(WXYZ) — The Michigan House approved a supplemental budget bill to provide COVID-19 relief to Michigan residents.
“This budget bill provides critical support to the workers and small, family businesses who have been left behind by their government and extends a lifeline right when they need it the most,” House Speaker Lee Chatfield said in a press release. “People are worried about the effects of the latest shutdown and what it means for their families. We are listening and looking for ways to help. Of course, the best way to help people is to follow the science and safely and securely reopen Michigan’s schools and small businesses. Until that happens, we will continue to fight for the people we represent, support working families with our votes and ensure everyone can continue to make ends meet.”
The bill will now be sent to Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
“I proposed this stimulus plan to the legislature in November because I know how much our families, frontline workers, and small businesses need relief as we head into the winter," Whitmer said in a press release. "This bipartisan relief bill will provide families and businesses the support they need to stay afloat as we continue working to distribute the safe and effective vaccine and eradicate COVID-19 once and for all. There is still more work to do to beat this virus and grow our economy. All Michiganders have a personal responsibility to do their part and mask up, practice safe social distancing, and avoid indoor gatherings where the virus can easily spread from person to person."
The governor first sent a letter to the Michigan Legislature to pass a $100 million relief bill on Nov. 25, 2020.
View a full breakdown of the bill below:
Michigan COVID-19 relief bill breakdown by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
The relief package couldn't come at a more dire time, as Uncle Ray’s needs Uncle Sam. Thousands of mom and pop restaurants and bars with their hundreds of thousands of employees need relief. Uncle Ray’s is a second-generation restaurant and bar that’s been in Dearborn Heights going on 40 years.
“We’re really hurting here. It’s Christmas time. I’m getting angry,” said owner Jason Thomas.
They’re doing carry-out and have a small heated outdoor patio that can be open. But inside, dining is shut down for another month at least. Local customers are still coming in.
Great Lakes Hotel Supply has started a fundraiser for Uncle Ray’s and many others they work with and they’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $500,000 to get them through not just Christmas but winter.
“We’re looking for corporate sponsors. We need big checks, $10,000, $5,000, so we can pay it forward and help these guys," said Mary Martin with Great Lakes Hotel Supply.
To help go to: http://www.glhsco.com/locallove/
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
Visit our The Rebound Detroit, a place where we are working to help people impacted financially from the coronavirus. We have all the information on everything available to help you through this crisis and how to access it.