PUBLIC POLICY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Do you crave more frequent updates on state and federal policy issues? Do you want the latest on MNA’s civic and community engagement initiatives? Email MNA’s External Affairs Officer Joan Gustafson at jgustafson@mnaonline.org to get on her distribution list.
$2M in COVID-19 Workplace Safety Grants Now Available
The State of Michigan has launched another round of funding for the Michigan COVID-19 Safety Grant Program. These grants will provide small businesses with fewer than 250 employees, including licensed non in-home childcare centers, matching funds of up to $10,000 to decrease the risk of COVID-19 spread through safety and health-related equipment purchased and training.
The grant application window is now open and will close Friday, June 18, with awards given shortly thereafter. Grants received after June 18, will be held pending a potential third phase, if funds remain available.
To apply, businesses need to complete the Michigan COVID-19 Safety Grant application. MNA has confirmed with LEO that nonprofits are eligible.
Examples of how grant funding may be utilized:
- Purchasing supplies/materials such as sneeze guards, physical barriers, face coverings and hand washing/hygiene stations.
- Purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including gowns, gloves and eye protection.
- Training to educate employees about the spread and dangers of COVID-19.
Additional information on grant funding can be found in the program brochure and the full press release.
Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) Update
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RESOURCES & INFORMATION
Shuttered Venues Operator Grant (SVOG) Update
On May 26, the SBA began sending notices of award to approved Shuttered Venues Operators Grant applicants and will ramp up the rate of notifications in the coming days. As the review process is manual, the SBA's team continues to work through the more than 13,000 SVOG applications received and coordinate verification with other federal agencies to mitigate fraud and follow federal grant rules and regulations.
If you have not applied yet, there are still funds available! As the SBA continues awarding grants, applications are still being accepted.
Find more information here.
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ICYMI - MNA's Blog, MI Nonprofit Lowdown
NEW BLOG: Michigan nonprofit receives boost in funding for youth mental health
The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on youth mental health with hospitals nationwide reporting an increase in kids battling anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation due in part to the stress of the pandemic. But even before Covid-19, mental health problems such as anxiety and depression were already on the rise among children ages 6 to 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And that is why nonprofits like CARE of Southeastern Michigan and the services it offers are so important. The nonprofit recently received a $50,000 grant and will use the funds to support youth mental health. “Some of the issues that teens and youth are experiencing are isolation from their friends and activities, and they have had to redefine their rites of passage and their caregivers are experiencing an increase in stress,” said Susan Styf, MNA member, and president and CEO of CARE.
Read more here.
COVID-19 Relief Options
SBA offers several relief options to help nonprofits, and faith-based organizations recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
In addition to programs offered by the SBA, nonprofits can take advantage of the:
- Employee Retention Credit- The Employee Retention Credit under the CARES Act encourages businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard
The dashboard shows how many vaccines have been distributed and how many administered.
See the dashboard here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Resources
New resources for helping to educate Michigan residents can be found here:
MIOSHA Emergency Rules Updated
On May 24, 2021, Governor Whitmer announced updates to MIOSHA’s COVID-19 emergency rules, which supersede the prior version filed on October 14, 2020, and extended on April 13, 2021. The updated rules are set to remain in effect until October 14, 2021. View more information here.
Looking for an Intern?
MSU’s School of Human Resources & Labor Relations is seeking to connect its undergraduate talent with organizations this summer for both paid and unpaid opportunities. Students are prepared to bring value on a variety of projects. In the attachment, we share examples of possible roles, tasks, and projects listed according to academic level. Please contact Thuy-Tram Butler, Director of Career Development & Placement, to share your opportunities with our students or if you wish to have a conversation regarding your internship program or project needs.
Online HR Resources Exclusively for Nonprofits
Now more than ever, it’s critical that nonprofit leaders stay up-to-date on the latest legislation, HR best practices and virtual team training resources.
UST HR Workplace is an essential tool for staying compliant with ever changing state and federal regulations—protecting you from risk and liability while providing resources to enhance your workforce through training and engagement. These on-demand HR services include:
- Return to Work Employer Guides
- Work-from-Home Resources
- Thousands of Downloadable Forms & Checklists
- Online Employee Handbook Builder
- Live Certified HR Consultants
- Job Description Tools
- 300+ On-Demand Employee Training Courses
- Custom Learning Tracks for Professional Development
To help nonprofits get a more extensive, hands-on experience with these cloud-based HR services prior to purchasing, UST recently expanded its no-obligation HR Workplace trial period to 60 days!
Learn more.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
June Monthly Member Connect: Bring Your Nonprofit’s Brand to the Next Level
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 | 11:00 AM
Join MNA’s Marketing & Digital Engagement Manager, Sarah-Grace Motley, to learn how to elevate your nonprofit’s marketing and communications materials utilizing Canva - a free tool. Canva is a one-stop shop graphic design platform that lets you take creative control including social media posts, logos, presentations, videos, email headers, event invitations, meeting agendas and more. It is easy to learn and use thanks to the thousands of preloaded templates, images, fonts, and graphics, all compiled into a well-designed, user-friendly interface.
Register here.
Treasury Nonprofit Business Webinar Series
This webinar series covers specific Michigan sales and use tax laws for qualifying nonprofit entities and filing and payment considerations (featuring a live demonstration). Explore each topic in 90-minute live webinars; time will be dedicated to answer your questions in each session.
Tax Guidance
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 | 2:00 PM
Register here.
Filing Guidance
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 2:00 PM
Register here.
Partnerships, Mergers, & Acquisitions: What to Know About Where to Start
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 | 2:00 PM
More than 1.5 million nonprofits are at work in the United States today, pursuing missions and community programs that often overlap and complement one another. Opportunities abound for nonprofits to build relationships with one another — and for grantmakers to play a role in that process — that can help them do the most community good while limiting personal and organizational burnout.
This workshop, led by Leslie Starsoneck and Kevin Peterson with special guest Sean Pattison, will explore options for working together that fall along a continuum from loose partnerships to formally combining organizations. The session will examine how to maximize organizational resources and impact — including consolidating human and financial resources, sharing administrative and/or program space and administrative costs, and developing integrated service delivery systems.
Register here.
Paycheck Protection Program: Preparing for SBA Review of Your Forgiveness Application and Subsequent Denials, Appeals and Audits
Thursday, June 24, 2021 | 1:00 PM
The SBA has hired large third-party consulting firms to conduct its promised review and audits of PPP loans. SBA notices seeking additional information from borrowers as a prelude to reviews of pending PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications have started. Forgiveness is not necessarily the end of the process, as even your forgiven PPP loan remains subject to SBA audit.
Register here.
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