energy costs for Michigan families by helping them upgrade to more energy efficient home appliances and install solar panels on their homes or in their community to save them money on their utilities. These upgrades will keep families cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and improve their quality of life. Let’s keep taking action to lower costs on housing and energy, two fundamental issues that make a real difference in people’s lives.” Governor Raises State's Five-Year Housing Production Goal by Over 50%  Since Governor Whitmer office, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has invested twice as much compared to the last administration to build, rehab, or finance 34,000 homes, supporting 20,000 jobs. At the 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference, the governor set a goal of permitting, building, or rehabbing 75,000 additional units in five years—by September 2026. Currently, Michigan is ahead of schedule with nearly 50,000 units built, rehabbed, or permitted. Today, the governor raised Michigan’s five-year statewide housing target to 115,000—a 53% increase. This pushes Michigan closer to the goal of ensuring everyone has access to the middle class, starting with homes and utilities they can afford. "We are celebrating our hard work in funding $1.23 billion to finance, build, and rehab thousands of homes in the last year while recognizing that we need to raise the bar higher to end the housing crisis for Michigan families," said Amy Hovey, CEO and Executive Director of MSHDA. "We're committed to listening to our local and regional partners, moving quickly with creative solutions, and working hard to make communities and neighborhoods better."  In addition to investing unprecedented new resources, MSHDA has been implementing the Statewide Housing Plan in partnership with the members of the Statewide Housing Partnership and the local and regional leaders of each of the Regional Housing Partnerships. That work has led to new investments from the state legislature, solutions that eliminate unnecessary burdens and red tape on developers and local governments, and collaboration in support of making neighborhoods and communities stronger.  www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/