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In celebration of Oakland County’s bicentennial in 2020, the Board of Commissioners distributed 5,000 oak tree seedlings to more than 50 community partners. Recipients, including local cities, villages and school districts, received the seedlings on May 20 and 21. The Board partnered with the Oakland County Parks & Recreation Department, Oakland Schools and ReLeaf Michigan to execute this innovative project. Oak trees were chosen because they are intertwined with the county’s history and provide great ecological benefits for the region. For more information, read the full news release here.
Oakland County Executive David Coulter has named Robin Carter-Cooper, currently executive director of instructional equity for the Rochester Community Schools, as the county’s first chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer.
Carter-Cooper, a Flint native and Genesee County resident, begins her position with Oakland County on July 1 and will report directly to Coulter.
Coulter and the Board of Commissioners collaborated to create the position earlier this year. Coulter said more than 30 percent of Oakland County’s population is ethnically diverse and it is important county policies ensure its workforce reflects the county’s diversity and that county government is an active community partner in promoting diversity initiatives.
Carter-Cooper’s responsibilities will include:
- Cultivating a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive culture throughout the county’s internal and external community
- Establishing a process to achieve accountability and coordination of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts to drive positive change in all aspects of the county
- Creating an expansive and far reaching vision for diversity, equity and inclusion in Oakland County
- Fostering an environment of diversity, equity and inclusion that promotes open communication and collaboration across Oakland County communities, businesses and other organizations
- Fostering an environment that is highly focused on engaging county employees, community leaders, residents and business in diversity, equity and inclusion
- Creating a long-term diversity, equity and inclusion infrastructure needs internally and externally
Read more about Carter-Cooper in the full release.
Oakland County is offering free drive-through COVID-19 testing to all Oakland County residents 18 years of age and older. You do not have to have symptoms to get tested. First responders, essential business employees, returning employees or anyone with symptoms of the virus – fever, trouble breathing, persistent dry cough – as well as individuals over the age of 60 or with underlying health conditions, should schedule an appointment.
Please note that testing is done by appointment ONLY and same day appointments are not available. To schedule an appointment, call the Oakland County Health Division’s “Nurse on Call” hotline at 1-800-848-5533. More information about testing can be found at oakgov.com/covid.
Hours and locations are as follows:
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Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
27725 Greenfield Rd., Southfield
Oakland County Health Division Parking Lot
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Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac
Medical Examiners Facility (Bldg. 28E) Parking Lot
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Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
45175 W. 10 Mile Rd., Novi
Novi Civic Center Parking Lot
Oakland County is implementing new policies and procedures to ensure safety for visitors and workers as it plans a phased re-opening. Health monitoring, temperature checks and mandatory masks will be among the more visible safety policies instituted in all county buildings. Modifications have also been made in lobbies, waiting areas and other public spaces and offices to ensure social distancing protocols can be followed.
During the “Stay at Home” order, county government services were provided online through virtual appointments and with county employees equipped to telework. On May 26, the county began a phased return to onsite services. For more information about new policies and procedures at county buildings, and for county employees and visitors, please refer to Oakland County’s COVID-19 Safety Playbook.
More than 3,500 local small businesses seriously impacted by the pandemic have received or will receive grants from Oakland County’s $14 million Small Business Stabilization Fund:
- In April, 797 small businesses received support from a $2.3 million fund created by a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and a matching grant from the Board of Commissioners.
- At that time, the county also created the “Saving Businesses, Saving Lives” grant program to incentivize manufacturers who could transition to making PPE.
- After the initial fund was quickly exhausted, the Board unanimously approved an additional $12 million at their meeting on April 29.
The grants provide small businesses with an immediate infusion of capital to support payroll expenses, rent or mortgage payments, utility expenses and other business-related expenses. For more information, read the full news release here.
Oakland County is setting aside $30 million from its CARES Act funds to support local cities, townships and villages impacted by COVID-19. Each city, township and village in Oakland County will receive funds in proportion to its population with a cap.
The funds must be expended according to guidelines set by the U.S. Treasury, but there is a wide range of allowable expenses, including those related to public safety, staff overtime, PPE and safety protocols or equipment to prepare to safely re-open.The first round of disbursements will be made by the end of June, and two additional rounds are planned, likely for August and September. Expenses must be incurred prior to December 30, 2020. For more information, read the full news release here.
The County Executive and the Board of Commissioners announced $1 million in emergency grant assistance for Oakland County veterans, service members and eligible family members affected by the coronavirus. The Board approved the use of the grant funds at its meeting on May 20.
The grants, which are made up of $250,000 in emergency assistance from the state and $750,000 from the CARES Act, can be used for health, economic and financial hardships resulting from the pandemic. Grants will be awarded based on need. Full eligibility requirements and an online application are being developed and will be available soon. For more information, read the full news release here.
Last month, Oakland County Michigan Works! launched a series of virtual workshops for people impacted by the pandemic that are interested in exploring new career opportunities. The interactive online workshops replace the in-person ones previously available at service centers that were closed to visitors due to the pandemic.
The hour-long workshops cover a wide range of topics – including resume writing, interview tips, career transitions and more – and are hosted by trained career counselors. Workshops will run through early June with an expanded schedule planned. To review the updated schedule or register, please visit www.Oakland-County-Michigan-Works.Eventbrite.com.
On April 29, the Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution to form the Social Connectedness Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to identify solutions for reducing social isolation and loneliness among the county’s senior population. Seniors are uniquely vulnerable to social isolation and the risk is even higher in the conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to many physical and mental health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, anxiety and depression. The bipartisan task force will consist of three commissioners - Kristen Nelson (D-Waterford Township), who will serve as chair, Penny Luebs (D-Clawson) and Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake) - as well as experts from the community. For more information, read the full news release here.
The 2020 Census questionnaire is quick, easy, confidential and can be completed online at my2020census.gov.
Every response helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services. Results from the 2020 Census will also be used to determine the number of seats each state has in Congress and political representation at all levels of government. More information can be found at oakgov.com/census2020.
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