Apply Tomorrow for $100 Million in Small Business Grants

The Michigan Small Business Restart Program has $100 million in federal funding available to provide grants to businesses with 50 or fewer employees beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, 7/15/20. Additional details have been shared by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) through this “Frequently Asked Questions” document.

A single, statewide application for the program will be available at michiganbusiness.org/restart beginning July 15 and running through August 5, though the grants will be administered through 15 local economic development organizations. All grant applications will be considered after August 5 — the program will not be run on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure equitable opportunity across the state, at least 30% of funds will be directed to women-owned, minority-owned or veteran-owned businesses.

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


Federal Paid Leave Requirements: USDOL Update and Q&A

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) continues to have far reaching implications for employers and their paid leave programs. 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 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.

Background

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), effective April 2, 2020 through December 31, 2020, requires employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide up to 80 hours of paid sick leave and up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family medical leave to employees who are unable to work due to qualifying reasons related to COVID-19. The Wage and Hour Division of the USDOL enforces the paid leave requirements of the FFCRA.

About the Speaker

Jacob Swier is the Community Outreach and Planning Specialist for the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Jacob spent 8 years as an investigator with Wage and Hour Division’s Grand Rapids District Office enforcing a variety of Federal labor laws including: Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage and overtime), H-2B / H-2A visa programs, and government contract prevailing wage requirements. He brings that field experience to his new role; helping employers understand compliance through outreach and education.


New COVID-19 Transmission Tool for Employers

The Michigan Economic Recovery Council, a group of business and health care leaders which has advised Governor Gretchen Whitmer on strategies to reengage the economy following her “Stay Home. Stay Safe.” order earlier this year, has worked together with the Michigan Association for Local Public Health to develop this document to help employers better understand COVID-19 transmission, and the steps to take if a case is suspected or confirmed in their workforce.


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.