MMA Urging Increased Vigilance Against COVID-19

MMA is calling on all industries and individuals in Michigan to work together to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus to avoid any further disruption in the economy. MMA President & CEO John J. Walsh pointed to the strict workplace safety protocols in place in manufacturing facilities and the industry’s long-standing record of safety in urging Michiganders to follow the guidelines established by leading health experts including wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing and exercising good personal hygiene.

Statement of MMA President & CEO John J. Walsh on the Critical Need for
Increased Vigilance Against COVID-19

Michigan manufacturing is working hard to build back to full capacity, delivering the products people need every day. Manufacturers have again answered the call to action when the country is in crisis. From the Arsenal of Democracy during the Second World War, to personal protection equipment, including, disinfectants, ventilators, face masks, pharmaceuticals and potentially vaccines, to food products and even toilet paper in this pandemic, manufacturers create essential products, deliver solutions and ensure economic stability.

Manufacturers are also implementing strict protocols to keep our workers safe and our facilities operating. Our continued vigilance is critical to the state’s economic recovery. Ensuring worker safety is a long-standing ethic in manufacturing. To help keep everyone safe, we encourage everyone to practice all of the safety practices recommended by leading health experts, including social distancing, frequent handwashing, and wearing masks in public places.

If we can work together in making our home lives as safe as our work lives, we can improve all of our lives. As we work to grow the economy and bring more people back to work, we ask you to join us in mitigating the health and economic impact of COVID-19. Wearing a mask is a simple, but critical step in moving forward and avoiding another cataclysmic disruption in our economy. With increased vigilance, like consistently wearing masks, we will conquer this virus and get closer to a more familiar normal life.

Manufacturing Funding Opportunities Available through Federal Agencies

Manufacturers may be eligible for new funding opportunities available through several federal agencies. Check out these new opportunities and consider applying to help your company move forward.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Business & Industry CARES Act Program has nearly $1 billion in loan guarantee authority for small business owners and agricultural producers working to manage the impact of economic disruption. Projects covered by the program include new roads at facilities, increasing water capacity and auxiliary needs. Energy grants are also available.

The Department of Defense Joint Acquisition Task Force created a one-stop industry portal for defense industry, commercial companies and academia to share creative ideas with federal agencies to combat the pandemic. Numerous contracting opportunities are available to bolster industrial capacity for the domestic supplier base in support of COVID-19 response priorities. Specific areas of interest include masks, pharmaceutical industry base expansion, screening & diagnostics and personal protective equipment industrial base expansion.

MMA Fighting to Protect Manufacturers Against Frivolous Lawsuits

MMA is working at the state and federal level to advance legislation to protect manufacturers from needless lawsuits.

Here in Michigan, as a leader in a broad coalition of business trade associations, MMA is working to advance legislation that would put commonsense COVID-19 legal reform measures in place to protect businesses who take reasonable steps to follow public health guidelines.

At the national level, MMA President & CEO John Walsh joined with his counterparts at numerous business organizations to urge Michigan’s Congressional delegation to support bi-partisan legislation that would put liability protection in place for employers that operate in good faith during the COVID-19 crisis. This collective of Michigan’s key business representatives also urged passage of financial support for state and local governments to address billions in state revenue loss caused by the pandemic.

Contact MMA’s Mike Johnston, at 517-487-8554 or johnston@mimfg.org for more information on MMA’s efforts to support Michigan manufacturers as they work to recover from the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.

New & Notable
Watch UIA Statements Closely

Manufacturers are advised to watch quarterly statements issued by the Unemployment Insurance Agency closely to ensure that they are not being charged improperly for benefit payments. Be aware of persistent fraudulent “imposter claims” and guard against claims that are erroneously charged to an employer account for COVID-related reasons. Contact MMA’s David Worthams at 517-487-8511 or worthams@mimfg.org for more information.

Apply by 8/5/20 for $100 Million
in Small Business Grants

The Michigan Small Business Restart Program has $100 million in federal funding available to provide grants to support businesses with 50 or fewer employees in the COVID-19 recovery.

A single, statewide application for the program is available at michiganbusiness.org/restart from July 15 and running through August 5. Learn more at MMA’s COVID-19 Financial Relief Tool Kit.

ICYMI: MMA Webinar with Michigan’s Director
of COVID-19 Workplace Safety

Sean Egan, appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as the Director of COVID-19 Workplace Safety, is responsible for coordinating the state’s efforts to monitor and enforce the workplace safeguards established in Executive Order 2020-145. Watch MMA’s conversation with Director Egan for an update on workplace safety requirements and resources available to employers.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Register Today to Speak with USDOL Tomorrow

Join MMA and Jacob Swier, Community Outreach and Planning Specialist, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, for an informative presentation on compliance resources to help ensure that your company is administering the new entitlements related to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) correctly. Ask your questions directly of the nation’s top regulator for this new law that requires employers to provide paid sick leave and extended family and medical leave to employees for specified reasons related to COVID-19.

Resources for Manufacturers

Stay updated and compliant with the many changes imposed over the last few weeks. Find state, federal and member resources on MMA’s COVID-19 Resources.

Please continue to reach out to the MMA team with questions.