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MiMfg Magazine
May 2020
MFG Legislative Outlook
Senate Workgroup to Focus
on Transition Back to Work
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake)
and Senator Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth) announced
last month the formation of the “Safe Behavior for Safe
Workplaces” work group which will work together
with business leaders, medical professionals and
citizens to develop a plan to bring more workplaces
back online when it is safe to do so.
MMA supports the effort, especially in recognition
of the contributions of Michigan manufacturers in
producing the personal protective equipment that is
so critically needed by health care professionals and
first responders.
“At MMA, our top priority is the health, safety
and well-being of our members and their employees
as our state faces the COVID-19 crisis,” said John
Walsh, MMA president & CEO. “We have worked
closely with Governor Whitmer’s Administration,
legislative leadership and all agencies involved with
mitigation of the public health and economic impact
of this pandemic and we thank them for the tireless
work on behalf of all Michiganders. We believe it is
reasonable and wise to begin planning for a time when
it will be safe to bring more workplaces back online.”
Many manufacturers across the state have changed
processes to make much-needed personal protection
equipment for health care workers and first responders
as they help save lives.
As conditions improve, it is manufacturing
productivity that will drive the economic recovery
and reverse the stunning economic conditions
people are facing.”
Contact MMA’s Mike Johnston, at 517-487-8554
or [email protected], for more on how MMA is
working to transition manufacturers back to work and
to provide your thoughts.
Going PRO Funding Vetoed,
Reprioritized for COVID-19
Citing the need to dedicate all available resources
to state efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic,
Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed almost $80 million
included in the supplemental budget bill passed on
3/12/20, including $15 million that was intended for
the Going PRO Talent Fund and $35 million for
the proposed Michigan Reconnect program. The
funding will be reprioritized for COVID-19.
More than 1,200 employers submitted applications
last fall for the Fiscal Year 2020 Going PRO Talent
Fund award cycle. MMA will continue to work with
the Governor and the Legislature to fund this talent
development program, which manufacturers may
need more than ever.
Contact MMA’s Delaney McKinley, at 517-
487-8530 or [email protected], to learn more.
MMA and Economic Experts Continue
to Tout Incentives’ Clear Role
Economic incentives like the Michigan Economic
Growth Authority (MEGA) and Good Jobs for
Michigan have played a significant role in attracting
new business to Michigan, sparking a decade-long
span of nation-leading investment and job creation.
Notwithstanding the clear positives, a package of
politically motivated bills have moved forward, masked
as being pro-transparency, yet designed to attack and
publicly shame proactive entrepreneurs and job creators.
MMA has been working against these bills
designed to attack proactive entrepreneurs. Minah
C. Hall, managing director of Compass Key Site
Solutions, gave a presentation to the House Tax
Policy Committee expressing concerns over these
legislative efforts.
Among her key points, many of which continue
to surprise legislators, were:
• Michigan’s existing incentives programs are
already quite transparent and achieve transparency
without publicly shaming job creators.
• The importance of non-disclosure agreements
(NDAs) and privacy with states. Without NDAs,
states can quickly be removed from consideration.
• Existing criteria which challenge Michigan’s
ability to compete, including personal information
requirements, the process length and high
compliance costs.