COVID 19 Restart Center: Chamber Impact

On Wednesday, June 2, the Michigan Senate passed their version of a package of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) tax relief bills. The Detroit Regional Chamber helped introduce this bipartisan legislation in the Michigan House of Representatives and has advocated for its passage.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced changes to the Michigan Health and Human Service Department orders on Tuesday, March 3, that relaxes restrictions on restaurants, bars, retail locations, and nursing home visitations. These changes come after a steady decline in COVID-19 cases, testing positivity rates, and hospitalizations over several months.

It is no secret that some industries, based on the sheer nature of their industries, have been impacted more than others. Our restaurant industry has fallen into this category and continues to face barriers to remaining in business. Our organizations support the concept of a graduated reopening of restaurants that is science based and data driven.

Read a letter from the state’s top business leaders, including Detroit Regional Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Sandy K. Baruah on proposed improvements to the vaccination eligibility process.

Watch Chamber President and CEO Sandy K. Baruah discuss priorities for 2021, including vaccinating the public and getting the coronavirus under control, in an interview on Flashpoint.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Monday announced an extension of the three-week Paused to Save Lives issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) by 12 days, with the regulations remaining in effect through Dec. 20. The Detroit Regional Chamber remains unequivocal in our position that federal, state, and local governments need to do more to support businesses during this time of unprecedented disruption.

Lame duck will be a critical time for COVID-19 relief. Read more on why measures like PPE tax exemptions for employers and legislation to support job creation are important to supporting businesses through the pandemic.

Businesses that take reasonable steps to follow public health guidelines should be protected against COVID-19 liabilities.

Monday’s rare August Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC) in Lansing left Michigan facing a much smaller, yet significant budget gap than originally predicted in May.

The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) approved the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s application for federal funding assistance that would provide an additional $300 per week payment to Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits.

The Detroit Regional Chamber, in partnership with the Grand Rapids Chamber, Michigan Chamber, and Small Business Association of Michigan, are working together to help find a safe pathway for businesses that remain closed, to safely reopen.

Yesterday, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) submitted an application to the United States Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for funding that would provide an additional $300 per week payment to Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits

With talks on additional COVID-19 federal stimulus funds stalling last week in Congress, President Trump issued several executive orders on Saturday designed to give some relief to Americans struggling during the pandemic.

U.S. Chamber to Lead Digital Days of Action Monday, Aug. 10 and Tuesday, Aug. 11

With our country in the midst of a recession like nothing we have seen before because of COVID-19, advocates for meaningful immigration reform are a raising key question that strikes at the heart of the effectiveness of our federal government at this point in time.

Today, during the State of Michigan’s COVID-19 briefing, Gov. Whitmer invited Chamber president and CEO Sandy K. Baruah to join her to stress the need for state and local government aid out of the next federal stimulus package.

Tune in on Tuesday, July 28 at 2 p.m.

Today, the Detroit Regional Chamber and 14 other statewide business organizations called on Michigan’s Congressional Delegation to unify behind smart compromise Federal legislation to provide financial relief to Michigan, and other states, to address tax revenue loss due to the COVID-19 crisis.

As Congress and the White House negotiate the next phase of the CARES Act, the Chamber is working with the Michigan Congressional delegation, U.S. Chamber, and other partners to highlight our priorities for the new package.

New Research from New American Economy shows that immigrants in Detroit play an outsize role in critical industries like Healthcare, Pharmacies, Groceries, and Restaurants.

Chamber member and partner, Grand Hotel, signed on. The Executive Vice President of Operations, Doug Dean, shared with the Chamber what precautions and measures the hotel has taken to ensure all employee and customer safety.

HELLA’s Head of Sales Excellence and Marketing, Ben Cohen, teamed up with the Chamber to share in a Q&A on why HELLA took the pledge and how they are supporting their employees and customers.

Yesterday, the SBA and Treasury Department released a list of businesses that received funds from the PPP. In total, 121,135 loans totaling nearly $16 billion were approved in Michigan as of the end of June, according to the SBA. This number underscores the immediate economic crisis due to the spread of COVID-19.

Economic prediction is a dangerous profession, but when Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says he’s “not even thinking about thinking about” raising interest rates you know he’s signaling something about the dire state of the economy.

As the state’s economy continues to reopen, businesses are faced with the challenge of safely welcoming employees back, establishing work-from-home protocols, or doing both.

Today, the Michigan House and Senate released a high-level overview of what their “Return to Learn” plan would look like, a week before Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Return to Learning Advisory Council is expected to release its own version.

Many states across the U.S. have been given the green light to fully reopen, with exceptions in Michigan, Illinois, and California, which have limited reopening. Small businesses are faced with the challenges of when, how, and if they will reopen.

The Michigan House of Representatives and Senate unanimously passed an $880.1 million supplemental spending bill of federal dollars for various COVID-19-related items.

Michigan has started to reopen the state in the past couple of weeks since COVID-19 cases have decreased and the curve has flattened. As businesses start to reopen there are key guidelines to keep employees and customers safe that will also help avoid a second wave. Start with the below resources as your business continues to return to a regular in-person schedule. 

Gov. Whitmer signed House Bill 5766 into law. This important update to Michigan’s Property Tax Appeal deadline for commercial industrial taxpayers is now extended one more month to Aug. 31. Previously, EO 2020-87 extended this deadline to July 31.

Like several other states, Michigan is considering easing liquor laws to allow patrons to take cocktails and alcoholic beverages throughout special social districts outside restaurants and bars. It’s all part of an effort to help restaurants and bars do business while adhering to reduced capacities and social distancing measures in place under the MI Safe Start Plan.

Now that Michigan has transitioned into phase four of the governor’s MI Safe Start Plan, what does this mean for businesses attempting to resume operations in a safe and secure way?

At the Detroit Regional Chamber, we believe that nothing would be more economically damaging than a second economic shutdown due to COVID-19.

With the Governor lifting the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order this week, Michigan is moving to Phase Four of the Michigan Safe Start Plan.  What does it all mean?

Today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a number of Executive Orders that seek to help the state move forward post COVID-19.

The Detroit Regional Chamber is having the essential conversations with government officials and entities behind the scenes to help mitigate the COVID-19 crisis and ensure the health of businesses in the Detroit region coming out of the crisis.

Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a number of Executive Orders that relaxed some of the “Stay at Home” orders. She updated Executive Order 2020-100 to extend Michigan’s “Safer at Home” order until June 12, 2020.

Employers are entering unchartered territory. They are reopening after a global pandemic brought the economy to a screeching halt for more than 8 weeks.

This week, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President for Policy, Neil Bradley, shared an update with the Detroit Regional Chamber leadership on key national legislative updates. 

While there has been much debate on Michigan’s reopening strategy, including protests at the Capitol in Lansing, the majority of respondents to the Detroit Regional Chamber’s May statewide poll support the pace adopted by the Whitmer administration.

On May 20, 2020, the Chamber released the findings from a new statewide poll of registered voters in Michigan that provides insight and data on how Michiganders have reacted to the state’s dual public health and economic crises.

The Detroit Regional Chamber is having the essential conversations with government officials and entities behind the scenes to help mitigate the COVID-19 crisis and ensure the health of businesses in the Detroit region coming out of the crisis. The Chamber’s Government Relations team is dedicated to advising the state on how to best accommodate the needs of businesses and communities through this difficult time.

Friday’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference in Lansing will provide one of the first substantive glimpses into the state’s fiscal outlook as the economy re-opens in phases, and will set the backdrop for budget negotiations amid historic unemployment.

The governor announced that the State of Michigan will save $80 million by participating in the federal Unemployment Insurance Agency Work Share program

Friday’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference in Lansing will provide one of the first substantive glimpses into the state’s fiscal outlook as the economy re-opens in phases, and will set the backdrop for budget negotiations amid historic unemployment.

PlanetM Landing Zone hosted its first virtual Mobility Meetup with guest speaker Mark de la Vergne, Chief of Mobility Innovation for the City of Detroit. Director of the Landing Zone Devon O’Reilly spoke with a Vergne on Detroit’s current projects to increase mobility access for its residents.

Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an Executive Order extending her “Stay Home Stay Safe” order until May 28. The order also allows Michigan’s manufacturing sector, including the automotive industry and Michigan’s Big 3, to open in phases starting on Monday, May 11.

The Detroit Regional Chamber and our national peers are having essential conversations with government officials and entities behind the scenes to help mitigate the COVID-19 crisis and ensure the health of businesses in the Detroit region coming out of the crisis.

On behalf of the undersigned chambers of commerce, civic groups, trade associations, and other non-profits, we urge you to extend eligibility for the Paycheck Protection Program to all nonprofit organizations when Congress considers the next COVID-19 emergency assistance legislation. 

Detroit Regional Chamber’s Brad Williams breaks down what is happening in Lansing this week.

Explore some highlights of key questions the Detroit Regional Chamber has asked to top business and government leaders during the Tele-Town Hall Series.

U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence spoke with the Detroit Regional Chamber in today’s Tele-Town Hall on how the federal response to COVID-19 is currently evolving to adapt to the unfolding crisis.

The Detroit Regional Chamber’s Government Relations team is dedicated to advising the state on how to best accommodate the needs of businesses and communities through this difficult time.

When COVID-19 first hit Michigan, MICHauto’s primary focus was to support the growing personal protection equipment (PPE) needs of healthcare workers on the front lines.

Michigan State University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel, and Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson discuss in today’s Tele-Town Hall on how Michigan’s universities are hard at work to address the fallout of COVID-19.

The Detroit Regional Chamber’s Chief Operating Officer Tammy Carnrike assisted in hosting U.S. Army leadership at Detroit’s TCF Center field hospital to exhibit the state’s response to COVID-19.

Successfully combatting COVID-19 will require aggressive, collaborative action among governments, health care professionals, businesses, and citizens. Learn how the Detroit Regional Chamber is coordinating with Midwest peers to make this possible.

Employees are anxious about getting back to work, but many are simultaneously afraid of the consequences of returning too soon. Dennis W. Archer Jr. addresses why all need to work together to ensure a smooth transition out of the crisis. 

The Detroit Regional Chamber’s Government Relations team has been in regular contact with state government leaders over the course of the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more about their work with the state’s Congressional Delegation to secure additional funding for economic relief programs.

The Detroit Regional Chamber asked Gov. Gretchen Whitmer the tough questions on how her administration will ensure both the health of Michiganders and businesses during the pandemic.

“In recent days, the partisan flavor of the actions to protect citizens from the global pandemic and significant economic impact has grown increasingly unfortunate.  We applaud Governor Whitmer and her bipartisan regional peers for working together to create a coordinated plan to safely and smartly restart the economic engine of our region.”

See the latest news from the Detroit Regional Chamber on the COVID-19 crisis. The Chamber team is in daily contact with state, federal and local elected officials to ensure members and their employees can access the necessary relief, resources, and information.

As companies transition employees back into the workplace, safety and mental health are top of mind. Learn more about strategies to help employers navigate reopening businesses during COVID-19.