MILTON MANUFACTURING
adopts a stretch of I-75

By Juana on February 20, 2012

Milton Manufacturing recently became an “adopted parent”– to a stretch of land on I-75. Recently, we joined the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program, and we have agreed to “beautify” the roadside of I-75 in Detroit, south of East Seven Mile Road to just past Mile Marker 57 (just north of East Six Mile Road).

Milton Manufacturing President Jim Green said, “It’s part of our commitment to our neighborhood. It is a continuation of our efforts to be good corporate citizens and maintain our neighborhood.”

The Adopt-A-Highway program is designed to keep the state’s highway roadsides clean and attractive. Since 1990, Michigan Adopt-A-Highway groups have collected more than a million bags of trash. Furthermore, according to MDOT, currently there are 2,800 groups participating and more than 6,400 miles of Michigan highways, boulevards, and business routes have been adopted. In most cases, each group commits to a minimum of two years to remove litter from agreed-upon roadside areas.

The goal of the program, as stated by MDOT, is to clean the roadsides before mowing cycles and tourism periods (April through October). MDOT supplies the volunteers with safety vests, pick-up tools, and litter bags. The pickup dates and times are designated by MDOT, which also removes the filled litter bags. In 2012, the three designated pickup periods will occur in the spring during April 14-22; in summer, July 14-22; and in the fall, September 22-30. All volunteers are required to attend a safety meeting before each pick-up.

Litter has a devastating impact on tourism, real estate values, economic development, and health and safety. In the mid-1990s, volunteers in the Adopt-A-Highway program for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) conducted a study and determined that these items made up the bulk of the litter on their roads: fast-food waste at 33 percent, paper at 29 percent, aluminum at 28 percent, glass at 6 percent, and plastic at 2 percent.

Over the past 60 years, many states have launched litter reduction campaigns. For example, in the 1950s, the “Don’t be a Litterbug” campaign surfaced, followed by similar efforts, such as the “Keep America Beautiful” campaign, and other litter removal and recycling efforts, including the Adopt-A-Highway program.

In your travels along I-75 south of East Seven Mile Road, honk when you pass the Milton Manufacturing Adopt-A-Highway sign so we’ll hear you when you go by.

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Company Picnic, a “Concrete” Success

By Juana on August 2, 2011

It is common for companies to sponsor their corporate picnics on the rich, lush grassy grounds of a metropolitan park located several miles outside the city boundaries. Not so with Milton Manufacturing. True to its motto: “Detroit Proud,” Milton Manufacturing sponsored its company employee picnic at its Galactic Headquarters in Detroit. In fact, you might say that its company picnic was a “concrete” success.

If you’ve been following our blog, you know that Milton is located in an urban setting that was hard-hit by the economy. Directly across the street from Milton, there was a neighborhood of 100+ homes that no longer exist as a result of the downfall in the economy a few years ago. As the homes became abandoned, decayed, Milton purchased the lots, some vacant others with houses, and leveled the homes to open up the land and converted the area into community flower and food gardens that are planted, harvested and shared with local area residents.

Milton takes its role as a corporate neighbor in the community very seriously. Remember the song from the 1970s entitled “Takin’ It to the Streets” by the rock band The Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald as lead vocalist? Milton hosted its picnic in the “concrete” street right outside of its plant facilities and headquarters. By doing so, the local residents and their children were also invited to enjoy the picnic.

Clearly, the picnic was very kid-friendly — with popcorn, cotton candy, dunk tank, a hay ride, several blow up giant game structures (including a giant dry slide and a giant wet slide) and family tours of the plant facilities. Children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers, were in constant motion going from one game to the next.

It was a great day for family fun — and a wonderful day for employees to show their families where mom or dad works during the week.

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Milton Manufacturing awarded HUBZone certification

By Juana on January 17, 2011

As of January 10, 2011 the US Small Business Administration has certified Milton Manufacturing as a HUBZone concern. This provides Milton Manufacturing with the opportunity to expand its government contracting growth plans and continue its track record of expansion. Milton Manufacturing President & CEO, Mr. Jim Green, states “we hope this (certification) will enable Milton Manufacturing to grow its workforce during the years to come.”

Both the Federal Government and Prime Contractors to the Federal Government have a HUBzone sourcing goal of 3%.  By obtaining this certification Milton manufacturing is helping their customers meet their subcontracting goals and consequently receive more contracts. This certification will also offer Milton Manufacturing opportunities in the federal marketplace.

The Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) Empowerment Contracting program promotes economic development and employment growth in designated urban areas with the goal of revitalizing them into sustainable communities.

While there are numerous qualifying factors in the certification application, the two key eligibility requirements state that the business must be located in a historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone) and at least 35 percent of the company employees must reside in a HUBZone. Milton has met both these requirements.

At Milton Manufacturing we take our role as a corporate citizen very seriously.

Our goal is to expand our manufacturing capabilities, provide the City with an expanded tax base and stay actively involved with various area businesses, organizations, and community groups.

The congratulatory letter that we received from the Office of the HUBZone Program ended with these words of encouragement: “We wish you the best of luck with your HUBZone certified concern – your success will help improve the economic future of the HUBZone in which you operate.”

If you would like to know more about HUBzone certification, Milton Capabilities and what Milton has to offer visit our web site and blog at www.miltonmfg.com or call us 313-366-2450.

Thanks again for being a part of our success.

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MILTON MANUFACTURING welcomes the
Return of the Detroit Mounted Police Unit

By Juana on September 13, 2010

Over a period of time, trends, products, and traditions can change or disappear. Have you ever asked yourself: Whatever happened to… elevator operators, dime stores, at-home doctor visits, hat-check rooms, big rainbow lollypops — and what about the mounted police?

Well, some things do come back – and we’re glad to see that happen in the case of the Detroit Mounted Police Division with its beautiful equestrian (horse) partners. The unit was eliminated in 2005. But the good news is that it was reinstated in mid-2009.

The Detroit Mounted Police was founded in 1893. Over an era of more than 110 years, about 600 police officers have served in this unit. At its peak in 1979, or perhaps we could call it: its “hay day” (excuse the pun), there were 65 horses and 56 officers. When the unit was in full swing at that time, the mounted police handled a wide range of duties, including patrolling the streets, issuing tickets, and making arrests. The horseback unit is particularly effective in parks and wooded areas where it would be difficult to maneuver a police vehicle, and the mounted police are rather visible and effective in crowd control situations at parades and other large outdoor events.

When the unit was eliminated in 2005, it had faced the retirement of several officers and economic constraints. The number of horses had dropped dramatically to fewer than 20 and not much more than a half dozen officers.

When we learned that the division had moved into its new location in July of this year, we were eager to invite the officers and their horses for a visit at our facility. Take a look at the photo taken outside our building.

Hm, it is so nice to see the return of this great establishment — the Detroit Mounted Police. Now, whatever happened to at-home milk delivery trucks?

Thanks again for reading our MILTON Monday Morning Blog. To learn more about how we can work for you, contact us at (313) 366-2450.

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MILTON Manufacturing Supports
No-Phone Zone Day

By Juana on May 10, 2010

You’re driving in rush hour traffic. You just have to send your BFF a text message right now to tell her about something. Why wait? It’s not urgent but it’s on your mind now.

Your BFF writes back saying that your message has her LOL. Wait a minute! Where did that car come from? Wow! That was a close call. You almost hit that young boy standing at the corner! Where’s your cell phone? Oh, it fell out of your hand and it’s on the floor on the passenger side. You just have to pick it up right now. Why wait until you come to a stop. Got it! Oh, no! You’ve lost control of the car and it’s headed into oncoming traffic! BAM! CRASH!

Does this scenario sound familiar to you? (If you don’t already know: BFF is a “text” shortcut for “best friend forever” and LOL stands for “laughing out loud.”) Stories have hit the news about school bus drivers and train engineers responsible for multiple deaths in a single incident because they were “texting while driving.” Not every incident where a cell phone is involved hits the news, but deaths caused by people “texting while driving” have risen to an incredible level.

In the 1980s, grass-roots safety campaigns were instrumental in helping to reduce deaths from drunk driving with the increased use of seat belts and other efforts.

Now, in 2010, the U.S. Transportation Department has declared April 30 a day of national observance for “No-Phone Zone Day.” This safety campaign was led by popular television personality, Oprah Winfrey, to encourage drivers to pledge not to chat or text on a cell phone while driving. Participants can pick from three pledge options to affect their driving style: no texting; no texting and no chatting; or no texting and hands-free calling only.

MILTON Mfg. realizes that April 30th has passed, but it is never too late to practice good safety procedures!

Eye-opening facts:

  • According to researchers, texting on a cell phone while driving slows the reaction time of the driver more than when he/she is under the influence of alcohol.
  • In a university study released last year, it was determined that truckers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in or nearly involved in a crash.
  • President Obama banned federal employees from texting while driving government vehicles. The employees are also banned from texting while driving their own vehicles when using government-issued phones.
  • According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, when drivers text while driving, they take their eyes off the road an average of 4.6 seconds out of every six seconds. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ron LaHood says that this finding suggests that, at 55 mph, a texting driver actually travels the full length of a football field without directing his attention to the road.
  • Secretary LaHood also said drivers of commercial vehicles caught texting while driving could be fined up to $2,750.

For more information, the U.S. Transportation Department has launched a special website at www.distraction.gov, the “official U.S. government website for distracted driving” information. So far, 24 states, including Michigan and the District of Columbia, have joined Oprah’s efforts to support distracted driving legislation.

Here at MILTON MANUFACTURING, we encourage you to practice safe driving habits. Wait until you can pull your vehicle off the road to chat or text safely.

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MILTON MANUFACTURING Conforms to Michigan’s New Smoking Ban

By Juana on May 3, 2010

non-smokingYou smell cigarette smoke? Well, hopefully, you’re mistaken. Just a few days ago, Michigan’s workplace smoking ban went into effect officially on May 1, 2010, after having been signed into law on December 18, 2009, by Governor Jennifer Granholm.

The new Dr. Ron Davis Law bans smoking statewide in all enclosed, indoor workplaces in Michigan. This includes outdoor patios of restaurants and bars, as well as at any public meetings and government agencies. There are some exemptions. Smoking is still permitted in cigar bars, private home offices, retail tobacco stores, company vehicles, commercial trucks, and the gambling floors of Detroit’s three existing casinos. Casinos established after May 1, 2010 will not be permitted to allow smoking.

The Michigan Clean Indoor Air Act of 1987 remains in effect. Generally, it prohibits smoking in schools, childcare facilities, and healthcare facilities. Furthermore, various counties or areas throughout Michigan have enacted or will enact smoking bans to apply to their local jurisdictions. For example, Detroit and Wayne County already have a ban that prohibits smoking in enclosed workplaces. In 2012, the University of Michigan will prohibit smoking throughout its campus.

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So, how are Michigan residents and business people responding to the Dr. Ron Davis Law? It has been reported that one restaurant closed its doors for a couple of days at the end of April to clean its interior and apply fresh paint to the walls to remove the smell of smoke from its facility. Some people with health or breathing issues (e.g. asthma, cancer, and heart disease) are delighted to know that they can avoid the second-hand smoke for themselves and their children. Furthermore, some smokers look at the ban as an opportunity for them to quit smoking. On the other hand, some people are upset because they feel that the law intrudes on their personal rights and enjoyment.

With regards to enforcement of the law, the police can be called to handle situations when a person refuses to stop smoking. However, the law does outline specific actions that restaurant/bar owners must follow. For example, restaurants and bars are required to post No Smoking signs. If a customer is smoking, the owner is required to ask that person to stop smoking and if necessary to leave the premises. Financial penalties can be imposed on the owner and the smoker for non-compliance with the law.

MILTON MANUFACTURING will continue to maintain a smoke-free environment for its workers and guests.

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MILTON MANUFACTURING…
“greening” the way with urban farming

By Juana on April 12, 2010

milton-garden

"Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other arts will follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization." - Daniel Webster

Many companies are making efforts to convert their operations with environmentally responsible work practices to deliver environmentally-friendly products. This strategy is often referred to as “greening,” and it involves efforts such as reusability, recycling, reduction of environmental hazards, energy efficiency, and responsible manufacturing practices.

At MILTON MANUFACTURING, we have taken those “greening” efforts a step further. MILTON owns vacant properties that were once the site of derelict homes and we are converting those lands into a “community greenbelt.” Last year, we had a very bountiful food harvest and flower garden from these parcels of land; and our expectations are mounting as we prepare to plant our “crops” again this year.

Detroit Mayor Bing and his administration are currently working on a plan to align the city’s geography with its ability to deliver services, and urban farming can be a key component of putting the city’s vacant land into productive use, according to Albert Fields, group executive for planning for the City of Detroit,

“We’re in the process of looking at the city of Detroit and getting it ready for the future – How do we align our resources? How do we align our land policy? And, how do we put those things in place that get us ready when we return from this economic downturn and get into a better position to grow?” Fields went on to say, “The City is working to develop an entrepreneur-friendly system to encourage commercial farm growth in Detroit.”

The city has about 30,000 acres that are vacant or the site of derelict properties, which amounts to about 200,000 parcels.

With all the recent talk of urban farming, one would think that the idea is a new one — but it is not. “Victory gardens” of fruit, vegetables, and herbs sprouted in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) during World Wars I and II. Citizens in these communities participated in local, urban farming to help ease the pressure on food production volumes aimed to support our military during the war effort.

Facts on Urban Farming:

Social:

  • Urban Agriculture can help to improve the livelihood of people living in and around cities.
  • 800 million people are involved in urban agriculture worldwide and contribute to feeding urban residents.
  • It took humans 10,000 years to learn how to grow most of the crops we now take for granted.
  • 50% of the world’s population lives in cities.
  • By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth’s population will reside in urban centers.

Benefits:

  • Urban agriculture results in an increase in entrepreneurial activities and the creation of job opportunities, as well as in the reduction of food costs and an increase in products of better quality.
  • Urban agriculture provides an important opportunity for women to be a part of the informal economy of a city because farming and selling activities can be combined more easily with household tasks and child care.
  • Citizens are transformed from being not only consumers of food to generators of agricultural products with improved health and lowered poverty levels.

MILTON’s gardens are open to our neighboring community. The fact that low-income urban dwellers spend between 40% and 60% of their income on food each year… is reason enough for MILTON to assist our neighbors. The community has shown respect for our efforts by contributing to the upkeep of the gardens.

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MILTON partners with Detroit Public Schools

By Juana on January 18, 2010

detroit-public-schools-logoMILTON Welcomes LaQuita Wilcher

For more than 60 years, MILTON Manufacturing has focused its attention on providing quality products and services to our customers. We are also proud to serve as a corporate co-op sponsor with the Detroit Public Schools and provide its young people with mentoring from our highly-skilled and talented employees—many of whom have more than 15 years of experience.

We welcomed LaQuita Wilcher, a Detroit Public Schools co-op student, at MILTON in the fall of 2009. This is her story in her own words:

My name is LaQuita Wilcher, and I’m currently a Co-Op student/employee here at MILTON Manufacturing, Inc.  My journey here at MILTON began on Thursday, October 15, 2009. As someone who has always dreamed of having my own office, handling the phones, and satisfying the customer’s needs, I’ve enjoyed every moment.

The first things I learned were the job’s basic requirements, which I picked up swiftly. On October 19, 2009—having spent only four short days as a MILTON employee and not quite having a firm handle on the job—I was scheduled to work alone which, as frightening as it was, taught me to be independent in my approach to problem-solving and to draw from my internal strengths.

I helped those who needed it, and no one was even aware that I was experiencing any uncertainty. In fact, I boldly proclaimed to my manager, “It felt as though I’d been working here all of my days.”

My goal was to find employment in a place where I felt accepted. MILTON is just that place! The staff is very friendly and genuinely helpful at all times, and the environment is peaceful, joyful, and most of all—cheerful! I am not only grateful—but feel blessed to be part of the MILTON family.

It feels wonderful to be part of the MILTON team; and while my journey has only begun, I pledge to put forth my best efforts when completing tasks and taking care of MILTON’S customers. I welcome the responsibility of ensuring that our customers, vendors, clients and guests are made to feel comfortable and welcome.

That being said, I’m really looking forward to completing this journey with both grace and success!

LaQuita, we wish you much success at MILTON and throughout your professional journey.

To all of you, remember to come back every week to the MILTON Monday Morning Blog.

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MILTON Mfg provides facts on the 2010 Census

By Juana on January 11, 2010

usa-diversity

Happy New Year! Do you make New Year resolutions, such as eating less junk food, saving more money, or other goals that are soon forgotten? Here’s a New Year resolution that we, at MILTON Manufacturing, urge you to keep: your participation in the 2010 Census.

Here are FAQs that may answer some of your questions about the 2010 Census:

When does the U.S. Census occur?
April 1, 2010 is the official date of the 23rd U.S. Census Day. This U.S. population headcount occurs once every 10 years. The first official Census occurred in 1790; the last was taken in 2000.

Why is the Census important?
The purpose of the census is to secure “general” statistical data about the population in the United States. Every year, about $400 billion in federal funding is allocated based, in part, on census data. This data helps government officials, business leaders, and community planners determine where to build new hospitals, schools, roads, and other facilities. Businesses use the data when developing their marketing strategies, product placement, and growth potential.  Furthermore, our voice in government is affected as census totals are used to redistribute the borders of voting districts for city, county, and state legislatures.

Will I be expected to participate in the 2010 Census?
Yes. Census forms will be mailed to all U.S. households March 15-17. You should complete and mail back the form upon receipt. Responses to the census form should include everyone at your address—citizen and noncitizen. Furthermore, Be Counted sites will be available in select community locations for those who did not receive a form or are without housing on April 1.

Will it take a long time to complete the Census form?
The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history – with only 10 questions that should only take you about 10 minutes to complete! The form cannot be completed online, but you can get help, if you need it, from the online Question and Answer Center at https://ask.census.gov or from the Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC) at 1-866-872-6868 starting February 25.

Should I expect a visit from a census worker?
If you do not return your census form as instructed, you can expect an at-home visit from a census worker. If you fail to complete the census form, you can be fined $100.

Will my personal information become public?
The statistical “totals” drawn from the census are available to the public. However, specific personal information about an individual is not available to the public until 72 years after a given census was taken. So, personal data from the 2010 census will not be available to the public until 2082.

What assurance do I have that my personal information is not revealed?
The confidentiality of your responses is very important. No Census Bureau employee is allowed to reveal identifiable information about any person.  All CB employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. Otherwise, they face a penalty of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years or both.

Will MILTON Manufacturing play a role in the Census?
Yes. This blog is one of the ways in which we are taking steps to be a 2010 Census Partner. The statistical data collected from the Census can be an important resource to the future of our business development and growth.

Look for more information about the 2010 Census in future MILTON Monday Morning Blogs.


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