DNR Get Involved – October 2020
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DNR Get Involved – October 2020
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| DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus. |
Several state parks in southern Michigan will host volunteer stewardship workdays in October. Volunteers are needed to help with removing invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems in the parks.
The DNR welcomes public input on its plans for Michigan’s 4 million acres of state forest.
Mountain biking or snowmobiling on scenic forest trails, going afield for the state’s time-honored hunting tradition, bird watching in wetland areas – these and countless other ways to enjoy Michigan’s great outdoors are available across the state thanks in part to the careful, thoughtful way the DNR strives to take care of Michigan’s public lands.
How do you use and enjoy Michigan’s nearly 4 million acres of state forests? How important are forests to you?
Veteran trail users in Michigan know the state is richer than most, with 13,000 miles of state-managed trails, thousands of miles of local, county and federally managed trails, and more rail-trail miles than any state in the nation. We’re looking for input – from trail lovers of all experience levels – on the management and future development of these valuable resources.
COVID-19 Business and Resident Stabilization Grants
COVID-19 Business and Resident Stabilization Grants Touch Every City, Village and Township in Oakland County
Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County and the state of Michigan have allocated more than $140 million in grants to help stabilize and support small businesses, residents and communities in every part of the county since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grants have been awarded to more than 10,000 local businesses, which employ 65,000 employees; 22 local chambers of commerce; 28 local school districts; residents having trouble making rent or mortgage payments, nonprofit entities, retailers, restaurants and communities, among others, Oakland County Executive David Coulter said.
“We have been intentional in our strategy to spread these grants throughout the county to our small businesses, schools, communities and others in the greatest need,” Coulter said. “These grants are providing much needed cash at a time when so many small business owners continue to be in desperate need.”
Local small businesses got an additional shot in the arm today with the announcement from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. that more than $11 million was being allocated through the Michigan Small Business Restart Grants, which range from $1,500 to $7,500. The average award was $3,700.
Grants such as that have been critical in helping businesses such as Paul Turner’s Team GUTS, a Ferndale-based non-profit fitness club for young people with special needs. The pandemic has been especially problematic for his clients and their families, who are reluctant to return to the fitness club until there is a vaccine for the virus. The club is has zoom classes for participants.
“I appreciate the grant,” Turner said. “We will come back once we get on the other side of this pandemic. Our mission is too important. The money will help in our resurgence. It is earmarked for the special needs community and we’re very thankful we got it. For us, it’s all about helping these families… Oakland County has been great to work with. They want us to succeed.”
Stephanie Ames, owner of Blue Birch Outfitters in downtown Milford, was excited about her new clothing and sports business. It opened March 1.
“Just in time to shut down,” Ames said.
But with the help of a grant from the county, she was able to add more inventory and get her website going during the pandemic shutdown.
“It’s a great thing for the county to be able to help out like that,” she said. “A lot of businesses didn’t survive it.”
The county has allocated all $219 million it received in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. Support included:
- $32 million for retail stores, restaurants and personal service businesses such as salons and fitness centers.
- Saving Businesses, Saving Lives” grant, which incentivized Oakland County manufacturers (23 companies to date sharing $887,000) to produce personal protective equipment for health care workers, hospitals and first responders.
- Oakland County ($10 million) partnered with Automation Alley to bring advanced manufacturing technologies to small and medium businesses to improve the region’s agility and ability to respond to future disruptions such as COVID-19. Oakland and Macomb county-based manufacturers interested in applying for the Personal Protective Equipment Resilience Grant Program can find more information and a link to the application here.
- $28 million to help 28 public school districts recover some of the unexpected costs incurred preparing for in school or remote student learning.
- 15,000 Oakland Together COVID-19 safety kits were distributed, which included facemasks, no-touch thermometers, gloves and sanitizer to give small businesses, faith-based and nonprofit organizations essential materials for reopening.
- $30 million for cities, townships, and villages to help with unbudgeted costs from the pandemic
- $2 million to hire 60 school nurses to help districts develop strategies to prepare for the safe return of students, faculty and staff to the classroom or for virtual learning.
- $10 million fund to support 84 non-profit organizations, with grants ranging from $4,000 to $500,000.
- $8.1 million for the Rent, Mortgage & Utility Relief Program to assist eligible county residents who have fallen behind on their rent, mortgage or utility payments because of a lost job or other income reduction with a one-time grant of up to $15,000 per household.
- $2 million to assist museums and cultural institutions.
- $1 million in emergency aid for veterans, service members and eligible family members affected by the coronavirus for health, economic and financial hardships resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is comprised of $250,000 in COVID-19 emergency assistance.
More than 60,000 apply for Futures for Frontliners
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Governor Whitmer Extends State of Emergency
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 29, 2020 Media Contact: [email protected]
Governor Whitmer Extends State of Emergency to Protect Michigan Families, Frontline Workers, and Small Businesses Governor also extends four executive orders to protect vulnerable populations
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer took further action to save lives and protect the health and safety of Michiganders by extending the State of Emergency until October 27, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Executive Order 2020-186 will allow the state to continue to mobilize resources and take the reasonable and necessary steps to protect Michiganders and their families. The governor also extended four executive orders to protect Michigan families and our most vulnerable populations.
“We have saved thousands of lives in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among our most vulnerable populations – people of color, seniors, and people with disabilities. Because we took swift action, the health of our families and our economy are faring better than our neighbors in other states,” said Governor Whitmer. “This emergency will end, and it is a matter of months. But we are not out of the woods yet. Right now, the federal government and all 50 states have been under some form of state of emergency. We must continue doing our part to fight this virus on behalf of our families, frontline workers, and our small businesses.”
Where Michigan was once among the states most heavily hit by COVID-19, our per-capita rate of new daily cases has plateaued at a level well below the national average. Despite gradually reopening our economy, Michigan’s seven-day case positivity rate has remained between 3.0% and 3.7% since early July. Over the same time period, case growth has also remained within a narrow band of 61 to 71 daily new cases per million population, by date of symptom onset.
Governor Whitmer has taken deliberate and steady action to reopen sectors of Michigan’s economy in a way that protects businesses, employees, and patrons. CNN Business currently ranks Michigan in the top ten – in ninth place – on their list of states that are getting our economies back on track.
The health, economic, and social harms of the COVID-19 pandemic remain widespread and severe, and they continue to constitute a statewide emergency and disaster. Though local health departments have some limited capacity to respond to cases as they arise within their jurisdictions, state emergency operations are necessary to bring this pandemic under control in Michigan and to build and maintain infrastructure to stop the spread of COVID-19, trace infections, and to quickly direct additional resources to hot-spots as they emerge.
“The Governor’s swift actions have saved thousands of lives during this pandemic, and she must be able to continue taking swift action to save lives,” said Chief Medical Executive and MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. “As we approach the 2020-2021 flu season, it is vitally important that all Michiganders get their flu vaccine, wear a mask, and maintain physical distancing. We will get through this together.”
The four other executive orders the governor signed today include:
“On behalf of the sheriffs, I am thankful that the governor worked with us to streamline the jails & prisons EO, and we look forward to continuing to work together for the safety and well-being of all Michigan citizens,” said Matthew Saxton, CEO and Executive Director of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association.
“We are grateful for the governor’s dedication to fighting COVID-19 and her ongoing work to protect Michigan workers and their families,” said Andrea Acevedo, President of SEIU Healthcare Michigan. “There is no doubt that the governor’s swift action has saved thousands of lives, particularly for our most vulnerable populations and health workers like ours who are serving on the front lines. We will continue to work closely with Governor Whitmer to ensure the health and safety of our members, their families, and those they serve.” |
MDHHS Office of Inspector General receives $600,000 grant
Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 30, 2020 CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112, wheatonb@ MDHHS Office of Inspector General receives $600,000 grant LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of Inspector General has received a $600,000 boost to its ongoing efforts to prevent food assistance fraud. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the award of $601,350 to enhance the program integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that in Michigan provides food assistance benefits to approximately 1.2 million people. “MDHHS is focused on SNAP program integrity so that the limited federal dollars that are available can benefit families that need assistance,” said MDHHS Inspector General Alan Kimichik. “This funding allows the Office of Inspector General to continue using the groundbreaking technology that’s already been successfully implemented while making enhancements that increase efficiencies and execute concepts identified in the SNAP Fraud Framework. We will be implementing enhancements and additional automation not previously envisioned or available, increasing our efforts to ensure taxpayer funding is benefiting those truly in need.” The Office of Inspector General’s grant award is focused on using data analytics and enhanced case management systems to detect and prevent fraud. It will pay to modernize the Office of Inspector General’s investigative case management system known as the Michigan Inspector General System. Upgrades will improve access to reports and dashboards for investigators and the office’s management team. It also will provide for increased security of data with lower operating costs using a U.S. government cloud-based system. This two-year grant will fund projects that support implementing the SNAP Fraud Framework – a collection of procedures, innovative ideas and best practices provided to state agencies in May 2018. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service created the SNAP Fraud Framework to improve state efforts to detect, investigate and prevent SNAP recipient fraud. |
Whitmer Orders Flags to Full Staff
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