24 MiMfg Magazine July 2020
@
MFG
What’s Happening
Work
in Michigan
Manufacturing
Hemlock Area STEM
Center Holds Virtual
Groundbreaking
The new Hemlock Area
STEM Center held a virtual
groundbreaking for what will
become the future home for
robotics and other STEMrelated
programs for Merrill,
Swan Valley, St. Charles, Freeland
and Hemlock school districts.
Public health measures related
to the continuing pandemic ruled
out an actual groundbreaking.
The new facility was funded
through a commitment of more
than $100,000 from Hemlock
Semiconductor Operations (HSC),
an MMA member company, and
will provide opportunities for area
K-12 students to have a new, hightech
location for Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM)
learning, FIRST Robotics teams
and extracurricular programs. The
new center is scheduled to open
in late summer or early fall.
“Starting construction on the
new Hemlock Area STEM Center
moves us closer to having the
space, materials and programs
that will fuel continued learning
for area students in and beyond
school,” said Don Killingbeck,
Hemlock Superintendent. “This
is a partnership that will allow
students to find their passions,
heighten their skills and develop
the talents they’ll need for careers
with employers such as HSC.”
Along with the $100,000
funding for the center, HSC also
is matching up to $25,000 in
additional funds to encourage
other businesses and residents to
support the full outfitting of the
center’s tools and safety features.
“The STEM Center will
provide a centralized location for
FIRST Robotics teams where area
students can build their robots and
develop their skills through learning
and teamwork,” said Andy Ault, HSC
Vice President of Manufacturing.
“Our HSC team looks forward to
seeing teams collaborate in this
space and watching as students
develop the skills that will enable
them to be the next-generation
leaders at HSC and in the Great
Lakes Bay region.”
DTE Energy Launches
“Caring in the Crisis”
MMA member DTE Energy
launched “Caring in the Crisis,”
an awareness effort aiming to
help Detroit-area residents and
businesses locate help during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The effort includes a series of
public service announcements and
digital messages to help residents
explore payment assistance and
Got Good News?
Send your company’s photos, press
releases and good news to MMA’s
Brett Gerrish at [email protected].
Sketch of the new Hemlock Area STEM Center which
will house STEM-related programs for Merrill, Swan Valley,
St. Charles, Freeland and Hemlock school districts.
financial help options and included
a 5/22/20 “Day of Caring” radio
event across WJLB, WDMK
and WDMK HD2.
“Throughout this crisis, we
have had one core message to our
communities, and that’s ‘we’re
here to help you,’” said Angie
Pizzuti, vice president and chief
customer officer, DTE Energy.
“There are many people who have
never had problems making ends
meet, and now are experiencing
income loss and don’t know where
to turn. We want to connect with
them right away to deliver the
help that DTE and the state have
made available to them.”
DTE formed partnerships with
local faith-based leaders, elected
officials and human service agencies
to create messaging for the campaign
and DTE’s actions have included
a personalized service protection
plan, emergency financial relief,
personal protective equipment
distribution, business guidance
and more.
The DTE Energy Foundation
has already donated over 2 million
respiratory masks to first responders
and medical professionals. In the first
month of the crisis, the Foundation
supported one million meals, basic