Mayor Rolls Out Guide for Small Businesses to Safely Reopen;           City and Partners Launch Detroit Means Business Program

Mayor Mike Duggan today announced a robust new effort developed with a coalition of 33 government, business, nonprofit and philanthropic partners to assist Detroit small businesses with safely and successfully reopening. The Mayor said the Detroit Means Business effort will help businesses be prepared for when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces that certain businesses can reopen. The announcement was made at his briefing May 18.

COVID-19 Small Business Playbook
The Detroit Health Department also released the COVID-19 Small Business Playbook with protocols that can be adapted by various businesses to create a safe work plan. The guide provides clear guidance on protocols for: employee testing prior to opening; daily temperature checks and health screening; personal protective equipment (PPE); and safe workspace practices, sanitation and policies.

Detroit Means Business
Detroit Means Business will provide small businesses access to essential tools to operate safely and successfully and a range of financial, technical and safety resources. Support is available for Detroit businesses, emphasizing those with under 50 employees. The program will be rolled out in multiple phases.

On the new site, DetroitMeansBusiness.org, business owners will find:

• Reopening guidelines
• Sources where businesses can get PPE
• Webinars on how to operate a business safely
• Financial and technical resources for businesses in the COVID-19 era

A coalition of Detroit businesses and nonprofits worked for weeks to leverage individual expertise and resources to create the comprehensive program, which will be updated as new protocols are announced and new tools become available.

For additional details regarding the Health Department’s COVID-19 Small Business Playbook or Detroit Means Business, click here.

Mayor Mike Duggan announced the Detroit Means Business program and was joined by DTE Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer Dave Meador (center) and Clement Brown, owner of Three Thirteen Clothes (right). Bedrock Detroit CEO Matt Cullen and Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair also participated in the Mayor’s briefing May 18.

Starting May 20, COVID-19 Testing Available to All Detroiters

Beginning May 20, any Detroit resident can get a free COVID-19 test at the State Fairgrounds. Mayor Mike Duggan announced the expansion of testing at his briefing May 18.

Residents will need to make an appointment and have identification when they arrive for the test. However, they won’t need a doctor’s prescription or to be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Residents should call (313) 230-0505 to schedule an appointment.  For Identification, residents can use:

• Driver’s License
• State or City ID
• Documents showing their address in last 30 days, such as a utility bill, pay stub, lease agreement or credit card statement

The Mayor also announced that Ascension Health has joined the coalition of health care organizations and governments providing tests at the Fairgrounds, which helped to increase testing capacity. As many as 2000 tests are administered daily at the site.

For more information on COVID-19 testing at the State Fairgrounds, go to detroitmi.gov/coronavirus.

Mayor Duggan announced today that PepsiCo is donating $600,000 to two organizations to support COVID-19-related financial assistance and relief in Detroit, focusing on initiatives that impact the African-American community.

Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan received $500,000 to:

• Fund COVID-19 testing and contact tracing
• Help preschool children, their families and seniors to meet their basic needs, including food and basic care
• Address the unique mental health needs of high-risk populations
• Support anti-bias training, in partnership with New Detroit, a coalition of leaders who work to achieve racial understanding and equity in the metropolitan area through advocacy and programming. The City’s Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department will assist with the training.

The Detroit Urban League received $100,000 to:

• Fund distribution of food to seniors and families
• Provide guidance on obtaining technology for education
• Develop a digital college club curriculum to expand the program’s reach throughout southeastern Michigan
• Distribute PPE to clients and frontline workers

Health Department Continues Testing at Senior Apartment Buildings

The Detroit Health Department (DHD) has tested 1300 residents at 23 senior apartment buildings, said Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair at the Mayor’s briefing May 18.

Testing at senior buildings is expected to be completed by mid-June.

Nursing Home Residents to Get Second Test

In addition, DHD is now doing a second round of tests on seniors at Detroit nursing homes. The department has completed testing at half of the nursing homes, which began in April.

Free Tax Preparation Has Reopened Virtually

Detroit residents can get help preparing their federal, state and city tax returns without in-person contact and at no cost. Accounting Aid Society and Wayne Metro provide virtual volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) in a safe and reliable way by using a secure, IRS-approved software.

Virtual VITA lets individuals use their smartphone, tablet, or computer’s camera and email address to upload tax documents and electronic signature – without leaving home. Free tax preparation is limited to most families and individuals with incomes up to $56,000.

Visit claimyourrefund.com to schedule an appointment today.

Violators of the Governor’s executive orders to stay home, practice physical distancing and avoid public gatherings
could be fined up to $1000.

Health Department Hotline

• A healthcare provider with a possible COVID-19 positive patient
• An individual who suspects they have COVID-19

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov/
• State of Michigan at http://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus

Meals Available for Detroit Families and Seniors
For information on locations, go to detroitmi.gov/food.

Need Your Water Turned On?
During the COVID-19 outbreak, Detroiters living in households with no water service can sign up for the Water Restart Plan to restore service and keep their water flowing for only $25 per month. Thousands are already participating: sign up here!

Income Tax Deadline now July 15
The City of Detroit has pushed back the deadline for residents and non residents who must file City income taxes to July 15.