A Michigan non profit agency is planning for budget cuts amidst a flurry of public concern.
It was Mark Twain who said "the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" - one Mid-Michigan agency may know today how he felt.
Reports in a local newspaper announced that Mid-Michigan Industries, a non-profit agency that helps developmentally disabled workers - is closing.
In reality one of the agency's offices - the one in Gratiot county - is losing a large portion of it's funding. But M-M-I is not closing. Alan Schilling, President of Mid Michigan Industries said the organization simply has to decide what to do next.
"We have numerous community employment contracts and then we also do in-house manufacturing. It appears that the in-house manufacturing would not be done in Gratiot county, but again, we haven't decided what we're going to do at this point in time."
The funding cut came because Gratiot County Community Mental Health was running short of funds. They said they cut staff, added furlough days and made deep cuts in administrative costs, and still they were looking at a minimum 500-thousand dollar shortfall.
By ending their contract with MMI, they'll save 400-thousand dollars a year, but Gratiot Community Mental Health CEO Carolyn Hilley (hilly) said it was a tough decision.
"Probably the most difficult decision that I have made in the time that I have worked for C-M-H. I previously worked for M-M-I in the 80's and was part of the growth of that program and the services they provided and I'm very proud of what they do. And this is very, very, very difficult. It is ...it's wrong that this has to occur."
M-M-I said it will decide how it will adjust operations at the Gratiot county location within the month.
It was Mark Twain who said "the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" - one Mid-Michigan agency may know today how he felt.
Reports in a local newspaper announced that Mid-Michigan Industries, a non-profit agency that helps developmentally disabled workers - is closing.
In reality one of the agency's offices - the one in Gratiot county - is losing a large portion of it's funding. But M-M-I is not closing. Alan Schilling, President of Mid Michigan Industries said the organization simply has to decide what to do next.
"We have numerous community employment contracts and then we also do in-house manufacturing. It appears that the in-house manufacturing would not be done in Gratiot county, but again, we haven't decided what we're going to do at this point in time."
The funding cut came because Gratiot County Community Mental Health was running short of funds. They said they cut staff, added furlough days and made deep cuts in administrative costs, and still they were looking at a minimum 500-thousand dollar shortfall.
By ending their contract with MMI, they'll save 400-thousand dollars a year, but Gratiot Community Mental Health CEO Carolyn Hilley (hilly) said it was a tough decision.
"Probably the most difficult decision that I have made in the time that I have worked for C-M-H. I previously worked for M-M-I in the 80's and was part of the growth of that program and the services they provided and I'm very proud of what they do. And this is very, very, very difficult. It is ...it's wrong that this has to occur."
M-M-I said it will decide how it will adjust operations at the Gratiot county location within the month.
