LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Tuesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Michigan COVID Recovery Plan to grow Michigan’s economy and help end the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor’s plan includes a focus on vaccine distribution, economic recovery, schools and more.
During a virtual announcement, Whitmer explained her plan, along with State Budget Director Dave Massaron and State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks.
“To help grow and strengthen our economy, we must provide crucial support for our families, small businesses, and frontline workers,” Governor Whitmer said. “The MI COVID Recovery Plan will help small businesses get through the winter, help us put more shots in arms and ramp up vaccine distribution, and get our kids back on track in school. It’s the right thing to do to protect public health and jumpstart our economy, and I’m ready to work with the legislature to get it done.”
Further details about the plan can be viewed below.
Public Health / Vaccine Distribution:
“Michigan is ready to ramp up vaccination distribution, which will help us get back to normal as quickly as possible,” the plan reads in part.
The current plan is to use federal funding through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act to ramp up vaccine distribution in Michigan, with an included goal of administering 50,000 per day.
This funding will also help provide financial support to local health departments for vaccine administration costs, including staff augmentation, as well as provide equipment and supplies. In addition, Michigan will receive $575 million to expand COVID testing, tracing and lab capacity across the state.
Support for Small Business:
This plan will provide $225 million for three new programs at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Those programs are listed as follows:
- The Michigan Mainstreet Initiative will help stabilize our small business community by securing grants for restaurants and other place-based businesses to keep our Main Streets vibrant and our communities resilient.
- The Michigan Microenterprise Support Initiative will help us put small businesses with less than nine employees on the path to recovery by creating greater access to much needed support.
- And the Business Accelerator and Resiliency Initiative will provide grants to high-tech startups that can help our communities thrive.
“Small businesses are critical to the recovery of our communities,” Small Business Association of Michigan President Brian Calley said in a statement. “As we approach upcoming reopenings, the Main Street Initiative will target much needed support for some of the hardest hit local businesses.”
Unemployment:
The plan includes a call on the Michigan Legislature to permanently extend unemployment benefits from 20 weeks to 26 weeks. This would bring Michigan in line with 40 other states, according to the release.
Food Assistance:
According to data provided by Whitmer’s office, as of fiscal year 2019, one in eight Michigan residents received food assistance. Governor Whitmer’s Michigan COVID Recovery Plan will provide more support for families through food assistance so more residents can afford to eat.
“On behalf of Michigan families, seniors and children faced with the toxic stress of food insecurity, the Food Bank Council of Michigan welcomes the relief in the current federal legislation,” Food Bank Council of Michigan Executive Director Dr. Phillip Knight said in a statement. “It is right, moral and beyond necessary. The pandemic has skyrocketed demand for food by 50%, a staggering statistic the places a huge demand on our regional food banks.”
Rental Assistance:
The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program will provide the State of Michigan with funding to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor’s plan will allocate this federal funding to help more Michiganders stay in their homes.
“Keeping people safe and healthy in their homes is one of the most important things we can do right now to slow the spread of the coronavirus while we vaccinate. This rental assistance funding will help Michiganders who are struggling to stay timely with payments to their landlords – the very same business owners who also often depend on this source of income to pay their own bills,” Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness Executive Director Eric Hufnagel said. “We applaud Governor Whitmer and our Michigan leaders for moving quickly to prevent homelessness during these cold winter months.”
Office of Rural Development:
The governor will create an Office of Rural Development tasked with coordinating work across state government to address issues facing rural communities, such as broadband, talent, infrastructure and more.
The MI COVID Relief Plan will also include grants to provide infrastructure and capacity support in rural communities and support for land-based industries.
Property Tax Assistance:
The governor’s plan includes funding to waive penalties and interest for certain property owners who did not pay their summer 2020 property taxes on time as a result of economic hardship created by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Talent:
The governor’s plan will provide targeted employment and training services through the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to connect unemployed and underemployed Michigan residents with training and resources necessary for gainful employment.
The program will prioritize residents from underserved or economically distressed communities to provide them with the skills needed for entry into registered apprenticeships in the energy sector to help drive Michigan’s energy transition.
Reconnect / Futures for Frontliners Wraparound Support:
The governor’s plan includes a pilot providing wrap-around supports for up to 400 single parents who participate in the Michigan Reconnect and Futures for Frontliners programs.
Participants will receive on-campus childcare, intensive personalized advisement, educational supports including tutoring, career counseling and assistance in transitioning to a 4-year school.
Schools:
As part of the recent actions from the federal government, Michigan was allocated nearly $1.7 billion through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund).
The governor’s MI COVID Recovery Plan will allocate this federal funding, along with an additional $300 million in state dollars, to help schools meet the Governor’s goal of providing every student with an in-person learning opportunity by March 1.
It will also help address the learning loss that has occurred due to the pandemic, according to the announcement.
Whitmer says these one-time, flexible dollars will be distributed through a formula that recognizes the additional costs associated with supporting students in poverty and students with special education needs.
“In order to safely educate Michigan students, schools and educators must have the funding necessary to put virus mitigation measures in place and adhere to them,” Michigan Education Association President Paula Herbart said in a statement. COVID-19 has impacted every district in the state and every district needs resources to continue educating Michigan students. That’s why the additional per-pupil funding proposed by the governor is so critical, in addition to providing extra support for the individual needs of Michigan at-risk and special education students.”
Further Viewing:
The virtual announcement discussing the plan can be viewed on the Governor’s YouTube page at this link.
