Human Services Committee approves senior millage grants and allocates funds to Senior Resources of West Michigan

The Muskegon County Human Services Committee on Aug. 12 approved 33 senior-millage grant awards totaling $1,000,002.86 (transcript formatting contains anomalies) for fiscal year 2026, and authorized Senior Resources of West Michigan to receive several millage-funded allocations for senior services.

Cathy Moore, the county’s public health director, told the committee these are "the senior village dollars," explaining the millage revenue funds a three-year grant cycle intended to provide program continuity for local agencies. "This cycle is the last of a 3 year cycle," Moore said, noting the county will issue a new RFP next year so an expanded number of local agencies can apply.

Among the allocations approved under motion HS25/08-48, the committee authorized funding for the state health-insurance-assistance program (a renaming of MMAP), an in-home services pool (listed in the discussion at $237,950) and case-coordination support (listed at $46,000). Staff said the health-insurance assistance program helps seniors apply for Medicaid and Medicare regardless of prior agency enrollment. Moore described case coordination as options counseling that helps residents age 60 and older and caregivers learn available services.

Moore also explained how millage funds distributed to municipalities differ from the Senior Resources–managed grants: municipal allocations are based on the number of seniors in each jurisdiction and are approved locally, while the Senior Resources grants are awarded through an RFP process to nonprofit providers that serve Muskegon County seniors.

The motion to approve the 33 grant awards and the Senior Resources allocations passed by voice vote. The awards take effect Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, as described in the motion.

What’s next: staff will proceed with grant administration and budget adjustments as authorized by the Senior Activities Committee’s recommendations.