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New Proposals from State Aim to Invest in Communities

Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced a package of 22 proposed investments designed to support Michigan’s workers, small businesses and communities.

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Michigan State Capitol in the evening.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced a package of 22 proposed investments designed to support Michigan’s workers, small businesses and communities.

The proposed investments total $2.1 billion in funding to educate workers and grow the middle class, support small businesses and create better jobs and invest in Michigan communities.  

"As we emerge from the once-in-a-century pandemic, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to use billions in federal resources to grow Michigan's middle class, support small businesses, and invest in our communities. With the $2.1 billion in proposals I have laid out, we can raise wages, give people paths to high-skill jobs, grow start-ups, build clean energy infrastructure, and do so much more. I'm utilizing every resource and ensuring that we continue to take bold action to help families, communities and small businesses thrive. Together, we can usher in new era of prosperity for Michigan," Whitmer said in a press release.

The proposal development included stakeholder outreach and feedback and over the weeks and months ahead the executive office will continue to improve and refine the proposals for movement through the legislature.

The proposal references the Michigan Nonprofit Relief and Activation Program which recommends investing $50 million in providing financial relief and assistance to strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem. 

The fund would ask nonprofits to submit grant applications sharing how funding would allow them to continue or expand programming in the areas of housing, child care, broadband access and other workforce barrier elimination efforts. Our partners at the Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) have been working to ensure the inclusion of this program.

The governor is calling for the expansion of Michigan Reconnect and Future for Frontliners, investments to growing the pipeline of talented workers to industry, a $100 million influx for the Going Pro credential program and further investments in programs that offer work experience to Michiganders earning their GEDs and that help individuals leaving the criminal justice system transition into the workforce.  

According to the press release, to support small business and create better jobs the governor is building on her Michigan Mainstreet Initiative which offers grants to restaurants, place-based businesses and microenterprises with further dollars to attract more start-ups. 

This afternoon, Kyle Caldwell, CMF president and CEO and Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), will engage in a conversation on the equitable recovery of small and micro-businesses. We invite you to register and join the event to learn more about MEDC’s approach to equitable economic growth through robust partner relationships. 
 

CMF’s Government Relations Public Policy team is thoroughly reviewing the governor’s proposed investments and encourages you to connect with them if you have any questions. 

Want more? 

Read the full press release. 

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