This column originally appeared in The Alpena News on January 20, 2021
On Tuesday, Jan. 19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled her Michigan COVID Recovery Plan to help tackle the pandemic and its related impact on Michigan workers, businesses and our economy. This is the latest in a string of some long-awaited good news and hope on the COVID-19 front as our state and our country fight through this health crisis.
The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be distributed and administered to people across the state. President-Elect Joe Biden has announced his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 American Rescue Plan to fund vaccinations, provide immediate relief to families, and support struggling communities.
And in late December 2020, Congress and the Michigan Legislature passed respective, bipartisan COVID relief packages to help support kids, workers and businesses during these tough times. Signed into law by Gov. Whitmer, the state stimulus package included several grant programs for workers and businesses that are getting underway this month.
Employee Assistance Grants for certain employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are available until January 25, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. People can learn more and apply at mrlaef.org/money. And applications for survival grants for small businesses disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 virus are open now and will close on Friday, January 22 at 12:00 p.m. More information on those grants can be found at www.michiganbusiness.org.
These programs will help, but Gov. Whitmer recognizes that much more is needed, and outlined a number of other proposals in her Michigan COVID Recovery Plan. The plan includes a number of both longstanding and COVID-related League priorities to better support Michigan workers and their families, including a permanent extension of 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, increased rental, food and worker assistance, vaccine funding, and more.
Michigan used to provide up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, but that was cut down to 20 weeks in 2011. As an organization that advocates for struggling workers, the Michigan League for Public Policy opposed the shortsighted move to cut state unemployment benefits a decade ago, and we have been advocating for the restoration of those benefits ever since.
The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the need for additional unemployment benefits, and we agree that it should be done permanently, not piecemeal or on a temporary basis. The challenges for unemployed and underemployed workers preceded COVID-19, and will continue even after the pandemic gets under control, and we need to ensure that an additional six weeks of financial support is always there.
The League has also been pushing for a stronger safety net for decades, and even more so since the COVID-19 pandemic has hit. This includes advocating for greater investment in rental assistance and food assistance like those proposed by the governor yesterday. For years, too many Michigan families have been one unexpected crisis away from hardship. And while that used to be a fear on an individual basis, COVID-19 has led to it being experienced globally.
No resident should have to face hunger or homelessness, and this funding will help families weather this storm without losing everything and, in turn, make it easier for them to get back on their feet once the health emergency subsides. Additional pieces of Gov. Whitmer’s plan will help working single parents, small businesses, and schools will all help to get our economy back on track.
Finally, in order for this health emergency and its economic side effects to subside, we need to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Michigan COVID Recovery Plan also includes federal funding to ramp up much-needed vaccination distribution, provide financial support to local health departments for vaccine administration costs, including additional staff, equipment and supplies. The state will also receive $575 million to expand COVID-19 testing, tracing, and lab capacity in Michigan, working comprehensively and concurrently to reduce the spread of COVID-19 before and after exposure.
We are approaching one year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, and it has impacted all of us in a variety of ways. But the governor and our state leaders are doing what they can to help. Gov. Whitmer’s new plan addresses many of the outstanding COVID-related needs that the League has been advocating for since this crisis hit, and we hope the Legislature will work with her to pass these proposals.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
