- Message from Mark
- BizClips: News updates
- Show Me the Money Day to provide free financial workshops and resources
- Macomb County launches public vote for ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ as part of Macomb Business Awards
- Finding your future workforce: A Fueling Talent webinar
- March is Severe Weather Awareness Month: Emergency Management gives the lowdown
- Center Line students visit Planning and Economic Development
- Service requests available through Macomb County Department of Roads
Message from Mark
Hello and welcome to the March issue of Focus Macomb. I had the pleasure of attending multiple events this month that highlighted all of the brilliant work and talent here in our school districts. Utica High School’s Law Enforcement program invited me to speak to a few classes to discuss my experiences working as the Macomb County Sheriff and on March 17, I was delighted to emcee the National Civics Bee competition in our area, hosted by the Chaldean Community Foundation and Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce.
I will also be attending the Macomb Automation Robotics Zone (MARZ) VIP tour today, where I and other community leaders will get a behind the scenes look at what it takes to build a competitive robotics team.
Here at the County, we encourage students to pursue their interest and talents through meaningful career exploration and opportunities, whether they’re in primary or secondary education. That’s why it was an honor to witness the first 21 graduates of the Macomb Community College Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) program walk across the stage last week and step into their new careers as skilled CNC machining and welding specialists.
Next, I want to shout out March as National Reading Month. On March 19, I stopped by the Flynn Educational Center and was invited to read a personal favorite of mine, Dragon Was Terrible by Kelly DiPucchio, to the amazing students from our Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD). I plan to read to two more classrooms before the month is over.
Each and every day, we are thinking of ways to give our students the tools they need to grow and succeed. Because when our students are successful, so are we.
Lastly, I want to acknowledge two county events focused on the mental and physical vitality of our communities.
Macomb County Department of Roads (MCDR) held a conference this past Thursday where I was able to highlight MCDR’s progress on improving Macomb County’s bridge conditions. Maintaining our roads and public infrastructure is an essential element in keeping Macomb County a great place to live, work and play; and so is mental health awareness.
Mental health impacts every corner of our lives, it's important to realize that we are not alone and that, together, we can build a strong and healthy community. That's why I am proud to mention Macomb County Community Mental Health's 3rd annual Mental Health Matters Awards. The event will recognize local mental health champions in five different categories. Individuals or organizations that have made exceptional contributions in their communities are encouraged to apply. Nominations are open now until April 21 and can be submitted here.
Thank you and take care,
Mark Hackel
For happenings throughout the county, visit Make Macomb Your Home events and stay up to date with the Make Macomb Your Home official Facebook page.
Show Me the Money Day to provide free financial workshops and resources
Macomb Community Action, in partnership with Michigan State University Extension and Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) are pleased to announce their annual 2025 Show Me the Money Day – Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Robert A. VerKuilen Building located at 21885 Dunham Road in Clinton Township.
All community members are welcome to participate in this free, in-person educational event that features free and low-cost financial assistance materials and financial literacy workshops. All workshops are intended to provide attendees real-world advice that will have a direct, positive effect on their personal finances. Financial workshops scheduled to be offered at this year’s event include:
- "Raising Money-Smart Kids"
- "Let's Talk Credit"
- Overview of Michigan Works!
- Home Buyer Education
- Food Budgeting and Meal Planning
- Overview of Macomb Community College
In addition, over 10 vendors will be on-hand to provide attendees information on a variety of personal finance topics.
For more information on Show Me the Money Day, please contact Macomb Community Action at (586) 469-7614.
An information flier on Show Me the Money Day can be found here.
Macomb County launches public vote for ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ as part of Macomb Business Awards
Macomb County Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) has once again launched its public vote as part of the Macomb Business Awards, which is presented by Consumers Energy. The event, which will be held Thursday, May 15 at the AMC Forum 30 in Sterling Heights, recognizes local businesses and organizations for their positive workplace culture, achievements and other contributions to the community.
A public vote component was created in 2024, and due to its success, MCPED has brought it back. Now through March 30, interested individuals can vote for their top nonprofit from a list of nominees. Those votes will be tallied alongside official judge scores to determine the winner of the Nonprofit of the Year Award, presented by Advancing Macomb.
“We launched the nonprofit category and the public vote in 2024 as a way to recognize all of the deserving organizations that contribute to the wellbeing of our community, and it grew into an incredible crowdsourcing effort, with hundreds of votes cast and lots of engagement around the topic,” said Vicky Rowinski, director, MCPED. “I’m certain this year will be no different, especially because we have the support of Advancing Macomb, which is generously sponsoring the award.”
20 organizations from across Macomb County are nominated for the Nonprofit of the Year and, now, the public can visit the voting platform and vote for their favorite. Only one vote is allowed per person. The ultimate winner will be announced on May 15 at the Macomb Business Awards event. Ticket sales begin March 31. Entry fee is $45, which includes breakfast, the awards ceremony, networking with 400 business and community leaders from across the region and appearances by County Executive Mark Hackel.
Other categories recognized during the event include:
- Best Place to Work
A company that fosters a positive and supportive work environment where employees feel valued, trusted and have an opportunity for growth. Additionally, this company should have a sense of purpose and go above and beyond to support its community. - Fueling the Talent Pipeline
A company creating opportunities for the next generation of our workforce through meaningful career exploration experiences. - Green Macomb Sustainability Award
An organization supporting workplace green practices, strengthening the economy, quality of life and the environment. Examples include lowering greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, incorporating reuse recycling practices, renewable energy technology, increasing local job opportunities in this sector and local production of goods. - Hidden Gem
A commercial business offering a unique Macomb County product, service or experience that deserves more recognition. - Manufacturer of the Year
A manufacturer achieving success through its use of modern, smart technology to adapt to industry demands and diversify its customer base. The company is innovative in both its processes and products. Manufacturers of all kinds are eligible, from automotive to food and beverage.
The 2025 Macomb Business Awards is sponsored by Consumers Energy, First State Bank, Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works!, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, OneMacomb, Connect Macomb, Macomb Community College, Advancing Macomb, the Macomb County Chamber, the Macomb Intermediate School District, JVIS, and SMART.
For more information, visit www.macombbusiness.com.
Finding your future workforce: A Fueling Talent webinar
Macomb County Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) is hosting a 'Finding Your Future Workforce' webinar on Tuesday, May 20 from 9 a.m.-10 a.m. The program will introduce MCPED's Fueling the Talent Pipeline initiative to interested organizations, demonstrate what involvement looks like and to showcase how participation can provide positive results for all involved.
In addition to workplace tours, job shadowing, internships and apprenticeships, some other options to connect business to students include:
- Co-teaching
- Co-ops
- Mentorships
- Career fairs or expos
- Classroom visits
The webinar will feature:
- Greg Windingland, Lombardo Homes
- Rich Boggio, The Academies of Romeo High School
- Vicky Rowinski, director, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development
- Jennifer Weot, senior outreach specialist, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development
- Students who benefited from the FTTP program
Organizations that are interested in hearing more are welcome to join. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.
March is Severe Weather Awareness Month: Emergency Management gives the lowdown
Original article by Brandon Lewis, director of Macomb County Emergency Management and Communications
It’s something that many residents of Southeast Michigan take for granted: that the outdoor weather warning sirens in their area will go off at 1:00 pm on the first Saturday of every month (in Macomb County, at least) and of course when a tornado is spotted in their area. But have you ever wondered who actually sets them off and why?
Here in Macomb, each local community owns and operates its own siren system. Additionally, all communities, except for Shelby Township and Warren, participate in a countywide activation protocol. Through this protocol, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch activates the sirens for the following reasons:
- A monthly test on the first Saturday of each month at 1:00 pm.
- A tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service for Macomb County.
- A tornado and/or funnel cloud has been verified in or very near Macomb County by a public safety professional or trained weather spotter.
- When the National Weather Service issues a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Macomb County that is forecast to include winds of 70MPH or greater. Shelby Township and Warren have similar activation policies.
Now, tornadoes you probably knew about, but why 70 MPH winds? Fun fact: winds with that velocity are classified as “considerable” by the National Weather Service, and can cause significant damage to structures, trees, and power lines; not to mention the potential for flying debris. In fact, some tornadoes with an EF-0 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which measures tornado intensity, have weaker winds than a severe thunderstorm warning with 70 MPH winds.
When the sirens go off, the message that public safety officials really want you to take away is this: dangerous winds are approaching, and if you are outdoors, take cover in a sturdy structure immediately, preferably on the lowest level in an area with no windows.
Outdoor warning sirens are intended to provide warning of imminent threats to those individuals engaging in outdoor activity. Depending on the model in use, the sirens produce approximately 100-115 dB of sound and can be heard from approximately 4,500-6,000 feet away.
Now that you’re in the know about when we activate our sirens, you might be wondering what exactly qualifies as a weather warning? For summer severe weather, the National Weather Service typically issues two varieties of weather alerts: Watches and Warnings. A couple of years ago, there was a meme that was widely overused, but that perfectly encapsulated the difference between a weather watch and a weather warning, using something most people love as a guide: tacos.
A Tornado or Severe Thunderstorm Watch means that the atmospheric ingredients (like temperature, humidity, or instability) are present for a tornado or severe thunderstorm to develop over the next several hours, usually 3-6 hours from issuance. A Tornado or Severe Thunderstorm Warning means that the ingredients have come together, the severe weather will occur shortly, and the public should take protective action immediately.
While sirens are an outdoor warning tool, there are weather radios that can be purchased for indoor use. Quality units cost $40-$50, and when set to the correct volume, they are easy to hear anywhere in your home, alerting you and providing details when a weather watch or warning is issued for your area. You can also listen for Wireless Emergency Alerts, which work similarly to Amber Alerts and can be used by authorities to alert you of the most severe weather events.
When you see or hear a severe weather watch for your area, it’s time to plan and prepare. When you see or hear a severe weather warning, it’s time to take action.
For more information on planning for severe weather or other emergencies in Macomb County, visit our Department of Emergency Management and Communications online at www.macombgov.org/emergencymanagement.
Center Line students visit Planning and Economic Development
On March 13, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) welcomed seven Center Line high school students for a job shadow opportunity to see how the marketing and communications team tackles county projects.
Upon arriving at the Macomb County administration building, the seven students were broken up into two groups and were encouraged to watch, learn and even assist the marketing team as they developed a marketing plan for the upcoming 2025 Macomb Business Awards nonprofit vote.
The 13th annual Macomb Business Awards, a ceremony that honors nominated organizations for their generosity, agility and innovation, is set for Thursday, May 15, and will host about 400 community and business leaders. Award winners will be chosen by a select group of judges in six categories. However, the Nonprofit of the Year award, presented by Advancing Macomb, will also give the public a chance to vote for their favorite nonprofit organization between March 24 through 30 to increase their chances of winning.
The visiting Center Line high schoolers worked hand in hand with Macomb County marketers and graphic designers as they mapped out a marketing strategy for the promotion of the nonprofit vote. Potential social media posts, emails and artwork were created, some of which were utilized in recent promotion materials.
Businesses interested in hosting a job shadow opportunity for Macomb County students can learn more at the Fueling the Talent Pipeline website.
Service requests available through Macomb County Department of Roads
Macomb County Department of Roads performs maintenance throughout the year and receives more than 10,000 service requests annually. To ensure service requests and public inquiries are addressed in a timely and effective manner and handled by the proper department, the most efficient way to report a concern to the Department of Roads is to submit a service request for road maintenance online at the service request submission page.
Include the road and cross streets to provide MCDR crews with the most accurate location possible. To best serve the entire county, there are four service centers strategically located throughout Macomb County in Clinton Township, New Haven, Shelby Township, and Washington Township.
Please note: Requests are sent to the nearest maintenance service center to review and manage the issue. Service requests are answered in the order in which they are received.
