June 19th commemorates the day in 1865 when Union Army General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas and read General Order #3, stating that all enslaved people were free, and that former masters and enslaved people were absolutely equal in personal and property rights. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 in the United States, reflecting its importance in the nation’s history and the ongoing pursuit of equality. This day has since evolved into a celebration of African American culture and heritage, recognizing the struggles and honoring the contributions of Black Americans throughout history.

Since taking office, Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist have been committed to making Michigan a more equitable and just state:

• Quintupled the Working Families Tax Credit, benefitting half the kids in Michigan and putting an average $3,150 tax refund back in the pockets of 700,000 families.
• Enacted a mental health parity law that requires insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorder at the same level as physical health services to ensure protection and coverage for Michigan families that utilize mental health services.
• Signed a bipartisan bill investing $10 million in direct grants to support Community Violence Intervention initiatives across the state which will help tackle the root causes of violence in Michigan’s cities.
• Established the Racial Disparities Task Force and made “lasting structural change.” Released a report detailing progress made and actions still to be taken to close disparities.
• Made historic investments in K-12 schools—closing the funding gap, providing free meals for students, free preschool for all eligible 4-year olds including 8,600 Black children, additional resources for at-risk students, improved mental health, school safety, in-class resources.
• Invested hundreds of millions in entrepreneurs of color.
• Signed the bipartisan CROWN Act, banning hair discrimination.
• Created the Black Leadership Advisory Council to help tackle racial inequity in Michigan.
• Changed the face of our government and judicial system to make our decision-makers more diverse by appointing more than 500 Black Michiganders to boards, commissions, and full-time positions. More than 60% of appointees are women or people of color. The governor has also appointed 30 Black Michiganders to the bench out of 103 judicial appointments, including Kyra Harris Bolden the first Black woman on the Michigan Supreme Court.
• The administration has consistently invested in Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies, an initiative to address disproportionate racial impacts of maternal and infant mortality which has now grown by $90 million from FY 2021-FY 2024.

To view the full Juneteenth proclamation, please click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 11, 2024

Contact: [email protected]

Governor Whitmer Statement on Passage of Economic Development Package

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement after the Michigan House of Representatives Commitee on Economic Development and Small Business voted to pass the recently introduced transformational economic development package.

“Today’s progress on economic development delivers on our comprehensive vision to invest in people, uplift places, and win projects.

“Since I took office, we have announced 38,000 new auto jobs and driven unemployment to historic lows. We have continued our focus on the kitchen-table issues while growing and diversifying our economy. Together, we will secure the future of electric cars, semiconductor chips, technology, and clean energy here in Michigan, while delivering historic and long-overdue investments in housing and transit to make our communities better places to live, work, and invest.

“I am grateful to my partners in the Michigan House for their action today, and I look forward to reviewing this fiscally responsible economic development package when it reaches my desk.”