Pure Michigan Business Connect Program Links Businesses to PPE

A statewide platform is being activated to connect Michigan employers with suppliers of Personal Protective Equipment. Executive orders require businesses to supply the equipment to their employees to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

This requirement is both an added expense and an added stress as the equipment can be hard to find. The Pure Michigan Business Connect program has launched the free PMBC COVID-19 Procurement Platform to connect businesses who need the PPE with the Michigan suppliers who are selling it.

Items like face masks, face shields, gloves, goggles and other materials are being manufactured by Michigan industries. The Platform was rolled out in March, but is being ramped up in response to the needs of businesses who are opening back up and working to fulfill the safety guidelines required by the state. 

According to a press release from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, over 900 companies and 1800 suppliers have registered with the portal. Businesses with needs of all types and sizes are encouraged to go to www.michiganbusiness.org/ppe to get connected to the PPE that they need to safely reopen.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Vegas Back in Business June 4th

Guided by the latest CDC and government recommendations, Las Vegas will officially open for business on Thursday, June 4th. New policies and procedures have been put into place in an effort to help ensure the health and well-being of guests and staff.

Las Vegas hotels have made in an effort to lure tourists back by enhancing sanitation throughout their properties by promising daily disinfection of everything from the poker tables and slot machines to public surfaces and spaces. They are also offering complimentary care amenities like personal hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, latex gloves, and personal masks, which will be provided in every room upon check in.

Physical distancing instructions will be clearly marked in places like the front desk, elevator lobbies, and ride-share lines. When it comes to the famous Vegas buffets, most hotels and casinos have already indicated that if they re-open, buffets will come much later in the process.

Most outdoor tourist attractions will also open on June 4th, but the popular Las Vegas shows will be put off until a later date.

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn

Hernandez Feels Governor Has Damaged Her Credibility With Michiganders

Rep. Shane Hernandez – chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee –  issued a statement on May 27th about the state budget and interaction with the governor’s office:

“At a time when the relationship between the governor and Legislature is critical due to the looming budget crisis, the governor has continued to damage her credibility with the people of Michigan.

“Working relationships are built on trust.  Over the last few months, whatever trust may have been building between the governor and the Legislature seems to have eroded through a series of actions that she has taken.

“Perhaps the most glaring is the administration’s approval of a no-bid contract for contact-tracing for one of the governor’s political consultants.  When asked about the contract, the administration has denied and distracted from the particulars of what happened, while new information keeps emerging about the role the governor’s office played in securing that contract.  Now through the media we have learned the answer to our most important question – the governor’s office not only knew about this, they in fact gave it the ‘green light.’

“We still have questions about how much data the vendor handled while under contract, what happened to that data, and any other contracts that are in place for political vendors.  I am hopeful that now our remaining questions on contact tracing can be answered and the governor will let the people of Michigan know why statements made in the past on this topic were not clear and factual.

“To that end, I have great concerns going forward. We are facing what is perhaps the largest budget crisis in Michigan’s history, caused by the governor’s unilateral response to COVID-19. The people of Michigan deserve a collaborative approach to making the necessary adjustments for what remains of this budget year, and prospectively for next.

“Facts and data drive budgets.  Hope is not a governing strategy.  Waiting for a federal bailout is not a plan.  The $6 billion shortfall over this year and next will not go away through wishful thinking.  The state budget director and state treasurer agreed with this revenue shortfall at the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference 12 days ago, yet we have no movement from the administration to address that shortfall.  The worst-case scenario with this inaction is that we run out of money this year and we cannot fund roads, schools or address high water levels.  Every day we wait makes this worse.

“We were elected to be leaders.  Leadership involves bringing people together and fixing the problems that our state is facing.  The people of Michigan deserve honest engagement from all parties in the budget process.  I stand ready to do the work necessary to get a real budget done.”

Submitted by Tim Martin

Whitmer Asks EGLE to Investigate Edenville and Sanford Dam Failures

Lansing. MI — Governor Gretchen Whitmer today sent a letter to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) directing the department to investigate what caused the Edenville Dam and Sanford Dam to fail, resulting in historic flooding in several mid-Michigan counties. Gov. Whitmer also asked EGLE to review the larger issue of dam safety in Michigan and provide recommendations on policy, legislative, budgetary, and enforcement reforms that can prevent these harms from repeating elsewhere.

“This flooding forced thousands to evacuate their homes, destroyed public infrastructure, ruined homes and businesses, and caused major natural resource damage,” said Governor Whitmer. “We must ensure accountability and prevent a disaster like this from happening again. I want to thank the first responders and volunteers who have stepped up to help in this time of unprecedented need.”

The letter to EGLE is just one of many steps Gov. Whitmer has taken to marshal the necessary resources to ensure residents and their families have access to the help they need to recover from this disaster. Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency on May 19 for Midland City and Midland County and has since expanded the declaration to include additional impacted counties of Arenac, Gladwin, Saginaw, and Iosco to ensure those areas have the resources they need. On May 20, Gov. Whitmer sent a letter to President Trump urging him to approve a federal emergency declaration for Midland County, which was approved on May 21.

“It warms my heart to see the outpouring of support and generosity for residents in mid-Michigan impacted by this historic flood while in the midst of a global health pandemic,” Governor Whitmer said. “As residents begin the painstaking task of picking up the pieces from this disaster, they deserve to know why these dams failed, uprooting their homes, businesses and lives in the process.”

Local Arts and Culture Non-Profits Receive Grants

The local art and culture scene was thrown a lifeline recently, thanks to a statewide initiative. Five local non-profit arts and cultural organizations received $3,000 each as part of a statewide Emergency Relief Fund Grant. 

The St. Clair County recipients are Enter Stage Right, Riverbank Youth Theatre, School for Strings, St. Clair Art Association, and Studio 1219. 

The Michigan Council for the Arts awarded over $500,000 to 176 eligible non-profits who are coping with loss of revenue from the COVID-19 crisis. Over $83,000 was leveraged from Arts Midwest to benefit an additional 28 non-profits in Michigan. The funds can be used to pay staff, contracts, and overhead costs like rent and utilities. 

Receiving the grants shows that the organizations were deemed likely to “secure jobs and keep doors open” according to the Michigan Council for the Arts. Receiving funding is a vote of confidence in the future of in-person arts and cultural programming in the region. 

Funding was provided to the Michigan Council for the Arts by the federal CARES act in April. All available monies have now been disbursed. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Whitmer Requests Extension for Use of Michigan National Guard

Governor Gretchen Whitmer today sent a letter to President Trump requesting an extension of Title 32 authority in order to use Michigan National Guard forces to combat the spread of COVID-19 through July 31, 2020. Title 32 status, which provides for federal pay and benefits, is currently authorized by the President through June 24.

“The Michigan National Guard has been instrumental in flattening the COVID-19 curve in Michigan by performing testing throughout the state, distributing Personal Protective Equipment, food, and medical supplies, providing warehousing support, disinfecting public spaces, and assisting the Department of Health and Human Services with testing,” Governor Whitmersaid. “I’m requesting an extension to continue utilizing the Michigan National Guard so we can safely reopen our economy while putting the health and well-being of all Michiganders first.” 

In addition to requiring Title 32 authority to fully utilize the Michigan National Guard, Gov. Whitmer is making her request in order to ensure Guard members receive federal retirement and education benefits made available under the GI Bill. If Title 32 authority expires on June 24, some Guard members will not be eligible to receive these benefits. 

“The Michigan National Guard is a crucial part of our emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will remain vital to our ongoing recovery,” Governor Whitmer said. “I want to ensure the brave men and women serving in the National Guard receive the benefits they’re entitled to and have earned.”