ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Thursday was Honored Citizens Day at the U.P. State Fair, which usually includes a luncheon with Governor Gretchen Whitmer. With Whitmer unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II attended in her place.
Gilchrist primarily spoke to luncheon guests about the current administration’s accomplishments and goals for the year involving education and economic development.
“We want access to this dream of health and wealth for ourselves and our families and our neighbors and our communities and our friends,” he said. “We have to work together to make sure that we can lay that foundation.”
Gilchrist cited recent and ongoing efforts to do just that, including recent legislation aimed at closing funding gaps among schools.
“This has driven additional resources to our rural districts,” he said. “For example… $13,000 to Dickinson and Iron ISD and $11,000 to Copper County ISD. Specific resources so that the children in these communities can meet their milestones earlier, can have better supportive educational professionals working with them.”
Gilchrist also celebrated the continuation of free breakfasts and lunches at Michigan schools, as well as this year’s “Community College Guarantee” of free community college for high school graduates.
“The median age for a community college student in the state of Michigan is 29 years old,” the Lieutenant Governor said. “That means that people who are at every chapter and every station in life are going to benefit from these educational opportunities.”
Gilchrist then turned his focus to economic growth. He highlighted one initiative he says makes it easier for parents of young children to stay in the workforce.
“We have helped to support 27 new childcare facilities that will make it so that more parents can be productive in the U.P.,” he said. “591 children will be able to actually have daycare that they can afford.”
Another priority for Gilchrist is continuing to expand internet access throughout Michigan. He praised Highline’s efforts to install high-speed fiber optic networks across the U.P.
He also thanked State Representative Jenn Hill for her work in securing funding for major projects across the U.P.
“The Munising Hospital, the Ironwood Ski Jump, the Marquette Regional History Center,” Gilchrist listed. “Flood and weather disaster recovery in Baraga and Marquette Counties, emergency equipment in Chocolay Township, and so much more.”
Gilchrist concluded his luncheon speech by thanking the Upper Peninsula for its leadership in moving the state of Michigan into the future.
“I know what we are capable of when we work together, when we do not take no for an answer, when we say that no problem is too difficult for us to step up, stand tall, and overcome,” he said.
Afterward, Gilchrist answered several questions submitted by attendees. One topic, which he said he hears about from constituents in every community he visits, was the lack of affordable housing.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a wealthy community or a community of people that are fighting poverty every day—there’s an affordability and accessibility challenge,” said Gilchrist. “I’m really proud though that in the last two years—really in the last four—the state of Michigan has made an unprecedented commitment to investing and addressing our housing shortage… For example, our Housing Trust Fund. We, for the first time in basically 60 years, have actually put money into that resource on a consistent basis to the tune of $250 million… Michigan is now committing $50 million every single budget year to addressing affordable housing.”
Finally, Gilchrist expressed his excitement to be at the U.P. State Fair for the day.
WZMQ 19 is a proud Reserve Champion Sponsor of the U.P. State Fair. Stay tuned through Friday for live reports from the fairgrounds.
