State of the County address cites programs for residents and local small businesses

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter addressed nearly 650 people at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield March 19, where  he acknowledged the accomplishments of the county and programs to move residents and businesses forward.

West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Jonathan Warshay, a longtime friend of Coulter, acted as host for the evening.

“He (Coulter) created the mayor’s business council in 2012, helping to lead Ferndale to a period of increased business and economic growth. This was excellent preparation for his role as county executive,” Warshay said. “A strong business climate is vital for our county, and a strong Oakland County helps drive Michigan’s growth.”

“All ways, moving forward” has been a theme of Coulter’s administration.  He marked the progress the county has made in a myriad of areas, including the prosperity of the county, transit, small business assistance, holistic health care, job training, medical and student loan debt relief, and affordable housing.

 

Oakland County’s prosperity
Coulter described Oakland County as Michigan’s economic engine with 22% of the state’s gross domestic product coming from the county. According to him, Oakland County has the lowest unemployment rate in the state.

Coulter also said that Oakland County has the highest per capita income in the state and ranks 14th nationally among counties with more than one million residents.

He described Oakland County as an international magnet for foreign investment, with 830 companies from 34 countries doing business in the county. According to him, the county’s AAA bond rating “signals to companies looking to invest in Oakland County that we’re best in class.”

When the county needs to make large investments, they ask the taxpayers to ensure the county’s actions reflect residents’ priorities, according to the county executive.

“They spoke clearly on wanting a countywide public transit system,” Coulter said.

 

Transit
In 2022, Oakland County voters approved a 10-year public transportation millage, with a 0.95 mill tax dedicated to maintaining and expanding public transit services throughout the county.

As a result, an on-demand bus service was created in every part of Oakland County, according to Coulter. That was is in conjunction with regular fixed-route services to job centers in Novi and Rochester Hills.

The new local service in Novi has increased ridership 76% since the millage passed, with the Veterans Ride Free program providing more than 7,000 rides in less than a year to those who have served in the military and their caregivers, according to Coulter.

 

Small business resources and development
If they can’t come to you, go to them. This was the impetus of Oakland Thrive. When the county executive took office, there was a “One Stop Shop” where small business owners could come to the county complex and receive information about business opportunities.

“Who has time for that? Not our business owners that often have small staff and limited time and resources,” Coulter said.

According to Coulter, about 400 people took advantage of “One Stop Shop” services each year. However, Oakland Thrive is a nonprofit that connects small businesses with the expertise and information they need for their business.

The program has grown from nine consultants to 75 contractors that are experts in their respective fields. They provide aid to small businesses by providing information that can help create growth.

Oakland Thrive has connected with more than 15,000 small businesses in two years, according to Coulter.

Some of the services that Oakland Thrive has provided to small businesses include communications and marketing expertise, redesigning websites, and opportunities to network to help grow clientele.

 

Project DIAMOnD
Project DIAMOnD (Distributed, Independent, Agile Manufacturing On Demand) is a program that was launched in 2020 to help small businesses respond to the devastating effect that the COVID-19 pandemic had on their businesses.

The program distributed 3D printers to more than 300 manufacturers. Phase II of the initiative launched last summer.

“It is helping keep manufacturing production right here in Oakland County,” Coulter said.

During his address, he spoke about a conversation that he had with a quality assurance professional at a business that provides orthopedic services in Troy. That individual informed him that the 3D printer allows staff to easily modify the parts in the ankle joint as the person grows from a child to an elderly person.

 

Oakland Connects — holistic health care
Even though Oakland County is considered a prosperous community, there are still individuals that need help with securing health care, food, clothing, housing and employment.

At his address, Coulter discussed Oakland Connects, which takes a holistic approach to health.

“Their medical issues might be connected to housing or food insecurity or stress caused by financial hardships,” Coulter said. “Regardless of what door they enter for help — whether (it’s) our housing department or public health clinic or our veterans’ services department, one of the six members of our Oakland Connects community health care team can assess the situation and make sure they get all the help they need.”

Oakland Connects helps with a variety of issues that can affect one’s health, including getting help paying a utility bill, transportation, food, clothing, securing temporary housing, or a referral to the workforce development department to find employment.

“Oakland Thrive and Oakland Connects both make sure that public service is just that — service to the public,” Coulter said.

 

Job training and education
According to Coulter, Oakland 80 was created to ensure Oakland County businesses have a pipeline to skilled and talented workers.

The goal of Oakland 80 is to have 80% of Oakland County residents receive a post-secondary degree or credentials by 2030. Aside from college, that can also consist of training or an apprenticeship program.

Three years ago, 61% of Oakland County residents had post-secondary credentials.  Coulter anticipates it will be more than 70% when the annual report comes out later this year.

Oakland 80 is now in high schools to help teens navigate their career path. The program assists with college and financial aid applications, campus tours, registering for classes and apprenticeships.

 

Debt relief
Debt can financially crush people, particularly unexpected medical debt.

“In Oakland County, we’ve decided to protect 80,000 residents from that fate,” Coulter said.

The county has partnered with Undue Medical Debt, which buys the medical debt for pennies on the dollar, he explained. The first group of 14,000 residents received a letter in December wiping out more than $9 million in medical debt.

This allows people to rehabilitate their credit scores, buy a house, buy a car, or save for their children’s education.

In addition, programs have been implemented that reduce student loan debt and reduce infant and maternal mortality.

The county has invested in a housing trust fund and a land bank to produce affordable housing, with affordable housing under construction for those with intellectual disabilities and seniors.

 

Another perspective
Oakland County Board of Commissioners member Marcia Gershenson shared some thoughts about the address.

“I loved the fact that we are so focused (on) having programs that benefit the people we represent, and those would be Oakland 80 (and) project DIAMOnD. In addition the medical relief and the student loan relief, each of them impacting over 14,000 residents separately,” Gershenson said. “We work very closely with the administration and we’re on the same page.”