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Education, labor, business, and workforce leaders join to urge Michigan’s 625,000 COVID-19 essential workers to apply now for tuition-free college

LANSING – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, along with leaders in education, business, labor and workforce development, today launched the nation’s first program offering tuition-free college to an estimated 625,000 Michiganders who provided essential, frontline services during COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe orders between April – June 2020.

Futures for Frontliners, inspired by the GI Bill which provided college degree to those serving their country in WWII, offers Michigan adults without college degrees or high school diplomas who provided essential services during the pandemic a tuition-free pathway to gaining the skills needed to obtain high-demand, high-wage careers. The funding is not only available to those in the medical field, but also essential workers in manufacturing, nursing homes, grocery stores, sanitation, delivery, retail and more.

“This initiative is Michigan’s way of expressing gratitude to essential workers for protecting public health and keeping our state running,” Whitmer said. “Whether it was stocking shelves, delivering supplies, picking up trash, manufacturing PPE or providing medical care, you were there for us. Now this is your chance to pursue the degree or training you’ve been dreaming about to help you and your own family succeed.”

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

· Be a Michigan resident 

· Have worked in an essential industry at least part-time for 11 of the 13 weeks between April 1 – June 30, 2020 

· Have been required by their job to work outside the home at least some of the time between April 1 – June 30, 2020 

· Not have previously earned an associate or bachelor’s degree 

· Not be in default on a Federal student loan 

· Complete a Futures for Frontliners scholarship application by 11:59 p.m., Dec. 31, 2020 

Frontline workers are encouraged to visit www.michigan.gov/Frontlinersto explore career opportunities, a list of local community colleges and get started on their application – even if they don’t already have a high school diploma.

The program is a $24M investment funded by Governor’s Education Emergency Relief (GEER) Fund – part of the CARES Act, and supports the state’s Sixty by 30 goal announced at the Governor’s first state of the state address to increase the number of working-age Michiganders completing an a industry certificate, college degree or apprenticeship. A more educated workforce is essential to help businesses grow, make Michigan a more competitive state to attract jobs of the future and help families navigate a changing economy and increase income. 

“The vast majority of good paying jobs continue to require at least some education beyond high school,” said Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Jeff Donofrio. “Futures for Frontliners gives those who helped save lives and kept our communities operating during the height of COVID an opportunity to increase their skills and income and helps us close the state’s skills gap. For Michigan’s economy to recover and grow, its critical we continue to provide expanded opportunities to all.” 

Advocates for additional career training say Futures for Frontliners also helps them off-set training costs and provide another avenue for retention and long-term career growth.

“Michigan manufacturers have been on the front lines in defense against the COVID-19 threat, creating essential products necessary for daily life; from food and pharmaceuticals, to transportation and even toilet paper,” said John Walsh, President and CEO of the Michigan Manufacturers Association. “The Futures for Frontliners program will recognize these truly-deserving heroes, investing in their personal future as well as the economic future of our state.”

“As an employer of nearly 20,000 frontline associates here in Michigan and beyond, we are proud and thankful for each of our employees who stepped up to feed our customers and our communities during the pandemic,” Rachel Hurst Corporate Affairs Manager for the Kroger Co. of Michigan said. “We’re excited for them to have this hard-earned opportunity to continue their education with support from the Futures for Frontliners program which pairs well with our Feed Your Future program.”

"With short staffing a challenge for our workers across many medical professions, this program helps create a pipeline of talent for our growing healthcare workforce. Whether you are a hospital or nursing home worker, you can take advantage of this opportunity in nearly every workplace. I’m so excited for our union workers who now have the opportunity to add new skills that will help them advance in their careers." 

“Henry Ford College, and I personally, are proud to support the Futures for Frontliners program, and to partner with the State of Michigan and other public and private partners to help frontline workers create a better future,” Russ Kavalhuna, Henry Ford College President. “We believe this program represents a unique, first-of-its-kind opportunity for people who have earned a College education. They put themselves at risk to serve Michigan residents during a pandemic. We will put their futures at the forefront now.” 

Several other business organizations, corporations, unions and legislators have volunteered to serve as Frontliners Champions with a commitment to inform their frontline workers, members and constituents about this tuition-free college opportunity.

LANSING, MICH. – Patients, staff and visitors will be better protected from COVID-19 under an emergency order from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon that requires testing of employees of the five state-run psychiatric hospitals and centers. 

Gordon signed the order today and it has immediate effect. 

“MDHHS believes that COVID-19 testing is one of the best tools we have in limiting its spread,” Gordon said. “Testing – along with wearing masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing – is especially important in settings such as our state psychiatric hospitals where people are often in close contact with each other.” 

Testing is required for staff at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Saline, Hawthorn Center in Northville, Caro Center, Walter Reuther Psychiatric Hospital in Westland and Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital. Subject to availability of testing supplies, the hospitals must: 

• Test all newly hired staff.
• Test any employees who are in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or who      exhibits symptoms.
• In facilities with any positive patient or staff cases within the last 14 days, test on a weekly basis all staff scheduled to work that week until no positive cases are identified within the last 14 days.
• Exclude from work any employees who are required to be tested but are not. 

The emergency order also requires the hospitals and centers to take all necessary precautions to prevent transmission of COVID-19 – which may include requiring any staff suspected of exposure to COVID-19 to be tested outside the facility – and exclude from work staff with COVID-19 until they have met return-to-work criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

This order provides the same testing requirement as the order signed for prisons and veterans’ homes. Unions representing employees of state hospitals and centers have been offered a letter of understanding that mirrors letters offered to correction officers and health care workers at those facilities. The letter of understanding would provide 80 hours of additional sick leave that can be used after other leave credits have been exhausted due to a positive test or close contact quarantine. 

Further details can be found in the emergency order. 

Information around the COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.   

One of the eight limbs of Yoga focus on withdrawal or sensory transcendence. It is during this stage that one makes the conscious effort to draw our awareness away from the external world. I think everyone can agree after these last few months it is time to move on to a new chapter! Out of the silence and solitude it’s time to begin again with a new vision, for a new age! MI Yoga Connect would like to welcome you on that journey.

Closed since the middle of April, owner Samantha Corbit decided it was the perfect time to create a fresh vision in a familiar place and MI Yoga Connect was born! Still at the same location sitting atop the hill on Haslett Rd (just east of the railroad tracks), MI Yoga Connect continues with the same ownership and leadership that Haslett has grown to love and support. Operating classes with its sister location in Lansing, MI Yoga Connect has something for everyone. They are even operating now, with classes inside, outside, online and for all ages. Is there a better way to de-stress than being outside in the crisp autumn air, surrounded by people who know and care about your total well-being?

At MI Yoga Connect you can join in on sessions including:

-Vinyasa YCH

-Blend Vinyasa 

-Core & More

Other Classes are being added as functionality is allowed. Introductory offer is 2 weeks unlimited for $20, as well as other pricing options available. You can continue to use any MI Hot Yoga packages that you may have if they were purchased prior to April 20. Get out, and get moving with the people you know and trust. Join in at MI Yoga Connect today!