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Note from Erika Thursday, March 31 has two important deadlines. It is the last day to apply for the Growing Michigan Businesses Grant as well as the Wayne County Property Tax Foreclosure Payment Plan. For more details on the Growing Michigan Business Grant, visit the Apply for Business Resources (ABR) website and please read below. To apply for the Wayne County Property Tax Payment Plan, visit the Wayne County Treasurer’s website. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office by email at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at (517) 373-7800.
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Erika Geiss
In This Edition:
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Senate passes supplemental budget bill package On March 24th, I voted in support of a $4.8 billion bipartisan supplemental budget bill package that provides a much-needed investment into Michigan’s future. We supported projects that include water infrastructure — including the installation of highway water pumps and replacing lead water lines — rental assistance, and affordable housing.
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>> Click here to read my statement and for more information on the passage of the bill package. I joined my colleagues, Sens. Stephanie Chang and Mallory McMorrow, to introduce legislation to help address some of the immediate and necessary needs of Michigan residents who survived catastrophic auto accidents. If passed and signed into law, Senate Bills 945-947 would give family units and their support systems more flexibility to provide reimbursable care (SB 947; McMorrow), eliminate the use of standards not derived from medical professionals from being used to deny treatment (SB 945; Chang), and refine the term “medical treatment” to carve out certain products, services, and accommodations from the fee cap system (SB 946; Geiss).
GROWING MICHIGAN BUSINESS GRANT The deadline to apply for the Growing MI Business Grant is March 31 and the Department of Treasury is encouraging business owners to apply. Under the Growing MI Business Grant Program, eligible businesses in operation before Oct. 1, 2019, may receive a grant up to $5 million due to financial hardship. Eligible businesses that began operating between Oct. 1, 2019, and May 31, 2020, may receive a grant equal to 25% of certain specified costs. Grants will not be disbursed on a “first come, first served” basis and may be prorated, depending on how many businesses apply. Under state law, there are nine types of businesses eligible for this grant:
The deadline to submit a co >> Visit Michigan.gov/abr to learn more about the Growing MI Business Grant.
APPLY FOR PROPERTY TAX FORECLOSURE PAYMENT PLAN If you are facing foreclosure on your property for tax year 2019 or earlier, you can apply for a payment plan through the Wayne County Treasurer’s Office.
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There are several plans available to help you stay in your home while paying down your property taxes. The deadline to submit a completed application for each of the programs is March 31. Special plans are available for veterans and first responders, with proper documentation. >> Click here for information and to apply.
UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE UPDATE Senate Bill 445, signed into law by Governor Whitmer, now turns off the “able and available” requirement for federal unemployment claims filed during the pandemic. Part-time workers who could not work full-time will not have to pay back the benefits they received and/or may be eligible to claim benefits they were denied. If your claim was denied, you had your benefits halted, or your eligibility was re-determined because of the “able and available” requirement, please fill out the issue form on our website and our office will assist you. As always, if you or someone you know who lives in Senate District 6 is having trouble receiving their Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for any reason, please fill out this unemployment assistance form and our office will reach out to assist you with your issue as soon as possible. You can also visit the Michigan LEO FAQ page for answers to any questions you may have regarding eligibility for unemployment or for issues you may have with your current claim.
COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE If you have not already received your COVID-19 vaccine, now is the time to do so. Booster shots are also available for those who are eligible. Information on vaccines, vaccine boosters, and testing locations are available on the Wayne County website. With both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services revising guidelines for mask wearing, it is even more critical than ever to get vaccinated and boosted to help protect ourselves and our communities — especially for those among us who are immunocompromised or otherwise cannot take the vaccine. Children between the ages of 5-11 are eligible to receive the vaccine. The Wayne County Health Department has established three locations where you can get your child vaccinated. Parents and guardians should still consult with their pediatrician or health care providers with questions and concerns as these medical professionals will be the best people to offer the best guidance to your child(ren) and family. NOTE: The Wayne County Health Department handles the 42 Wayne County communities outside of Detroit, which has its own separate health department.
COMMUNITY UPDATE March is Reading Month 2022 is now in the books! After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, in-school visits returned, and we could not have been more thrilled to spend time reading to classrooms in Senate District 6! Over five days dedicated to reading in classrooms, we reached 1,765 students across 24 schools in pre-K to 5th grade and shared nine different books! Thank you to the teachers and staff of: Ferguson and Johnson Early Learning Centers and the elementary schools American Montessori, Barth, Blair Moody, Bobcean, Clarence Randall, Edison, Elliot, Graham, Gudith, Halecreek, Hamilton, Kinyon, McDowell, Metro Charter Academy, Myers, Romulus, Schweitzer, Taylor Exemplar Academy, Taylor Parks, Trillium Academy, Wegeinka, and Wick for letting us share the love of reading with your students!
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As an elected representative, I believe in being readily available and transparent because my office is your office. Email is a great way to share updates, and hear from you on the issues you care about. If you want to alter your email preferences, click here to unsubscribe. |