The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every business, and the impact of government decisions is unmistakable.
Your Chamber Government Affairs Team works tirelessly to bring you up-to-date information and resources to help you safely reopen your business, protect your employees, access financial assistance, understand executive orders, navigate changes to state and federal laws and more.
Our team has fielded hundreds of calls and emails, answering questions on everything from unemployment issues to PPP funding to help our West Michigan businesses survive and thrive.
As your allies and your advocates, we have been leaders on policies to support returning to work safely so Michigan can get back to work.
In April, the Chamber outlined a detailed approach for a responsible reopening. Our call to action was to be prepared, focused and strategic with a phased approach. The recommendations received the support of nearly 200 area businesses before the Chamber team sent them to Governor Whitmer’s office. We are pleased to see some of the concepts in included in the administration’s MI Safe Start Plan.
The Government Affairs team also worked with members to establish a Smart Restart Agenda to mitigate the damage caused by COVID-19 and empower businesses, team members and entrepreneurs to protect public health, safety, and economic security.
Our team of registered lobbyists has been advocating fiercely for these member-driven priorities and are excited to have led on social district legislation that was signed into law by Governor Whitmer on June 30th.
Other Smart Restart Agenda priorities include:
- Cash Flow Support – AVAILABLE NOW
- Property Tax Deferment – PENDING
- Social Districts – COMPLETE!
- PPE Accessibility – AVAILABLE NOW
- Employer Liability Protections and Controlling Lawsuit Abuse
- Sales, Use and Withholding Tax Deferment
- Regulatory Flexibility and Common-Sense Compliance
- Fixing the Unemployment System and Protecting Employer Relief
- Talent Development Continuity
- Connecting Displaced Workers with Jobs
- Childcare Reform
Our advocates have always been an extension of your team, influencing the policies that matter most to your business and connecting you with timely information and decision makers.
We will continue to be as we all work through this together. If you want to get involved advocating for a Smart Restart, please contact Andy Johnston, Vice President of Government Affairs at andy@grandrapids.org.
