If you’re interested in getting involved in Michigan Local Service, you’ve come to the right place. Volunteering can help you connect with the community and give back. There are numerous organizations and programs that can provide you with opportunities for service. These organizations include AmeriCorps, Ameritech Michigan, Evanston Bus Co., and many more.

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages thousands of Americans to give back to their communities. Through this program, volunteers serve full-time for a year, completing projects that address the most pressing needs in their communities. Members earn a living allowance, receive health coverage, and have the opportunity to receive college tuition assistance.

In Michigan, AmeriCorps volunteers help meet local needs and expand opportunity. They help fight the opioid epidemic and prepare youth for the jobs of tomorrow. Volunteers are also vital in rebuilding communities after disasters.

Joint services

Joint services are legal agreements between two or more governmental entities to provide services or to own property and operate facilities. These arrangements can be authorized by the state legislature and have certain limitations. Michigan’s constitution allows state and local governments to enter into cooperative agreements to provide public services or to own property and operate facilities.

These arrangements allow local governments to join forces to address common problems. Since 1963, Article VII, Section 28 of the Michigan Constitution has provided legal authority for local government agencies to cooperate on problems. These new provisions have encouraged municipalities and other local units to cooperate to address metropolitan issues.

Ameritech Michigan

Ameritech’s Michigan Local Service offers local phone service to residents throughout the state. It is a round-the-clock service that enables customers to contact customer service representatives at any time. The company has 95 percent brand awareness in the Upper Midwest area. It also offers home security systems.

Ameritech filed a motion for summary judgment against the Michigan Public Service Commission on October 13, 1996, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. The Michigan Public Service Commission ordered Ameritech to compensate competing carriers for calls placed through their systems. Ameritech’s motion to dismiss was denied on jurisdictional grounds. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants, and Ameritech appealed this decision.

Evanston Bus Co.

The Evanston Bus Company first operated in 1924. The company operated thirteen routes and ceased operations in 1973. Most of the routes were taken over by the CTA or the Nortran (now Pace) bus service. By the 1970s, Evanston’s bus service was subsidized by the CTA.

In the mid-1960s, the Evanston Bus Co. was owned by an African American, and had expanded to a 700-bus fleet. It was later acquired by a British company. In the meantime, the Robinson name had become established in Evanston and its surrounding communities, especially in the real estate market. Today, Robinson Rentals is operated by Lynn Robinson Phillips, former President of the Evanston Bus Co.

Chicago Motor Coach Co.

Chicago Motor Coach Company was founded in 1917 and provided the city of Chicago with bus transportation. The company operated motor coaches, but was later bought out by the Chicago Transit Authority. During the company’s time, Hertz was also involved in several other transport businesses, including Chicago Surface Lines, which operated trolley coaches.

The Chicago Motor Coach Company is expected to add at least 300 buses to its fleet before the end of the decade. The company plans to build both single and double-deck buses. In addition to the new fleet, the company is planning to build its own bus manufacturing plant next to the Yellow Cab Manufacturing Company, and hopes to start producing thirty buses per month.