Whitmer Unveils $5.6 Billion MI COVID Relief Plan
The plan aims to jumpstart the state’s economy and end the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Whitmer Administration has rolled out a $5.6 billion MI COVID Relief Plan, which prioritizes ending the pandemic and providing economic relief to residents.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer says her plan is a way to start bi-partisan healing and is urging the state’s Republican-led legislature to pass the plan. “It’s an opportunity to join forces to protect our state,” said Whitmer, speaking at a news conference on Tuesday.
The MI COVID Recovery Plan includes $225 million dollars in grants for small businesses as well as tax breaks for larger corporations. It also provides money for utility and rent assistance, which could support 160,000 people according to State Budget Director Dave Massaron. “The Rental Assistance Fund which pays for people to stay in their apartments and pay their rent,” says Massaron.
Whitmer wants to allocate about $2 billion in federal and state funding in order for schools to get ready to reopen for in-person instruction by March 1.
The plan includes $575 million for coronavirus vaccines, testing and contact tracing. In addition, $90 million will be spent to ramp up vaccine distribution specifically. “My plan is to use this federal funding to scale up vaccine distribution in Michigan and bring us closer to our goal of 50,000 shots in arms per day,” says Whitmer.
The Democrat plans to send the plan to the Republican-led legislature on Wednesday.
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