NOVEMBER 6, 2008

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today announced that the creation of a PLUS office serving Calhoun County residents will mean enhanced services for customers throughout the area.

The new Calhoun County PLUS Office opens at 9 a.m., Monday, Nov. 24 in the Capital Centre mall, 2545 Capital Ave. S.W. in Battle Creek. The PLUS office is being formed by consolidating the Battle Creek office at 1791 Columbia Ave. W., which will close at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14, and the Marshall office at 15877 W. Michigan Ave., which will close at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19.

"Customers have asked for more services and expanded hours, and the new Calhoun County PLUS Office shows we're listening," Land said. "We're meeting the needs of 21st century customers by moving services out of Lansing and into local communities, and offering them when it's convenient for our customers. The office even features a Self-Service Station available 24 hours a day."

PLUS offices offer additional services and conveniences, such as payment by Discover and MasterCard credit and branded debit cards at the counter, expanded Wednesday hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., instant titles, the ability to purchase your own driving record on site and Self-Service Stations for quick tab renewals. Driver re-examinations also will be available at the new office.

Customers who normally use the Battle Creek and Marshall offices and need services during Nov. 17-24, may use the following offices:

• Albion, 308 S. Superior St.
• Coldwater, 7 Vans Ave.
• Jackson County PLUS, 1082 Jackson Crossing, in the Jackson Crossing Mall
• Jackson Downtown, 117 W. Louis Glick Highway
• South Kalamazoo County PLUS, 603 Romence Road, Portage

The Jackson and South Kalamazoo county PLUS offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The Coldwater office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The Jackson Downtown and Albion offices are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Land reminds customers that they can often "skip the trip" by renewing their vehicle and watercraft registrations online, with a touch-tone telephone or through the mail.

Creation of the PLUS offices is part of the 2008 phase of Land's Branch Office Modernization Program. The program's emphasis on investing in people and services, and not "bricks and mortar," has allowed the Secretary of State's Office to deliver state-of-the-art services by using existing facilities and resources whenever possible as well as preserve employee jobs.

The program was launched in April 2004 and has resulted in the development of 32 PLUS offices and six SUPER!Centers throughout the state. Customer satisfaction has consistently been high thanks to the modern, convenient services and enhanced efficiencies these offices provide.

For more information about office locations and services, visit the Branch Office Locator at www.Michigan.gov/sos.