Updates 5.11.20 - Take Reopening Survey - MI Entrepreneur Resilience Fund - MI Financial Institutions & PPP - Fed. Workshare Program - Executive Order extends Hospital Capacity/Efficiency

IMPORTANT BUSINESS UPDATE

Take Our Reopening Survey

Saginaw Chamber Partners with Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Michigan Bankers Association

The Saginaw County Chamber, in partnership with the Michigan Chamber and the Michigan Bankers Association, is seeking information about businesses reopening in a short survey. Businesses are encouraged to participate. The statewide survey will give our organizations a better understanding of challenges on returning to business under a new normal, personal protection equipment (PPE), social distancing in your businesses and much more. Information will remain anonymous and will be summarized. The survey closes Wednesday, May 20.

Take the survey.

Thank you for your help!

Invitation to attend Zoom Talk with Senator Gary Peters

Senator Gary Peters is holding a Zoom call to talk with small business and interested staff about the latest proposed stimulus bill as well as answer participant questions. If you would like to participate in the call, please email Saginaw Chamber President Veronica Horn .

State Supports $1.5 Million Fund to Help Small Businesses Recover, Pivot in Response to COVID-19

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) partnered with Michigan Women Forward to announce creation of the $1.5 million Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund to help entrepreneurs and small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 recover from the outbreak, as well as assist them in meeting increased demands in support of COVID-19 response efforts.

The fund includes support of $500,000 from MEDC and $500,000 from Michigan Women Forward’s SBA microlending funds, along with partners including Consumers Energy Foundation, the New Economy Initiative, General Motors Corporation, Fifth Third Bank and Comerica Bank. Michigan Women Forward is also working with other potential funding partners to provide additional opportunities for grants and loans through the Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund.

The Fund will provide recovery grants of $1,000-$5,000 and microloans of $5,000-$10,000 to small businesses that are in need and have been adversely affected by COVID-19 closures, with at least 150 businesses statewide expected to benefit.

Applicants will be evaluated on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Eligible candidates will be prioritized based on demonstrated need, including, but not limited to:

Being located in a disadvantaged area within a U.S. Small Business Administration designated HubZone or Opportunity Zone;
Demonstrating status as a low- to moderate-income borrower;
And qualifying as a diverse business that can demonstrate ownership by underrepresented groups including, but not limited to, veterans, minorities and low-income men and women.

Small businesses interested in applying for support through the Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund can do so now by clicking here .

For additional information read the full announcement .

Michigan Financial Institutions Step Up to Support Small Businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program

More than 120 of Michigan’s state-chartered banks and credit unions have stepped up to provide Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to support small businesses facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ninety percent of Michigan’s 68 state-chartered banks and nearly half of Michigan’s 137 state-chartered credit unions have participated in the PPP to support Michigan small businesses.

“Michigan’s small businesses and their employees should know that our administration will do everything within our power to support them during these challenging times,” Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II said. “We are grateful for all of Michigan’s banks and credit unions who worked quickly to ensure that small businesses in our state have unprecedented access to the funding necessary to come back stronger than ever when it is safe to do so.”

The PPP, established by the U.S. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), provides forgivable loans to small businesses so they can maintain their payroll, hire back employees who may have been laid off, and cover applicable overhead. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used in accordance with the program requirements - payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

Michigan small businesses experiencing a financial hardship due to COVID-19 are encouraged to reach out directly to their financial institution to learn more about the PPP and other relief options that may be available. The Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) can assist consumers and businesses with questions or disputes that cannot be directly resolved with their financial institutions. Contact DIFS at 877-999-6442, or email a complaint at difscomplaints@michigan.gov .

State of Michigan to Participate in Federal Work Share Program to Protect Workers & Help Address Budget Deficit

The state of Michigan has announced that it would participate in the federal Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Work Share program to help offset budget implications as a result of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this program, impacted state employees will take two temporary layoff days per pay period beginning Sunday, May 17th until July 25th resulting in up to $80 million in decreased wage costs.

“As we continue to combat COVID-19, it’s clear that we’re facing unprecedented challenges that will lead to serious budget implications for the state of Michigan,” said Governor Whitmer. “Utilizing this federal program keeps state employees working so they can continue to provide critical services to Michiganders and protects their paychecks so they can continue to support their families.”

This federal program allows the state to keep employees working with reduced hours, while employees collect partial unemployment benefits to make up a portion of the lost wages. State managers at the 17 level and above will not participate in Work Share but will take one layoff day every other pay period resulting in an approximate 5 percent reduction in gross pay. Over 31,000 state employees will be impacted.

Impacted employees will retain their health insurance and other benefits and will be automatically enrolled into the unemployment process to help ensure they have the support they need during this challenging time.

Last month, Governor Whitmer announced she was taking a 10 percent pay cut and directed her executive team and cabinet appointees to take a 5 percent pay cut for the remainder of the fiscal year. Additionally, the Executive Office of the Governor will participate in the Work Share program.

The layoffs do not impact anybody working on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Law enforcement, the prison system, veterans’ homes, and other key health and human services all remain fully staffed with on-site employees.

Anyone interested in learning more about Michigan's Workshare Program is invited to attend one of the informational webinars below -

Thurs. 5/14 from 1-3

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

+1 248-509-0316 United States, Pontiac (Toll)

Conference ID: 643 756 36#

Friday 5/15 from 9-11

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

+1 248-509-0316 United States, Pontiac (Toll)

Conference ID: 262 528 7#

Note: There are plans for additional sessions in the coming weeks. A schedule will be forwarded as soon as it is available.

Executive Order 2020-82 Extends Enhanced Hospital Capacity, Efficiency

Executive Order 2020-82, extends a prior order temporarily lifting regulatory requirements on hospitals and care facilities to help ensure adequate personnel and facilities to serve patients during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

The reissued order authorizes the Michigan Departments of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to waive certain requirements to expedite bringing additional care facilities online as needed. The order also empowers LARA to ensure an adequate supply of care providers during the emergency by granting the department additional flexibility in its decisions about licensing, registration and workflow requirements.

Governor Whitmer said. “This order will help facilities expand capacity as needed, ensuring Michiganders have access to care throughout this public health crisis.”

The new order is in effect until June 9 at 11:59 p.m.

Read Full Executive Order 2020-82 - Hospital Capacity

Resources for Business and the Community

The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce maintains a list of federal, state, and local resources that provide aid and information for your business, employees and our community during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. This information is ever-changing, please check the Chamber's website, Facebook, and your email frequently.

We will add links, resources, and updates as information becomes available. We are also converting our At A Glance Newsletter to include Coronavirus links and information as well as local updates, job availability, member coupons and most importantly Member News. Please let us know what your business is doing and how you are functioning during this uncertain time. We need to stay connected and support each other.

Reopening Plan Templates, Playbooks, and Best Practices can be found on the Saginaw Chamber/Saginaw Future joint Reopening Business Playbook page.

If you are offering a service to help the Saginaw County Community or local businesses weather this storm, please email your information to info@saginawchamber.org.

Post your coupons

Send us your Member News

Post your Job Openings

Find Coronavirus Information

Stay Connected!

Please share this page with anyone who might need a source for information or connection.

Thank you and stay healthy.

#SaginawCountyChamber