NORTHERN MICHIGAN CHAMBER ALLIANCE URGES REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT BILL TO RESTORE FUNDING

NORTHERN MICHIGAN CHAMBER ALLIANCE URGES REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT BILL TO RESTORE FUNDING FOR STATEWIDE PROJECTS
HB 4576 moves back to the House with supplemental appropriations to fund work projects
 

Traverse City, MI – The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance calls on northern Michigan’s House members to voice their support and advocate for action in response to the Michigan Senate voting to approve HB 4576, a supplemental appropriations bill that will restore funding that the House Appropriations Committee cut in an unprecedented vote on December 10. On December 16, Northern Michigan Senators Bumstead, Damoose, and McBroom voted to ensure that vital human needs and talent-support projects can again move forward. The Alliance asks representatives in the Northern Caucus to support the region’s senators and advocate for $56 million in regional projects that support small businesses and families in northern Michigan by urging the House to take up HB 4576 and vote to approve it.

“The House has an opportunity to support its constituents and citizens and restore trust in Michigan’s budget process by restoring funds for previously approved commitments, said Nikki Devitt, chair of the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance and president and CEO of the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce. ”For rural regions like northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, where securing investment already requires overcoming significant barriers, it’s imperative that our representatives advocate for this bill to be taken up by the House and passed by the end of the year.”

The over $56 million in work projects in the northern Lower and Upper Peninsulas that were cut by the House Appropriations Committee on December 10 included projects to support soon-to-be and new mothers, in-demand occupational training, programs to foster entrepreneurship, a new program to grow internships and experiential learning for young workers, housing for unhoused residents of the Upper Peninsula, and much more.

About the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance:
The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance is a coalition of 20 chambers and economic development organizations including the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, Benzie County Chamber of Commerce, Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce, Develop Iosco, Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce, Lake Superior Community Partnership, Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, Traverse Connect, Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce, InvestUP, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce, Cheboygan Area Chamber of

Commerce, East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce, Elk Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce, Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, & Sault Area Chamber of Commerce. The Alliance exists to elevate and advance local business in northern Michigan. More information on the Alliance’s latest work can be found at nmchamberalliance.com.