Today I announced a new round of grants to help local businesses that were impacted by COVID-19 and the shutdown. Up to $5 million is on the table for organizations with more than 50 employees. The application is open at MacombBusiness.com now through July 22. Please take a look and share with your community.

Now, we’ve already made significant progress in this arena. Our first grant cycle, which launched in June, will distribute close to $20 million to small businesses. And that’s just the beginning. When Macomb County announced its receipt of $152 million in federal CARES Act funding, we committed $70 million to the Macomb County CARES for Small Business Program, an initiative focused on PPE kit distribution, grants and a variety of efforts to prepare organizations for safe opening operations and future emergency preparedness needs. Our goal is to aid in recovery in any way we can. So stay tuned to MacombGov.org for future announcements and updates.

In closing, and as I’ve said before - Macomb County is here to help. So whether you are a business wanting to get your employees tested for COVID-19, a family experiencing a financial crisis or an individual dealing with mental health issues, we can provide support. Below you will find a number of resources that may be of assistance. Just get in touch and our team will do its best to connect you with what you need.

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.

Important Things to Know

• Macomb County today launched a second round of grants to help local businesses affected by COVID-19. The grant program will use federal CARES Act funding to distribute $5 million to businesses with more than 50 employees. Each grant in this new round of funding will be worth $10,000. An application will be available at MacombBusiness.com through July 22 at 5 p.m.
• A family of three. Just a single mother working as a certified nursing assistant and her two young daughters trying to keep their heads above water. Then COVID-19 hits and an economic crisis ensues. The family loses their grandmother to the virus and their household also sees an infection. The mother is laid off of work. Money is lost and hard choices have to be made. This story is all too familiar -- but it’s real and it happened to a Macomb County family. Fortunately, in this instance, Macomb Community Action was there to help. Learn how the agency, with its forward-thinking strategies and innovative practices, is helping people get back on their feet in a way that is both sustainable and empowering in this recent MMYH blog feature.
• 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.
• 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 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:

• 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:

• Executive Hackel and Sheriff Wickersham Discuss High Water Levels - July 7

In the News

• First CARES Act business dollars distributed to 135 Macomb County recipients. Read more.
• Macomb officials announce $300k seawall project to protect boathouse. Read more.
• Henry Ford Health System resumes normal surgeries and procedures. Read more.
• 2020 Census response: Where Michigan cities rank, how to respond online. Read more.

Helpful Links

• Macomb County Community Mental Health (MCCMH) is on the ground providing assistance to residents. The Make Macomb Your Home blog recently featured the organization and its efforts in an article here, including information that may be useful for those dealing with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues. If you are in need of immediate assistance, you can contact MCCMH directly. Their Crisis Center is open and will work to make appropriate linkages to community resources. Please call 586 948-0222, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m or 586-307-9100 for the 24/7 crisis line.

• 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? Visit gis.macombgov.org/go/food to access maps of food pantries and school food programs.

Stay Informed

For the latest information from Macomb County regarding COVID-19, please visit macombgov.org/covid19.