We Love Where You Live

Navigating Michigan's Work Share Program for Your Community

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Member Programs Lead, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Brandon Fournier, Partner, Shifman Fournier Law
Frank Peterson, City Manager, Muskegon

Michigan’s Work Share program allows employers to restart their business and bring employees back while still maintaining some unemployment benefits. Brandon Fournier of Shifman Fournier Law and Frank Peterson, City Manager of Muskegon, discuss how local governments can best implement the program in their community, the issues they have come across, best practices to follow, and labor considerations to think about before adopting the program.

Stop Panicking and Start Acting: 5 Steps to Save Your Small Businesses and Rebuild Your Economy

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Member Programs Lead, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Ilana Preuss, Founder & CEO, Recast City LLC

Led by Ilana Preuss, Founder & CEO of Recast City LLC, this webinar focuses on local leadership and what we are willing to do to save the small businesses in our communities. What are we willing to do to rebuild our local economies, and how can we start now?

 

If we face reality, take action, and get our hands dirty--together--we can build stronger local economies than we had before.

 

Local leaders will take away from this discussion:

• A clear understanding of all the economic pieces stacked against success before this crisis
• Defined paths and frameworks to use moving forward to build a stronger local economy
• How communities can purposefully support black owned businesses during the recovery
• Concrete actions that require little to no budget to act on today

Michigan Delegation Leads Efforts to Protect Main Street Businesses

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Member Programs Lead, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-5)
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6)

The RELIEF for Main Street Act would build on what is already working across the country. The legislation creates a new $50 billion fund that would provide direct allocations to cities, counties and states to seed and scale small business local relief funds. The funds would provide funding to small  businesses with fewer than 20 employees, minority-owned businesses, small businesses in  low-income and rural communities, businesses outside the mainstream banking system, and tribal businesses. Hear from U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-5); and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6), co -sponsors of this bill, on the benefits it would have on main streets across Michigan.

Treasury Dept. COVID-19 Updates and Resources for Local Governments

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Member Programs Lead, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Heather Frick, Bureau Director, Bureau of Local Government & School Services, Dept. of Treasury
Evah Cole, Division Administrator, Revenue Sharing & Grants Division, Dept. of Treasury
Darryl Hunter, Division Administrator, Tax & Employer Services, UIA
Peggy Nolde, Chairperson, State Tax Commission
Yukimo Everett, Administrative Manager, Tax & Employer Services, UIA
David Buick, State Division Administrator, Property Services Division, Dept. of Treasury
Howard Heideman, State Division Administrator, Tax Analysis Division, Dept. of Treasury
Steve Bieda, Tribunal Chair, Michigan Tax Tribunal

In partnership with the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Townships Association and Michigan Association of Counties, the Michigan Department of Treasury presented the fourth joint webinar. Topics include updates on revenue sharing impacts, Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) programs, and a property tax update.  

Now That the Stay at Home Order is Lifted, What Do Municipalities Need to Know?

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Member Programs Lead, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Michael Blum, Attorney, Foster Swift
Laura Genovich, Attorney, Foster Swift
Anne Seurynck, Attorney, Foster Swift 

 

Join us as Michael Blum, Laura Genovich, and Anne Seurynck from Foster Swift law firm discuss the requirements of the latest Executive Orders and what those requirements mean to municipal governments. Other topics include Open Meetings Act requirements in light of the new Executive Order; frequently asked employment questions; and what municipal employers need to know when bringing employees back.

 

 

Liquor Licensing for Outdoor Services for Bars and Restaurants

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Member Programs Lead, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Brittany Jenks, Licensing Analyst, Michigan Liquor Control Commission
Kerry Krone, Business Manager, Michigan Liquor Control Commission
David Marvin Deputy Director, Executive Services Division, Michigan Liquor Control Commission
Barb Subastian, Regional Manager, Enforcement Division, Michigan Liquor Control Commission

To help with the safe reopening of bars and restaurants, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) has announced streamlined licensing processes for outdoor service areas. This webinar covers the MLCC's reopening guidelines, application forms, and new webpage featuring a FAQ document. Attendees were also able to ask questions of the MLCC officials.

ServeMICity: Technical Assistance Office Hours

Host: Shanna Draheim, Director, Policy Research Labs, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Tim Dempsey, Vice President, Public Sector Consultants
Julie Durham, Senior Consultant, Public Sector Consultants

In this webinar, we answered questions about navigating the COVID-19 funding landscape as it applies to Michigan communities. We also discussed how the Michigan Municipal League's new ServeMICity initiative may help with direct technical assistance.

Launching Michigan Municipal League's ServeMICity Initiative

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Member Programs Lead, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Dan Gilmartin, CEO & Executive Director, Michigan Municipal League
Shanna Draheim, Director, Policy Research Labs, Michigan Municipal League
Tim Dempsey, Vice President, Public Sector Consultants

In this webinar, we launched Michigan Municipal League's new ServeMICity Initiative, designed to support our members during these unprecedented times. The program will start with a free technical assistance initiative that helps members draw down federal dollars due to the COVID-19 crisis. For more information on the program, please contact the League's Shanna Draheim.

What Has Changed with the Re-Opening of Northern Michigan?

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Member Programs Lead, Michigan Municipal League

 

Guests:
James F. Scales, Attorney, Mika Meyers
Michael Huff, Attorney, Mika Meyers

Governor Whitmer issued new executive orders on May 18 relaxing some of the prohibitions in Northern Michigan. In this webinar, Attorneys James Scales and Michael Huff of Mika Meyers discuss what has changed in EO 2020-91 and 2020-92 and review these new developments and what they could mean for the reopening of the rest of Michigan cities.

Treasury Dept. COVID-19 Updates and Resources for Local Governments

The Michigan Department of Treasury presented this webinar in partnership with the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Townships Association and Michigan Association of Counties. Topics include an update after the state of Michigan’s May Michigan Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, an update from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on project timelines and financing and best practices around local government cash and debt management. 

 

A fourth webinar is tentatively scheduled for Monday, June 8. Additional information and registration details about this June webinar will be sent in the coming weeks.

 

The state Treasury Department has developed a website with numbered letters, communications and resources regarding COVID-19 information for local governments and school districts. This website was created to ensure that Michigan communities have access to the most up-to-date guidance and will be updated frequently with information and resources as they become available.