The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division announced today that $44,934,145 in federal funding has been made available to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for costs related to the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic under the federal disaster declaration of March 27, 2020.
This funding will reimburse MDHHS for eligible reimbursable costs related to providing COVID-19 testing and reporting statewide from July 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021. Approximately $8.1 million of the grant covered COVID-19 testing and reporting for residents at the MDHHS long-term care facilities, and $36.8 million covered COVID-19 testing and reporting for inmates, prison staff and visitors at the Michigan Department of Corrections facilities.
“FEMA’s Public Assistance program is an important resource for state and local governments, jurisdictions, and eligible private non-profits to cover eligible COVID-19 expenses,” said Moises Dugan, acting regional administrator, FEMA Region 5. “The state’s actions protected the health and safety of Michigan residents and helped reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”
“COVID-19 has not only taken a physical and mental toll on Michiganders, it has cost the state millions of dollars as we work to ensure everyone’s health and safety,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “This federal assistance is a big step toward helping our state agencies recoup some of those costs. I am grateful to our federal partners for this assistance and will continue to look for opportunities to support our state’s response.”
“We are grateful to our federal partners for this funding which will help the State of Michigan address the cost of this pandemic and the efforts of MDHHS to keep Michiganders safe and healthy,” said Col. Joe Gasper, state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and director of the Michigan State Police. “Our state agencies have worked around the clock to protect the well-being of all Michigan residents, and their work is not done yet. We will continue to support them in those efforts and thank them for their dedication.”
FEMA provides a 100% federal share of eligible reimbursable expenses for these two projects, one totaling $8,150,845 and the other for $36,783,300.
FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides funding to state and local governments, jurisdictions, and eligible private non-profits for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure as well as costs incurred for emergency actions taken to protect lives or property. To learn more, visit FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit.
