Macomb Today

Sen. Michael MacDonald's (R-Macomb Township) resolution calling for additional ways that businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can get relief has been approved by the Michigan Senate, according to a July 1 press release from MiSenateGOP.

The legislation, Senate Resolution 130, addresses the financial blows caused by forced closures and massive layoffs. With operational expenses like rent, mortgages and utility bills, small business owners have faced uncertainty on how they will emerge at the end of the pandemic.

“The COVID-19 crisis has dramatically affected our state and country, especially small businesses and restaurants who were forced to shut down in March and still have yet to fully reopen,” said Senator MacDonald, according to MiSenateGOP. “To fight the spread of the virus, Gov. Whitmer closed all Michigan schools and nonessential businesses. While many businesses have been able to reopen, some are still closed, and most are extremely limited in their operations. They are worried about how long they can survive, and the federal assistance is simply not enough.”

Sen. Michael MacDonald | #MiSenateGOP

The release cited a Michigan-based survey that found one in seven small businesses in the state, which equates to around 14%, are not certain that they will survive the COVID pandemic. On a national level, another survey reported that 7.5 million small businesses are at risk for closure. 

SR 130 states that the closure of small businesses in Michigan and the United States could have a variety of negative impacts for both the state and country. Almost 2 million members of the Michigan workforce have reportedly filed for unemployment, and small businesses failing to reopen will not help the unemployment rates improve. 

“The economic uncertainty and devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the related mitigation policies are not the fault of small business owners, and it’s irresponsible to fail to help them during this extraordinary time,” MacDonald told MiSenateGOP. “The small business relief enacted by Congress is not sufficient. The federal Paycheck Protection Program has been unable to provide relief to millions of small businesses affected by the crisis, including many in Macomb County."

“These businesses, their workers, our state and the entire nation need Congress to act to preserve the backbone of our economy and the livelihoods of millions of people," MacDonald said, according to MiSenateGOP.