Resources to Reopen Your Business

Personal Protective Equipment Resilience Grant Program

Oakland and Macomb Manufacturers: Apply Now!

The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly reshaping and accelerating the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector. As businesses are forced to change and adapt, they are finding new ways to get the job done during these uncertain times—and Industry 4.0 technologies are leading the way. 

Automation Alley, funded by Oakland and Macomb counties, has created the Personal Protective Equipment Resilience Grant Program program to address the urgent need to move companies into the digital manufacturing age of Industry 4.0 as fast as possible to help improve our region’s manufacturing agility and response to future disruptions. 

Manufacturers accepted into the program will receive:

• Strategic Guidance: on how to transform from legacy operations to digital manufacturing.
• An Industry 4.0 Assessment: outlining where their business stands today and what digital opportunities best fit their needs. 
• Connections and introductions: to state-of-the art vendors and applied research that can help them along their path to Industry 4.0. 
• A financial investment: will be granted to purchase Industry 4.0 and state-of-the art digital technologies.

Does my company qualify?

To qualify, companies must be a small or medium sized manufacturer residing in Oakland or Macomb County.

Why this and why now?

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an urgent and massive need for PPE and ventilators. The unanticipated need, coupled with the inability to quickly ramp up production, contributed to government quarantines until such time that the health care system could get stocked with resources as well as build the capacity to handle an onslaught of patients. This program will address this problem by helping position our region as an agile, digital-ready essential source of manufactured goods in times of national crisis.

General Reference:

• MI Safe Start Plan: A Plan to Re-engage Michigan's Economy

• MI Safe Start: Phase Progression Guidelines 

• Governor Whitmer’s Presentation on the Michigan Economic Recovery Council: COVID-19 Update 4-27-2020

• Michigan Economic Recovery Council: Proposed Start-Up Plan Presentation 

• Michigan Main Street - A Program of the MEDC: Reopen Main Street: Navigating a New Reality - Together

• CDC: Workplaces During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• The National 8(a) Association COVID-19 Resources & Information for Small Business Guide   

• American Society of Employers: Back-to-Work Checklist for Organizations

• A Leader's Toolkit For Reopening: Twenty Strategies to Reopen and Reimagine  

Ensuring Employee and Customer Safety:

• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: Re-opening Issues Reporting Forms

• Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration: COVID-19 Workplace Guidelines 

• Macomb County Health Department: Overview Guide for Reopening Businesses

• Macomb County Health Department: Understanding COVID-19 Precautions: Social Distancing, Self-monitoring, Quarantine, Isolation, and Actions everyone should take

• In an effort to help reopening businesses safely reengage in the economy, the MI Symptoms Web Application is a cost-free way for employers to comply with Executive Order 2020-97 and implement a COVID-19 symptoms screening questionnaire for employees.

• Governor Whitmer's Executive Order No. 2020-97: Safeguards to protect Michigan’s workers from COVID-19 Rescission of Executive Order 2020-91

• The order states that all employers who will require their workers to leave their home to come to work, MUST:

  1. Develop a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan that is consistent with OSHA's Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

• Guidelines for establishing an employee screening process: English or Spanish

• Centers for Disease Control: Best Practices for Hand Washing

• Centers for Disease Control: Worker Safety and Support

• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services - Face Coverings Frequently Asked Questions

• Business Leaders for Michigan: Best Practices for Employee Engagement and Support​​​

• Business Leaders for Michigan: Best Practices for  Working Remotely

• Business Leaders for Michigan: Best Practices for Information Security

Human Resources Guidance:

• State of Michigan Guidance for Employers Contemplating Layoffs

• State of Michigan Work Share Information

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements 

• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: Re-opening Issues Reporting Forms

Cleaning and Disinfecting:

• CDC: Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes

• CDC: Guidance for Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation (mold awareness, monitoring and remediation; Legionella and Legionnaires' disease)

Samples of Return to Work Guides:

• Lear Safe Work Playbook

• Ford Return to Work Playbook

• Kroger Blueprint for Business

• Magna’s Smart Start Playbook

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Template document for re-opening a business with Low Exposure Risk - Definition of Risk Levels for Businesses

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Template document for re-opening a business with Medium Exposure Risk - Definition of Risk Levels for Businesses

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Template document for re-opening a business with High Exposure Risk - Definition of Risk Levels for Businesses

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Template document for re-opening a business with Very High Exposure Risk - Definition of Risk Levels for Businesses

We are pleased to provide personal protection equipment to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 for businesses as they prepare to open for business. 

Depending on the number of people you employ, kits will include:

• Reusable face coverings
• Face shields
• Gloves
• Hand sanitizer
• Building signage
• And other items to help make your workplace safer for employees and customers.

Kits will be available for pickup at a location in Clinton Township. More details to be provided in an email confirmation.

To request a back-to-business kit, please complete this form.

If you need assistance with your business, please fill out this form.

If you have questions about the application process for the Macomb County Small Business Sustainability Grant Program, please fill out this form.

You will be contacted by someone who can provide further assistance.