LANSING, MI - One of the key priorities of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is to monitor weights and measures devices being used by retailers to ensure a fair playing field. This year, MDARD is celebrating March 1-7, 2021 as Weights and Measures Week in Michigan. These dates are designated every year to commemorate President John Adams s signing of the first United States weights and measures law on March 2, 1799.
This year s theme is Measuring Up to the New Normal. With the COVID-19 pandemic changing consumer s buying habits, businesses are adapting to stay economically viable. Consumer buying preferences are changing and the business community is adapting and so are Weights and Measures regulators to ensure fairness and accuracy in the marketplace.
Grand Rapids Business Journal
Several West Michigan members land spots on advisory board.
(As seen on WZZM TV 13) Some West Michigan agricultural leaders were recently appointed to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Migrant Labor Housing Advisory Board.
The 14-member board now includes Evangelina Alvarez, Kalamazoo; William Groenink, Holland; Joann Hoganson, Walker; and Dorian Slaybod, Grand Rapids.
The board is tasked with advising the department and the state on ways to alleviate obstacles in the development of adequate migrant labor housing throughout Michigan and improve conditions for the workers, according to MDARD.
“Even during stable and predictable years, the number and complexity of challenges surrounding migrant labor housing can be quite overwhelming,” said Gary McDowell, MDARD director. “Natural disasters, urban sprawl, social and political shifts, climate change, out-of-state competition, and now even pandemics take the
@DCherrySJ1
The state office that regulates health and safety at restaurants and businesses that serve food said last week it plans to follow up with establishments that remain out of compliance with COVID-19 mandates.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stated that, as of Feb. 1, restaurants and food service establishments could reopen to sit-down dining, after several months of restrictions that included carryout or curbside pickup only, and the wearing of masks by employees and customers at the point of purchase and at the store’s cafe.
However, late last fall, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was informed that Bullseye Marketplace in Three Rivers was not requiring employees or customers to wear masks. MDARD called Bullseye Nov. 10, but after seeing no compliance, suspended the store’s food license Dec. 7.
Cheboygan Daily Tribune
INDIAN RIVER Tuscarora Township was recently awarded $54,900 from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to improve public docking and complete other renovations at Marina Park in Indian River.
This grant funding is part of the state s Rural Development Fund Grants, which were handed out with the design to promote sustainability of land based industries. The grants are also meant to support infrastructure benefiting rural communities throughout the state. We were only one of 20 approved, said Bob Kramer, Tuscarora Township Board of Directors Trustee. There were 139 applications. Very competitive.
Earlier this year, Tuscarora Township had submitted its application, along with 138 other applications around the state from various communities. The projects proposed with these applications totaled more than $11 million in upgrades to the communities. The 20 projects alone awarded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural De