JULY 23, 2007

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today announced that the Escanaba branch office at 305 Ludington will be converted into a PLUS office at the end of the month, bringing enhanced services and convenience to customers.

The office will undergo some minor upgrades and open as the Delta County PLUS Office at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 30. No disruptions in customer service are expected during the conversion.

"Our customers have told us the types of services they want and we have listened," Land said. "Today's world is significantly different than 20 years ago and demands customer service that is flexible, convenient and efficient. As a result, we have developed a new breed of Secretary of State office tailored to meet the needs of the 21st century. I know area residents will enjoy their new Delta County PLUS Office."

Hours for the new office will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with expanded hours on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition to the expanded Wednesday hours, PLUS offices provide other benefits, such as payment by Discover credit card at the counter, Self-Service Stations for tab renewals, which the Delta County PLUS Office will receive in the near future, instant titles and the ability to purchase your own driving record on site.

The creation of the Delta County PLUS Office is part of the 2007 phase of Land's Branch Office Modernization Program. The goal is to provide customers with state-of-the-art services while containing expenditures. The program's emphasis on investing in people and services, and not "bricks and mortar," has allowed the Department of State to minimize costs by using existing facilities and materials whenever possible as well as preserve employee jobs.

The program was launched in April 2004 and resulted in the development of 23 PLUS offices and five SUPER!Centers. Customer satisfaction has consistently been high thanks to the modern, convenient services and enhanced efficiencies these offices provide. SUPER!Centers offer the same services as PLUS offices as well as Saturday hours and other features.

During the program's 2007 phase, which will be completed later this summer, eight PLUS offices and one SUPER!Center will be created. In 2008, three more PLUS offices are scheduled for development.

For more information about branch office locations and services, visit the Branch Office Locator at www.Michigan.gov/sos.