4t •
ou
7
Black
back
la·wmakers
jobs. plan
B I of Urban Strategy
a, S B!lUlIlaes
Cllpital News Service
LANSING -- Black legis­
lator are backing a program
that they say would provide jobs
for urban residents while saving
the state money on Medicaid
�d unemployment compensa­
tion.
. A program .which helps
�onty economic development
in urban communiti . first fn a
series of measures pursued by
e Michigan Legislative Bla
Caucus' urban strategy.
Want to fann?
chance
By Barry Tasker
Capital Ne Service
LA�SING -- A group of
farmer in the western Upper
Peninsula are looking for a fe
good people to start farm opera­
tions on their vacant farm land.
o countie in the U.P.,
Baraga and Houghton, are in­
volved in a project that will allow
for 50 idle farms to be used by
people interested in farming in
that are . .
The farms vacated mainly'
due .to retirement nd
foredo ures, where f rmers
re caught by financial overex­
tension, have no been set up by
group of faimers so people Can
use the land t a cheap cost.
"The farmer are trying to
recrui people from other es
and Michipn to farm this land, •
said Bob NeumanD· of the
agricultural and � r -
ces information erviees at
ichigan State UDi'IerSily.
�t the f� are cI9ing.
tryIDg to save thetr COIDID ••
and are tryiaato � the coI- .
of the local community's
social and ecoDOJDic livelihood,
· enmlnn
The farmer
·th ood IDULMe.
The trategy would start in
1988 and would help the state to
work with the private sector to
assist organizations that are
creating jobs.
This partnership would have
�e potential to create new jobs
in areas here they are needed
the most, with only a minimUm
investment by the state, aid
Rep. Alma G. Stallworth, chair-
man of the C ucus. .
This is not too great a cost to
pay in an attempt to save urban
Michigan, caucus members said.
GOV HEARS PLAN
The urban strategy was
presented to Gov. James J.
Blanchard in November.
B!an�hard said promoting
mmonty urban areas has a high
priority in his administration.
The programs initiated by
Blanchard through the
Michigan Str tegic Fund have
b�en .well r.eceived by the
�onty business community,
said Donald Davis, Chairman of
th�board of the Michigan Legis­
lative Black Caucus Foundation
t the �eeting with the gover-
nor.
"Additional commitment and
focus are; however, needed," he
added. Michigan needs n
economic development- policy
that changes the traditional
business program, according to
the urban strategy report.
Programs that addre s
pecific economic development
areas should be created, ccord­
ing to the report. These
programs would assist small
DUIIlDeil expansioa, foster Black
eotrepreaeursbip and stimulate'
�� �Dt and job
creatloom urban
I
,
z
Sta e aid for
ayne isc
cial
ByRo Se I
DETROIT -- without state
help for Wayne County financial
problems before the Michigan
legislature's Christmas break,
patients may be left without
care, more juvenile and adul
criminals may be let 0 on the
streets because there will be less
space to put theJD an.d the COOD­
ty might go under receivership,
eliminating the power of
democratiCally elected govern­
ment and threatening the e's
credit rating.
. Guy Gord Deputy Direc-
tor of the Michigan Senate
Republican Ne Office indi­
cated a widespread epticism
in his party over the county's re­
quest for helP.
The Detroit City Council
paued a reaoIuti .
WaYDe COUDty'1 request
Detroit COUDCil PreIidoal Erma
HelSdeI-soe • b1
Leader Gary Owens urging
tate support for Wayne Coun­
ty.
Henderson's aide, Aziz
C Un 20
send mailgrams to their state
sen tors and representatives,
Governor James Blanchard
,
State Senate M. �ority Leader
John Engler and State House
Holidays look. bleak"
for fo .ter familie
"Every day tbere i a delay OIl
a resolution brinp our •
and foster families closer to a
6npcial crisis," said Gerald G.
Hicks, executive directo of the
Michigan FederatiOn of Private
Child an·d Family Agencie .
Our . have already been
forced to borrow $1.8 .
11 to 12 peroeDt m· tereat
dur to the DOt
. the cbildreIl in our care,
said.
a,S B�1aea
CapilIIJ News SDVice
LANSING -- Christma
looks bad for foster agencies
and foster families if the Legis­
I ture caDDot resolve budget
squabbles by its boliday break.
The �lCbipn FederadoD of
Private QiId and Family -
des been borrowiD&
since e fuDds were beId up
Oct. 1, but may DOt be able
borrow the S9 .. Deeded
• f« t.biId