PORTAGE, MI – On May 20th, Governor Gretchen Whitmer attended a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Charles and Lynn Zhang Portage Community Senior Center in Portage, where she was joined by local business and community leaders.  

“This new senior community center is a testament to what happens when businesses and government work together and put the needs of Michiganders first. I’m working hard to make Michigan the first ‘age-friendly state’ in the Midwest and this center is a step in the right direction,” said Governor Whitmer. “We must do more to help older Michiganders access affordable healthcare, retire with dignity, and have attainable, affordable housing. That’s why I proposed repealing the burdensome retirement tax, saving half a million households $1,000 a year.” 

The new Portage Community Senior Center will offer programming, activities, and amenities to provide an enhanced lifestyle of personal growth, health, friendship, and independence for a more dynamic older adult population. The 32,000-square-foot facility was funded by a first-of-its-kind public/private partnership, where $5.7 million in was raised through community donations and $5.5 million was contributed by the City of Portage. 

Advocating for Older Michiganders

Governor Whitmer is focused on tackling the problems older Michiganders face in their day to day lives. She wants to make Michigan the first “age-friendly state” in the Midwest and has proposed bold initiatives to lower costs for seniors including a roll back of the retirement tax saving Michigan households an average of $1,000 a year, signed bipartisan legislation to end surprise billing, and established a task force to tackle the cost of prescription drugs.