Creating opportunities for our residents. That’s what Oakland County is all about. 

As I explained during my seventh annual State of the County address last night, collaborations are key to helping us create opportunities for people to succeed and for businesses to thrive. 

And during anxious times in our county, our state, our world, I’m proud that here in Oakland County, we lead by example through bipartisanship, partnerships and with the best interests of our residents top of mind. 

Here are a few examples of how we’re helping our residents address one of their top concerns – affordability: 

• Undue Medical Debt: Our collaboration with this non-profit allows for the purchase of uncollected debt from local healthcare providers for pennies on the dollar. It is helping us turn our $2 million investment into $9 million in medical debt elimination for more than 14,000 families. We’re sending letters to an additional 6,300 residents next week alerting them that $6 million more in debt has been settled. 

• SAVI Student Loan Support Program: Our modest investment in the program has helped 3,200 Oakland County residents or government employees struggling to pay their student loans to reduce or eliminate that debt burden. That’s putting buying power back into the pockets of our residents and hopefully helping keep them right here in Oakland County and Michigan. 

• Housing: Through a variety of public and private funding sources, including more than $20 million from Oakland County, more than 1,100 units of affordable housing is being built across the county, helping build the next generation of homeowners and a gateway to financial security. 

• Oakland Connects: This initiative is showing that the most effective services we can provide to our residents facing a crisis in their lives are programs that are easy to navigate. This is one of our holistic approaches to the overall well-being of our residents. We help point families to precisely the help they need, whether it’s to treat a medical problem or address the root cause of illnesses, whether it’s hunger, unemployment or homelessness. 

You see, all these programs – and so many more – are designed to help our residents and businesses get ahead, through coaching, referrals and a helping hand.  

So, the next time someone tells you we’re too polarized to get anything done, don’t argue with them. 

Bring them to Oakland County and show them what effective and collaborative leadership can accomplish. 

It’s easy to watch or read my State of the County address if you missed it Thursday night. Just go to oakgov.com/SOTC to catch up.