Michigan Department of Labor & Economic GrowthAwards $399,982 to Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council
October 9, 2008 - The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) today announced the awarding of $399,982 in grant funds to the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council in Lansing to serve people with disabilities.
"We must invest in our citizens and their talents to meet the growing demands of Michigan's economy," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "These grants help those people with disabilities to be contributing members of our 21st century workforce."
The $399,982 in grants will enable the council to carry out its responsibilities for developing, monitoring and evaluating the State Plan for Independent Living. A primary purpose of the state plan is to maintain and expand services to people with disabilities through development of a statewide network of centers for independent living. Michigan’s network currently includes 15 designated centers
The centers are nonprofit, nonresidential organizations operated by and for people with disabilities. They use federal and state grant funds to provide information and assistance, independent living skills, peer support, individual advocacy, and systems advocacy for people with disabilities.
In total, more than $5 million in federal and state funds are being awarded to 17 entities throughout the state that promote independent living. The federal portion is funded under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The grants are issued by Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB), bureaus of DLEG that collaborate with agencies such as the Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council in a mutual goal of helping Michigan residents with disabilities live more independently and enter the workforce. MRS operates 36 offices throughout the state that provide job preparation and placement services for people with disabilities, and MCB operates eight offices throughout the state that provide vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to legally blind individuals.
The Department of Labor & Economic Growth is investing in Michigan's future by helping to create the jobs of today and tomorrow, ensuring that our children and adults have the skills these jobs demand, making Michigan a better place to do business, and training and placing those who need jobs now.
For more information about DLEG, visit the department’s website at www.michigan.gov/dleg. DLEG is an equal opportunity employer/program.
Applicant |
Amount |
Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (Ann Arbor) |
$870,897 |
Blue Water Center for Independent Living (Port Huron) |
330,206 |
Capital Area Center for Independent Living (Lansing) |
342,330 |
Community Connections of Southwest Michigan (Benton Harbor) |
243,556 |
Disability Advocates of Kent County (Grand Rapids) |
273,998 |
Disability Connection/West Michigan (Muskegon) |
280,165 |
disAbility Connections, Inc. (Jackson) |
249,616 |
Disability Network/Lakeshore (Holland) |
228,853 |
Disability Network/Michigan (Haslett) |
303,936 |
Disability Network/Mid Michigan (Midland) |
261,376 |
Disability Network/Northern Michigan (Traverse City) |
356,054 |
Disability Network/Oakland & Macomb (Clinton Township) |
411,602 |
Disability Network/Southwest Michigan (Kalamazoo) |
388,932 |
Disability Network/Wayne County-Detroit (Detroit) |
501,323 |
Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council (Lansing) |
399,982 |
Superior Alliance for Independent Living (Marquette) |
172,502 |
The Disability Network (Flint) |
312,783 |
TOTAL |
$5,928,111 |