February 8, 2024
Bi-Weekly Executive Newsletter
 Dear Friends,
Last week, we launched an initiative that will recognize and reward some truly remarkable young people across Oakland County.
The Acorn2Oak program will offer mini grants to students between the ages of 8 to 18 to pursue their passions, their talents, and their futures.
It was a kernel of an idea last year that was inspired by the work that kids were already doing across Oakland County. These are students who are excelling academically, making their communities better places to live and transforming their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
In Oakland County, we already have a well-established track record of helping small businesses recover, succeed and thrive, supporting our manufacturers and helping our older adults with improvements to the senior centers where they access resources enabling them to stay active and engaged.
And now we are turning our attention toward our ambitious and creative young people who are so generous with their time and talents. It’s time to celebrate the work this up-and-coming generation is doing.
These Acorn2Oak mini grants will help show our young people that we are confident and optimistic about their future. These outstanding young people are taking public service to heart, not just to add a bullet point to their resume or college application, but to lead, innovate and lend a genuine hand to people in need in their communities. I am so proud of the example they are setting.
With the approval of the Board of Commissioners, we have allocated $250,000 toward these grants that will be administered through Leadership Oakland, a highly-respected organization that has helped foster and train Oakland County’s future trailblazers.
In launching the program last week, we were joined by some amazing students, who are thinking about applying for one of the grants:
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Nyla Janae Johnson is a young author from Rochester, whose books chronicle an African American girl’s journey from daycare to full-time school. She really loves to skateboard, do tricks on her hoverboard and hang out with her friends. She published her first book at the age of 7 and her Nyla Chronicle series is sold in 250 Meijer stores. She also has a very successful dog-walking business.
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Robby Dicks, a 16-year-old from Farmington Hills taught himself how to sew and loves how fashion can make someone feel and be inspired. He has created award-winning designs for his school’s PTA Reflections’ contest and hopes to pursue a career in creating sustainable fashion.
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Logan Cobb of Southfield is only 14 years old but is an aspiring jewelry maker and Elizaveta Bruner of Lake Orion is committed to helping unhoused people in metro Detroit.
The future is bright not only for the kids who will pursue their passion with the help of an Acorn2Oak grant, but also for the extended Oakland County community who will benefit from their talent and leadership.
I can’t wait to see what their futures hold.
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With gratitude,
Dave Coulter
Oakland County Executive
Coulter: Oakland County and Michigan Win Big With R&D Tax Credits
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter recently announced his support of tax credits for research and development, saying they are essential to the attraction and retention of engineers, researchers, and technicians.
In her recent State of the State address, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said these tax credits - which passed the Michigan House of Representatives with bipartisan support - will “unleash innovation.” Coulter agrees.
“The R&D tax credits will indeed unleash innovation throughout Southeast Michigan, but especially here in Oakland County, and will be vital to the attraction and retention of engineering talent throughout our region,” Coulter said. “There is no question Oakland County, our region, and Michigan will reap great rewards when the R&D tax credits become law.”
Oakland County has more than 4,100 companies employing nearly 76,000 people in research and development, which places the county third in the United States for foreign direct investment.
Begin Building a Career with a Summer Job at Oakland County
The “O” in Oakland County stands for opportunity as the county begins accepting applications for summer jobs. These positions give college students and teens indispensable experience as they prepare for their adult careers.
“Making new friends and some hard-earned cash is a great way to spend the summer in Oakland County,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “This is an excellent chance to gain job skills and explore career paths for the future.”
County departments and divisions hiring summer employees and interns include Oakland County International Airport, Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center, Health Division, Parks, Sheriff’s Office, Circuit Court, and Water Resources Commissioner (WRC).
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