Whitmer Declares State of Emergency for Midland County 

by | May 20, 2020 | Uncategorized

BANNER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2020

Media Contact: [email protected]

 

Governor Whitmer Declares State of Emergency for Midland County

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Midland County after the Edenville and Sanford Dams breached.

 

Shelters have opened across Midland county and are available to residents who need a place to go. Shelters remain open until further notice at:

  • Midland High School at 1301 Eastlawn,
  • Meridian Junior High School at 3475 N. Meridian Road,
  • Bullock Creek High School at 1420 S. Badour,
  • and the West Midland Family Center at 4011 W Isabella.

 

To view video of the governor’s press conference, click here.
Whitmer Statement on Unemployment Numbers

Whitmer Statement on Unemployment Numbers

by | May 20, 2020 | Uncategorized

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Banner - headshot with bridge graphic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2020

Media Contact: [email protected]

 

Governor Whitmer Statement on Unemployment Numbers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Governor highlights urgent need for additional federal assistance

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement after the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget released Michigan’s April unemployment numbers, when the state had reached a peak number of positive cases of COVID-19.

 

“We are going through an unprecedented crisis, unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetime,” said Governor Whitmer. “This virus has devastated families across the state and put hardworking Michiganders out of a job for months. I will continue working around the clock to ensure everyone who qualifies for unemployment benefits receives them during this time. But this isn’t just a problem in Michigan. Families across the country need help. We’re counting on the federal government to work together to provide additional flexibility and aid for states like Michigan to continue supporting essential services like health care, education, and police and fire departments. We will get through this together.”

 

From the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Governor Whitmer and her administration have worked around the clock to ensure benefits for Michiganders who have lost work because of the virus. Governor Whitmer has been recognized nationally for her efforts to ensure unemployed Michiganders have access to benefits during the ongoing public health crisis.

 

Michigan has provided nearly 1.4 million unemployed Michigan workers more than $5.62 billion in benefits. Latest numbers show that 92% of eligible claimants have received benefits or have been approved to receive benefits.

 

Under the governor’s leadership, Michigan was one of the first states to begin issuing the additional $600 pandemic benefit from the U.S. government.

DNR conservation officers evacuate people and pets during flood

by | May 20, 2020 | Uncategorized

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– DNR News –
The following news release was issued earlier today by Michigan’s State Emergency Operations Center:
May 20, 2020

Contact: Lt. Jeremy Payne, 989-297-2941

DNR conservation officers evacuate people and pets during Midland County flood

LANSING, MICH. Nearly 24 hours before the Edenville Dam in Midland County collapsed Tuesday, conservation officers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources began evacuating people in homes and businesses positioned downriver of the dam. With historic flood levels expected, the officers remain on scene and are providing emergency response as needed.

Shortly before dark Tuesday, the dam collapsed, creating life-threatening, flash flood conditions that forced a mandatory evacuation for the city of Midland, including residents, businesses, medical facilities and Dow Chemical’s headquarters – all in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Midland flood-video cover

“We will continue working with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to assist with patrol vessels anywhere we can,” said Lt. Jeremy Payne, the DNR’s district law supervisor in Bay City.

The initial dam breach caused the failure of a second area dam – the Sanford Dam. As a result, the Tittabawassee River is overflowing its 24-foot flood stage and is expected to crest around 38 feet today. At 7 a.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service said the flood stage was over 34 feet and rising.

More than 20 conservation officers from throughout the region responded with 10 DNR patrol vessels and search and rescue equipment to help continue the evacuation of flood victims.

“Conservation officers are specially trained and strategically placed in communities throughout the state with the equipment they need to respond to natural disasters and emergency situations such as this,” said Chief Gary Hagler, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “This is a difficult time for our state and the people in the Midland community affected by the flooding, and we are here to help.”

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned state peace officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents by providing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.

/Note to editors: Accompanying photos and a video link are available below for download. Caption information follows.

Video: Wednesday morning video footage from a Michigan DNR patrol vessel that conservation officers are using to search for and evacuate residents and animals in Midland County. The officers began evacuating residents Monday before the first dam broke and will remain on scene.

Patrol truck: A DNR conservation officer prepares to launch a patrol vessel Wednesday morning to assist a stranded driver whose vehicle was stuck in a flooded intersection.

View from vessel: Conservation officers on patrol vessels continue to search for stranded people and animals Wednesday morning in Midland County./
DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
More Than 3,500 Oakland County Small Businesses Helped

More Than 3,500 Oakland County Small Businesses Helped

by | May 20, 2020 | Uncategorized

Coulter: More Than 3,500 Oakland County Small Businesses Helped As Nearly $14 Million In Stabilization Grants Awarded

​Pontiac, Michigan – More than 3,500 small businesses seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will receive grants averaging nearly $4,000 from Oakland County’s $14 million small business stabilization fund, County Executive David Coulter said today.

The grants provide the small businesses with an immediate infusion of capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of business.

“Small businesses are vital to Oakland County’s economy and so many of our residents,” Coulter said. “They bring life and value to our communities. These grants provide a substantial boost to many small businesses who have suffered greatly through no fault of their own. We were able to fund nearly 50 percent of the businesses who applied for grants. I applaud the Board of Commissioners for its quick action in funding the program.”

The grants, which totaled nearly $14 million, were awarded in two phases. In April, 797 small businesses received an average of $2,886 from a $2.3 million fund that was created by a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and a matching grant from the Board of Commissioners.

The county added another $700,000 to create the “Saving Businesses, Saving Lives” grant program to incentivize manufacturers who could transition to making personal protective equipment for health care, hospitals and first responders, bringing available grants to a total of $3 million. Eight manufacturers have shared more than $400,000, with several other companies being considered for grants this week.

After the initial fund was quickly exhausted, Coulter went to the board on April 29 and asked it to quadruple the appropriation because of the profound and immediate need among small businesses. Board approval for an additional $12 million was unanimous.

To qualify for grant consideration, businesses met the following criteria:

  • The company was in an industry outlined in Executive Order 2020-9 , or any subsequent Executive Order of similar intent, or demonstrates it was otherwise affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as meeting additional criteria.
  • The company had 50 employees or fewer.
  • The company needed working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of business.
  • The company could demonstrate an income loss as a result of the EO, or the COVID-19 outbreak.

Coulter praised and thanked the teams of local economic development leaders from 12 geographic districts, who evaluated the applications and made recommendations, based on strict MEDC guidelines.

Second phase grant recipients include 2,763 small businesses who were shutout of the first round of funding.

  • The average grant award for the 3,560 recipients is $3,973
  • 88 small businesses received the maximum award of $10,000
  • 564 businesses received funding in both rounds

Nearly 7,400 small businesses – 17 percent of all businesses in Oakland County – applied for grants. They pegged their need from the COVID-19 pandemic at $80 million.

MDARD Offers Guidance to U-Pick Operations

by | May 20, 2020 | Uncategorized

MDARD Offers Guidance to U-Pick Operations in Advance of Opening for the Season; Social distancing, wearing masks, enhanced cleaning among protocols

Contact: Jennifer Holton 517-284-5724

As warmer weather approaches, so does Michigan’s U-pick season. Farm operations across the state are working so they can safely open and operate in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) outlined key protocols that U-pick operations should be implementing to protect themselves and their customers.

 

“Michigan is home to a wide array of delicious products and these farms play a critical role in our food supply chain. As we head into the 2020 growing season and early harvest for some commodities, U-pick operators will need to follow specific guidance such as social distancing in the retail and field areas, using masks, and taking the necessary steps to protect public health,” said Gary McDowell, MDARD Director.

A couple of key items to note, with the full list available online:

  • Operators must develop a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan and make it readily available to employees and customers; train employees; and supervise implementation as outlined in 2020-91.
  • U-pick operations must screen staff daily for symptoms and those with symptoms should not be permitted to work until they subside.
  • They will need to provide and require the use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles, face shields, and face coverings as appropriate for the activity being performed.
  • Limit in-person interaction with clients and patrons to the maximum extent possible, and bar any such interaction in which people cannot maintain six feet of distance from one another.
  • Customers must take steps to maintain social distancing in sale and retail areas and in fields. Spacing out guests in U-pick areas is critical to the safety of all guests. A minimum of six feet between guests must always be maintained. This also means avoiding crowds waiting to enter sales or field areas and providing for six feet between each guest standing in any lines.
  • Family units should stay together and six feet apart from others. Customers should only be accompanied with family members and should limit the numbers in their groups.

All provisions of Executive Orders 2020-91 and 2020-92 and more information and best practices from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention can be found here.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.