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This year, our 4th of July celebrations will look a little different. The annual fireworks, parades and parties have either been cancelled or they will be significantly smaller occasions. Of course, this is all for our safety. As we’ve seen on the news, COVID-19 cases are spiking in parts of the country. This means that while we have flattened the curve here in Michigan, there is still a chance for the virus to spread and infections to rise. So I ask that you take practical steps to protect yourself and others this weekend. Wash your hands and stay home if you feel sick. These simple measures can save lives and keep our community safe.
I’d also like to share that even though we are approaching a holiday weekend, Macomb County is still hard at work to serve our residents. Below you will find a variety of programs, grants and opportunities to meet your needs at this time. Whether you are a business owner looking for assistance or an individual wanting to get tested for COVID-19 - we can help.
Thank you, and as always, take care and be kind to one another.
Mark A. Hackel
Macomb County Executive
Macomb County is offering COVID-19 testing for all residents. The drive-thru, minimal contact site in Mount Clemens is open on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The test is free, no prescription is needed and you need not have symptoms to be tested. To make an appointment for yourself or a group of employees, call the Macomb County Health Department 586-463-3750.
Grants, free Back-to-Business kits with basic PPE and other resources for reopening your business are available through Macomb County Planning & Economic Development. Visit MacombBusiness.com.
Macomb Community Action is able to offer direct assistance to individuals and families experiencing financial crisis due to the pandemic. To learn more, contact Macomb Community Action Helpline at 586-469-6999.
As always, be sure to check Macomb County’s #1 source for information regularly, macombgov.org.
- Automation Alley is the recipient of a $10 million grant from Oakland County and $2 million grant from Macomb County to help each county’s manufacturing base purchase and implement Industry 4.0 technologies that can be used in direct support of manufacturing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Oakland and Macomb county-based manufacturers interested in applying for the Personal Protective Equipment Resilience Grant Program can find more information and a link to the application here.
- Macomb County Veterans Services has partnered with Macomb Community Action and the Accounting Aid Society to offer free tax help for local veterans and low-income individuals and families through its IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Services will be available through July 15, 2020 for qualified individuals making less than $55,000 a year. Visit a VITA site Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Verkuilen Building (21885 Dunham Rd, Suite 4, Clinton Township) and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Macomb County Family Resource Center (196 North Rose Street, Mount Clemens, in the back of the building) for service. For more information, call 586-463-2537.
- Macomb County, in partnership with the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce, Macomb County Chamber of Commerce, Advancing Macomb and Macomb County Planning and Economic Development. is seeking input from organizations on how the pandemic has affected business today and what might be challenges in the future. The survey should take less than 10 minutes. Click here to access the form.
- The Macomb Food Program is seeking donations as part of a virtual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, an annual event hosted by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). In previous years, the food drive was held in May and saw postal workers pick up bags of non-perishable, non-expired food items left on porches or near mailboxes. This year, the NALC postponed the in-person event due to the COVID-19 pandemic - an unfortunate update considering the Macomb Food Program received 250,526 pounds of food in 2019, and in 2020, demand for food assistance is increasing. To participate in the virtual food drive, visit the Macomb Food Program’s giving page, insert a dollar amount and select “NALC Virtual Food Drive” from the drop down menu. Donations will help the program purchase food that is then distributed to 60 pantries and hunger relief organizations across Macomb County.
- Macomb County leaders and personnel have been on the ground responding to the COVID-19 crisis since mid-March. Here’s what has been accomplished so far:
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- The Macomb County Emergency Operations Center and Department of Health continue leading local efforts to respond to the ever-evolving nature of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Macomb County continues to update the online COVID-19 dashboard with the latest data and information. Click here to access the dashboard.
Executive Mark Hackel has been regularly sharing video updates with Macomb County residents on YouTube and social media. Click on the links below for the latest updates:
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer reveals plan for schools to return to in-person learning this fall. Read more.
- Oakland, Macomb businesses can seek grant funding to help produce PPE. Read more.
- In the past few weeks, additional COVID-19 testing locations have opened in Macomb County. You can find an updated link on the county website, macombgov.org. Michigan also lists all testing sites across the state. Click here to access that information.
- Experiencing food insecurity? Updated regularly, please check out our map of food pantries, school meal programs and more on our Food Resources Map to access maps of food pantries and school food programs.
For the latest information from Macomb County regarding COVID-19, please visit macombgov.org/covid19.
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