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March 4, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Whitmer Urges Small Businesses Impacted by Lack of Snow to Apply for Available Federal Funding
Amid the warmest winter on record, businesses in federally designated areas can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans
LANSING, Mich. — As Michigan continues to face record high winter temperatures, Governor Gretchen Whitmer urged Michigan small businesses impacted by lack of snow to apply for federal funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Amid the warmest winter on record, with days in February and March topping 60 degrees, federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available because of ongoing federal drought declarations affecting 42 Michigan counties.
“Michiganders are used to tough winters, but this year’s record-setting warm winter has been tough in a different way, causing economic hardships for small businesses and regional economies that rely on snow,” said Governor Whitmer. “I know how hard this winter has been on families and communities who rely on winter tourism revenue and all the associated business that comes with it—hotels, restaurants, and shops. Fortunately, businesses in these 42 counties in the UP and the Northern Lower Peninsula can apply for support right now. A drought is a drought—whether we’re talking about rain or snow. Businesses impacted by low snow in these 42 counties can apply for support right now, and I’ll continue to push our federal government for more solutions. We’ll get through this warm winter together.”
Record-Breaking Winter
“It’s all hands on deck to ensure our small businesses affected by the unseasonable lack of snow across the First District are able to make it through this tough winter,” said U.S. Representative Jack Bergman. “Working together with the Governor, business owners, and local leaders, we will continue to take every step possible to extend necessary resources and assistance to help our communities thrive through this unprecedented winter.”
“The many great businesses that depend on a winter wonderland need this chance to access relief funds,” said state Senator Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan). “Winter will be back next year, and we want these shops to be open and ready to serve the visitors who come to the UP.”
“This winter has been especially hard on our businesses that rely on snow. From ski hills to hotels and restaurants, many businesses I’ve spoken to are concerned whether they can even make it to the summer,” said state Senator John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs). “Thank you to all who took the time to meet with us and to the Governor for working with the Small Business Administration to help make special low-interest EIDL loans available. I encourage all of our businesses to move quickly to secure this critical support.”
“The lack of snow this winter has had a profound impact on our local seasonal economies and the people who depend on them, especially in the U.P.,” said state Representative Jenn Hill (D-Marquette). “I appreciate the governor encouraging Michigan’s small businesses to take advantage of the aid that’s available. We all want to ensure our communities remain resilient in the face of these unexpected challenges.”
“Michiganders up north know that getting through the winter means pulling together. That’s true during unusually warm winters, too,” said state Representative Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City). “This unseasonably warm winter has created unique challenges, especially for those businesses that rely on snow for a strong tourist season. So, I certainly echo Governor Whitmer’s call for small businesses to apply for SBA funds in the face of these unpredictable and difficult times.”
Drought Designation
42 Michigan counties are covered by a disaster designation for drought from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Through SBA declarations related to those designations, businesses in these counties may be eligible for emergency loans that offset their business losses if the loss is related to the drought.
There are the 42 counties covered by four different SBA drought declarations. Where two declarations cover one county, businesses can apply under either declaration. Applicable SBA declarations and relevant deadlines are as follows:
“The Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) is very appreciative of the work by the Governor’s office, the Small Business Administration and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to provide disaster relief funding, which will help many Michigan ski areas that are vital job providers and assets to our communities but suffered critical visitation and revenue losses due to weather, with reduced staffing and limited operations during key visitation times,” said Mickey MacWilliams, president and executive director of MSIA. “This has been a challenging winter all across the state but we will persevere, and even with the mild temperatures, many Michigan ski areas are still open to welcome guests.”
“This year’s El Nino weather pattern and unusually mild winter have severely affected our snow-dependent industries,” said Warren Call, President & CEO of Traverse Connect and member of the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance. “The loans available through this initiative are a much-needed support effort for northern Michigan’s small business employees and owners that rely heavily on winter recreation for their livelihood.”
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans are designed to help businesses through disaster situations that have impacted their economic well-being. Loans are up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Businesses pay no interest on the loan for the first year and a maximum rate of 4% for the rest of the loan period. Businesses must apply by the application deadline for their county.
Submit applications and find additional disaster assistance information at https://lending.sba.gov. Call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 4, 2024 Contact: [email protected]
Governor Whitmer Proclaims March 4-8 as School Breakfast Week Last year’s balanced, bipartisan budget delivered free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million public school students, saving parents $850 a year per kid on groceries and time every morning
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed March 4-8 as School Breakfast Week and highlighted her administration’s bipartisan collaboration with the Michigan Legislature to deliver free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million public school students.
“There’s a reason we tell our kids that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—it helps them focus in class so they can learn and grow,” said Governor Whitmer. “This School Breakfast Week, let’s celebrate our bipartisan work to deliver free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million public school students in Michigan. I am so proud we got it done in last year’s balanced budget, and I am proud to have included funding to feed two free meals at school again in my budget proposal this year. By feeding our students, we can help them concentrate on learning and growing in class instead of worrying about an empty stomach. Let’s also save parents $850 a year on groceries per kid and valuable time every morning.”
Free Breakfast and Lunch for Michigan Students The balanced, bipartisan budget Governor Whitmer signed into law last year delivered free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million public school students in Michigan. Getting this done saves parents an average of $850 a year per kid on groceries and valuable time every morning.
To view the full proclamation, click here.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2024
Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Treasury today announced that more than $87 million is being distributed among 269 municipalities and counties as a part of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act.
Over the next few days, 99 cities, 30 villages, 69 townships and 71 counties will receive payments from the Marihuana Regulation Fund. For the state of Michigan’s 2023 fiscal year, this means each eligible municipality and county will receive more than $59,000 for every licensed retail store and microbusiness located within its jurisdiction.
“This week, many Michigan municipalities and counties will begin seeing their share of adult-use marijuana payments appear in their banking accounts,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “Through a partnership, the dollars received from the adult-use marijuana taxes and fees are distributed to our participating communities. These dollars may be spent how our local units deem fit to their needs.”
Revenue was collected from 737 licensees among the state’s cities, villages and townships during the 2023 fiscal year. Some of these municipalities host more than one licensed retail store and microbusiness.
For the 2023 state fiscal year, there was more than $290.3 million available for distribution from the Marihuana Regulation Fund.
State law outlines how much is distributed from the Marihuana Regulation Fund.
Aside from the more than $87 million in disbursements to municipalities and counties, $101.6 million was sent to the School Aid Fund for K-12 education and another $101.6 million to the Michigan Transportation Fund.
“The tax funding for municipalities and counties that comes from the marijuana excise tax is a very important benefit of the legal cannabis industry in Michigan,” said Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) Executive Director Brian Hanna. “The CRA is committed to doing our part in supporting our licensees so that they can continue to grow the local economy throughout the state with good-paying jobs and increased revenues for local government budgets.”
For more information about adult-use marijuana tax distributions – including a breakdown of how much municipalities and counties received – go to Michigan.gov/RevenueSharing
Feb. 27, 2024, Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County will conduct its first outdoor warning siren test of 2024 on Saturday, March 2. It will produce a steady three-minute tone beginning at 1 p.m.
In a real emergency, the siren indicates a tornado has been sighted or strongly indicated on radar or a severe thunderstorm with sustained winds of 70 mph or greater is in the area. Residents would be given instructions to seek shelter immediately and listen to radio or television for more information.
“The first siren test of the season is a great opportunity to learn about why we have sirens and why it’s vital to have an emergency plan,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “Knowing what you will do ahead of time and how you will communicate with family and friends is invaluable.”
Individuals, families, and businesses throughout Oakland County are encouraged to use the siren test to discuss their preparedness plan to ensure that they are ready for severe weather. Oakland County Emergency Management has an array of preparedness resources and information about severe weather threats, tornados, downed power lines, floods, and fires on its webpage and social media accounts.
For more resources on how you can prepare your home, school, or business for severe weather emergencies and other disasters, visit oakgov.com/emergency-management. Follow Oakland County Emergency Management @OakGov.EM on X, formerly Twitter, and Facebook for preparedness tips and emergency information.
Oakland County has 275 outdoor warning sirens, each capable of covering about a one-mile radius from its location. The sirens are designed to alert individuals who are outside. People who are inside buildings may hear the siren if they are near the siren location. For indoor warnings, residents are
advised to obtain the FEMA mobile app or purchase a weather radio, which provides notifications of incoming severe weather. Or they can be warned through the “OakAlert” message sent to subscribers.
OakAlert is a self-registering alert system that emails participants about emergencies and disasters in Oakland County, such as chemical spills, significant road closures, missing persons, interruption of county services, health and safety messages, and active assailant situations. Subscribers are notified each time a siren goes off. To sign up for OakAlert, click oakgov.com/OakAlert.
