New Michigan Bill Could Help Struggling Businesses
Michigan has had it rough this spring, summer, and fall due to several circumstances. We dealt with droughts, heat waves, thunderstorms, tornados, and more as we tried to enjoy the best months of the year. However, one thing got in the way: construction, which was scattered all over the state.
During what we call, Construction Season, there were traffic cones, workers, lane closures, and detours all over our city roads and highways. Some projects were completed earlier than others, and some have lasted the entire season, and still aren't quite finished. This may have affected how we traveled but this hasn't affected us nearly as much as the businesses around the state.
We have seen many businesses close down over the last couple of years due to construction and the lack of business they have received while customers have avoided the detours. Kalamazoo, Lansing, Battle Creek, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Flint, Saginaw, and many other cities around the Mitten state have experienced the woes of construction.
There has been a new bill proposed by state Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing was given support by both Democrats and Republicans within the Michigan Senate. Senate Bill 1053 would develop the Road Construction Business Loss Reimbursement Program through the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The bill says that each business that qualifies would get up to $15,000 per year through grants but owners will have to show revenue loss through profit averages from the last 3 years. The amount a business receives is based upon their revenue loss, the duration of the construction project, proximity to the roadwork, and how their car/foot traffic was affected.
Many business owners have said that the impact on small and local businesses should be factored into the construction project plans and layouts. The bill is aimed at helping businesses who have been affected by large projects like the I-94/Portage road project but there may be some wider eligibility available.
This bill may be needed and makes sense but here are some bills that were signed into Michigan laws that are just dumb: