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News & Events Digest: November 2025





Michigan and Ohio are going head to head in Unclaimed Property Claims

Michigan and Ohio Battle to Find Forgotten Funds in Football Challenge during November

Michiganders have a long-standing rivalry with our Buckeye neighbor to the south, especially during football season. This week, you too can channel your competitive Wolverine spirit and be part of Michigan’s blitz for the win.

Michigan Unclaimed Property is challenging the Ohio Division of Unclaimed Funds to see which state’s residents can find and claim the most forgotten funds. Special focus is on the University of Michigan vs. Ohio State game on November 29, which will spotlight the sparring states’ "Find Forgotten Funds-Football Edition" competition.

“This is a fun and spirited way to celebrate Michigan’s rivalry with ‘that state to the south’—and remind everyone who’s really on top,” said Terry Stanton, manager of Michigan Unclaimed Property. “The clock may run out on the game November 29, but there’s no time limit on claiming what’s yours. Unclaimed property is always available to its rightful owner.”

All Michigan residents are encouraged to visit Michigan.gov/UnclaimedProperty [ [link removed] ] from now until November 30 to scoop up forgotten cash or property. 

Michigan Unclaimed Property is looking for a repeat performance of their 2023 Michigan-Ohio Challenge victory.

At the midway point of the Challenge this year, Ohio holds a slim lead, so we need all of Michigan to get out there and search. Let’s win where it counts!

Michigan has returned more than $675 million to rightful owners or their heirs over the last five years, and a quick online search could reunite you, your friends and your family members with a potential windfall, including long-lost:


* Checking and savings accounts
* Certificates of Deposit (CD)
* Over payments
* Uncashed Checks (payroll, refunds, money orders, cashier checks, insurance benefits, etc.)
* Dividends Stocks and bonds
* Contents of a safe deposit box 

As part of the home team, we want to award Michiganders the MVP (Most Valuable Property), but even more – we want our state to win the Find Forgotten Funds-Football Edition challenge. Rush to Michigan.gov/UnclaimedProperty [ [link removed] ] and let’s win where it counts.

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2025 MET Enrollment
As Black Friday and Cyber Monday Draw Near, MET Urges Families to Give the Gift that Lasts — College Tuition

Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday shoppers looking for meaningful gifts will find more than discounts at the Michigan Education Trust (MET) with seasonal bonuses added to a present that never goes out of style — prepaid college tuition.

For a limited time, MET is offering a special holiday bonus to encourage families to open or contribute to a prepaid tuition account, making this season the perfect time of year to give the gift of a college education.

With MET’s minimum contribution recently lowered to just $25, families can start a child’s college savings journey for less than many holiday stocking stuffers, while getting extra value in return with seasonal bonuses.

“Black Friday and Cyber Monday are all about finding value,” said Diane Brewer, executive director of MET. “There’s simply no better long-term value than helping a child pay for college. MET gives families a way to start small and build a meaningful foundation for the future.”

For Sue Stock, a mom and grandmother from Delta Township, that small start more than 35 years ago turned into a family tradition and a life-changing investment.

Stock first purchased MET accounts for her sons, Jon and Chris, in 1988 after reading about the then-new program in the "Lansing State Journal". Her mother encouraged her to open an account for each boy and Sue quickly embraced the idea. Soon, she began asking her parents, relatives and close friends to contribute to the boys’ MET accounts instead of traditional gifts for holidays and birthdays.

“MET became our version of holiday giving,” Stock said. “The boys didn’t need more toys. I wanted to give them something that would matter long after the wrapping paper was gone.”

Those early gifts paid off.

Chris used every dollar of his MET savings to earn his degree from Michigan State University, graduating in 2003. Free from significant student debt, he landed a job with NASA before moving into the supply chain marketing field.

“He got a degree with little or no debt,” Stock said. “That is truly a gift that keeps on giving.”

Jon’s path took another turn. He earned an accounting degree at Lansing Community College, where his tuition was covered because Sue was working at LCC at the time. Since Jon didn’t need to use his MET benefits, the account remained intact and is now helping fund the MET account of Jon’s daughter, Sue’s granddaughter.

“That’s the beauty of MET,” Stock said. “Even when life takes a different direction, nothing is lost. It still becomes part of the future.”

MET is putting a bow on it this holiday season to encourage families to follow Stock’s lead. With just a $25 minimum to open an account and digital gifting tools that allow grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to contribute directly, MET offers a way to replace short-lived presents with something that grows in value over time.

*MET makes holiday gifting easy*


*         Start an account for just $25.
*         Online gifting portal for fast contributions from anywhere.
*         Prepaid tuition that locks in today’s rates.
*         Flexible use for Michigan public universities, community colleges and even private or out-of-state schools.
*         A gift that lasts a lifetime, not a single season.

Families can learn more or open a MET online. [ [link removed] ]

From November 29-December 2, families who start or grow their college savings with MET prepaid tuition contract can receive a $50 Black Friday Bonus when they contribute at least $250.

And as an added bonus during the season of giving, the offer applies to both newly opened MET contracts and qualifying contributions made to existing MET contracts, making it an easy way for parents, grandparents and loved ones to turn a holiday gift into long-term opportunity. New purchasers must enter the coupon code BLKFRI25 at checkout to qualify. All contributions must be made in a single transaction through MET’s online payment system.

The bonus is limited to one $50 award per beneficiary. Funds will be deposited into qualifying MET contracts within eight to 10 weeks following verification.

Complete details and full eligibility requirements are available on MET’s website [ [link removed] ].

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Treasury Talk Podcast with Chief Deputy Treasurer Lance Wilkinson and MI State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks. [ [link removed] ]

Treasury Talk Podcast: State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and Chief Deputy Treasurer Lance Wilkinson talk about public service and tax policy. [ [link removed] ]



Find Your Fit [ [link removed] ]

Your Career Starts Here! [ [link removed] ]






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An trophy image to represent the 10 years of continuous awards.

Michigan Finance Authority Earns National Award for Financial Reporting for 10th Consecutive Year

The Michigan Finance Authority has received a national award for excellence in financial reporting for the 10th consecutive year, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the authority for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024 [ [link removed] ].

The certificate is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting. It is awarded to government entities that meet rigorous standards for transparency, clarity and completeness in their financial disclosures.

“This award is a reflection of our commitment to public trust,” said Alyson Hayden, executive director of the Michigan Finance Authority. “We have exceptionally dedicated authority and accounting staff who take seriously our responsibility to manage public funds with integrity and openness.”

The authority’s financial report was reviewed by an impartial panel and judged to demonstrate a “spirit of full disclosure” that clearly communicates the agency’s financial story and encourages public engagement.

For Michiganders, the award signals that the state is managing public resources responsibly and transparently. It assures residents that the financial decisions made by the authority are well-documented, independently reviewed and aligned with best practices in public finance.

“Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being used, and our decade of consecutive awards acknowledge that we’re doing that work with the highest level of accountability,” Hayden said.

Housed within the Michigan Department of Treasury, the Michigan Finance Authority provides low-cost financing options to municipalities, schools, health care providers and students across the state. Its work supports infrastructure, education and public health projects that impact communities statewide.

The GFOA serves more than 25,000 government finance professionals across the United States and Canada.

For more information about the Michigan Finance Authority, visit Michigan.gov/MFA [ [link removed] ].

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What is asset management?
Michigan Infrastructure Council Invites Community Leaders to Join Next Cohort of Asset Management Training

The Michigan Infrastructure Council (MIC) has opened applications for the ninth cohort of its Asset Management (AM) Champions program, a statewide initiative designed to equip Michigan’s infrastructure leaders with tools and strategies to improve long-term decision-making, collaboration, and investment planning.

This free training runs from January to April 2026 and is open to professionals in public and private sectors across all of Michigan’s 83 counties. Participants, including local governments, utilities, engineers, public works leaders, and more, will learn how to assess their organization’s asset management maturity using the Asset Management Readiness Scale (AMRS) and apply best practices that extend asset life, reduce costs, and improve quality of life in their community.

Graduates of the course join a network of over 700 champions across Michigan, creating a growing coalition of infrastructure professionals statewide who champion sustainable investment and collaboration across a variety of sectors. Upon completion, participants can also earn continuing education credits for drinking and wastewater operators, approved by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Professional Engineer (PE) credits are also available, making the program a valuable professional development opportunity in the infrastructure field.

“Being part of the Michigan Infrastructure Council’s Asset Management Champion Program has been incredibly eye-opening for staff at the City of Rochester Hills,” said Chief Financial Officer Joe Snyder. “By putting the lessons we’ve learned into practice we're not just streamlining our operations; we're directly improving infrastructure management and project delivery and ultimately providing more value to residents. I estimate these improvements have saved us 10% (roughly $3 Million) on our capital projects this year alone through better communication, planning and timing.”

In East China Township, where population and resources are small, but infrastructure needs are large, the AM Champions program has had a transformative impact.

“Asset management training and resources from the Michigan Infrastructure Council have helped us work with our elected officials to show the entire cost of an asset over its lifetime,” said Director of Public Service Dwayne Loper. “We've been able to earmark funds for capital projects and critical asset replacement for the next 20 years for our water infrastructure. We're now focusing on our wastewater collection and treatment systems using the same process. This will allow for the eventual integration of all our businesses following the same methodology.”

Applications for Cohort 9 are available online at www.michigan.gov/mic/am-champions [ [link removed] ] and are due by Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

*About the Michigan Infrastructure Council*
Our mission is to cultivate partnerships that strengthen Michigan's Infrastructure to provide the foundation for public and environmental health, economic prosperity, and quality of life.

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Local Government Update
Is Your Community Grant Ready? Find Out December 4

The Michigan Department of Treasury and Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension) are pleased to announce the final "Fiscally Ready Communities" training opportunity of the year: *Getting Grant Ready*.

This free, 90-minute webinar is designed to support local government officials—both appointed and elected—in preparing their communities to successfully pursue and manage grant funding.

Getting Grant Ready will help your community:


* Align grant opportunities with local goals
* Assess internal capacity to manage grants
* Develop proactive policies and procedures
* Learn best practices for identifying, applying for and managing grants

*When is the webinar? *

Thursday, December 4, 2025
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.

*How do I register?*

This is the final session of the year, so don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your community’s fiscal sustainability and funding readiness.

Registration can be done online. [ [link removed] ]

*Where I can learn more? *

For more information about the "Fiscally Ready Communities" initiative, including Treasury’s Best Practices guide [ [link removed] ], visit the Fiscally Ready Communities webpage [ [link removed] ].

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected] with the subject line “Fiscally Ready.”

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