|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evans
Highlights
Transit,
Fiscal
Stability,
and
Community
Investment
in 2026
State of
Wayne
County
Address
Jean
Davis -
Local/State
Tell Us
Detroit
News
DEARBORN
- Warren
C.
Evans,
Wayne
County
Executive,
delivered
his 2026
State of
the
County
address
on
February
11 at
the Ford
Community
Performing
Arts
Center
in
Dearborn,
drawing
local
officials
and
residents
to hear
his
vision
for
Michigan's
largest
county.
Key
Priorities
Highlighted
Evans
spotlighted
transit
improvements
as a top
focus,
noting
collaboration
with
SMART
and the
Regional
Transit
Authority
to
gather
input
from all
43
communities,
including
17 that
opted
out of
regional
service.
Voters
will
decide
in
August
on a
ballot
proposal
to
maintain
the
millage
at 0.98
mills
for a
unified
system
enhancing
accessibility
across
Wayne,
Oakland,
and
Macomb
counties.
He also
announced
a
partnership
with
Savi, a
student
debt
management
startup,
to help
over
200,000
residents
burdened
by $7
billion
in
loans,
similar
to
Oakland
County's
successful
program
that
saved
residents
nearly
$30
million
yearly.
Economic
and
Workforce
Initiatives
The
address
covered
workforce
development
through
WayneLINC,
with $20
million
invested
in
training,
plus a
new
small
business
hub
offering
planning,
financial,
legal,
and
capital
support.
Evans
touted
over $1
million
in down
payment
assistance
for
first-time
buyers
and the
elimination
of $27
million
in
medical
debt for
46,000
residents.
Affordable
housing
projects
received
preliminary
approvals,
and a
small
business
hub aims
to guide
entrepreneurs
from
idea to
expansion.
Health
and
Education
Advances
Rx Kids,
providing
cash aid
to new
mothers,
expanded
to six
Wayne
communities
in 2025
and
Detroit
in
January
2026,
following
its
Flint
success.
Evans
proposed
an
Aviation
and
Aeronautics
Career
Program
with the
Wayne
Regional
Educational
Service
Agency
for all
33
school
districts,
preparing
students
for 250
projected
aircraft
mechanic
jobs by
2032 at
Detroit
Metropolitan
Airport.
The full
address
is
available
on the
Wayne
County
Executive
Office's
YouTube
channel,
underscoring
Evans'
emphasis
on
collaboration,
innovation,
and
equitable
growth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I
HI TECH NEWS
I
SPORTS
I
