The Muskegon Millage Minute is your source for regular updates on programs and services funded by the Muskegon County Senior Millage, which was approved by county voters in August of 2016.

Members of the Muskegon County Senior Activities Committee (MCSAC) make recommendations for programs and services to the full board of commissioners. MCSAC members are: Commissioners Kim Cyr, Marcia Hovey-Wright, and Jessica Cook; Rachel Cereska, Peggy Foster, Greg Scott, Robert Sewick, Linda Vines, and Steve Warmington. Marcia Hovey-Wright chairs the committee.

Senior Resources of West Michigan, the area agency on aging for Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa counties, is the administrator of grants, and produces this quarterly newsletter update. If you have questions about the Muskegon County Senior Millage, please contact Karla at Senior Resources, 231-733-3593, or email grants@seniorresourceswmi.org. Contact communications@seniorresourceswmi.org if there is something specific you'd like to see covered in a future newsletter.

Muskegon County Millage providers share highlights

At the October meeting of the Muskegon County Senior Activities Committee providers shared information about programs funded in part by the Muskegon County Senior Millage.

Boys & Girls Club of the Lakeshore - Energize & Thrive program at the Neal Fitness Center.

Energize & Thrive is an 8-week recreation and fitness program that provides full benefits of the Neal Fitness Center for just a $5 donation. Older adults commit to attending three days a week to improve mobility, flexibility, strength, and more.

Programs include strength training, cardio drumming, weights, bikes, treadmills, rowing machines, enhanced memory fitness, low impact dance, gentle stretching, chair yoga, and more.

All participants receive an assessment by a professional trainer to tailor programming to their individual needs. Assessments including strength, endurance, agility, balance, and standard biometrics will be provided at the start and end of the 8-week session.

For more information, County residents 60 and older can schedule an appointment at the temporary location in the Fresh Coast Alliance Training Center, 1128 Roberts Street, just off Apple Avenue, or call 231-375-7041.

Catholic Charities West Michigan - Senior Companions

The Senior Companions program is an AmeriCorps Seniors program that has older adults helping other seniors live independently in their homes.

The Older Americans Act, passed in 1965, also established the Administration on Aging to administer new grant-funded programs. As part of the Older Americans Act, AmeriCorps Seniors programs were established as community service employment for low-income older adults. The AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion program began in Muskegon County in 2000.

Senior Companions are older adults living at 200% of federal poverty guidelines, serving at least 5 hours a week and receiving a $4/service hour stipend and mileage reimbursement. The service stipend does not impact other benefits the Senior Companions may already receive. Clients are referred by social service organizations that serve older adults.

In Muskegon County, 13 volunteers served 68 clients, performing 9,438 hours of service.

Senior Millage up for renewal in August of 2024

Voters will be asked to renew the Muskegon County Senior Millage on August 6, 2024.The Citizens for the Muskegon County Senior Millage is a volunteer committee formed to educate and inform about the senior millage.

If you have a group that would like more information about the senior millage, you can email communications@seniorresourceswmi.org and someone from the committee will contact you. Members are willing to speak to groups or individuals. Look for more information to come in 2024.

Your senior millage dollars at work: Fourth quarter reports show senior millage programming usage



Older adults in Muskegon County continued to access a wide variety of programs and services in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023.

Seven years into the senior millage, more than 12,600 unique individuals have used Muskegon County Senior Millage programming.

Senior Resources shared its quarterly reports with the Senior Activities Committee recently. These unaudited reports can be found here on the website.