What does this mean for Michigan’s Green Industry?

Unfortunately, the order is vague as it pertains to the segments of our Green Industry. We have already reached out to the Governor’s Office and the MI Dept of Ag & Rural Development for clarification on whether or not landscape services and retail garden centers are included in critical infrastructure and to make sure that all activities of our nurseries, Christmas tree, and greenhouse operations are included under the “Food and Agriculture” exemption. As soon as we have clarification we’ll get it out to you.

Here are updates and information that we’ve received since our last Newsletter on March 19, 2020. A complete compilation of resources can be found on the Home page of our website at www.MNLA.org. Please note that changes are now occurring hourly and we recommend that you check these resources frequently to ensure you have the latest information.

MARCH 23, 2020

1.    3/23/2020 - On the State Level:
a.    New funding and tools available for MI’s small businesses impacted by COVID-19
b.    Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Lobby Closures
c.    MDOT Lifts Seasonal Weight Restrictions for Trucks Supporting COVID-19 Relief Efforts (And, Click Here for the link to the Executive Order)

d.    Stay Home, Stay Safe - Executive Order
e.    Stay Home, Stay Safe - Order Summary

2.    3/23/2020 - On the National Level:
a.    AmericanHort Special Report
b.    Families First Coronavirus Response Act—AmericanHort’s Key Provisions to Employee Emergency and Sick Leave
c.    National Ag Labor Concerns

3.    3/23/2020 - From the MNLA Office:
a.    Safety Resources and Workers’ Compensation Answers from MNLA’s MHI Fund
b.    Landscape Management Network (LMN) Offering Webinar/Workshop Series for Free
c.    Letter to Governor on Landscape Essential Services Letter, 3/20/2020

4.    Strategies that Your Business is Implementing: In this time of stress and uncertainty, we lean on each other for support and advice. We encourage you to share the strategies you are implementing and the concerns and/or questions you are hearing (from employees, suppliers, and/or customers). We’ll anonymously post these on the website as a resource. Please send this directly to Amy at Amy@MNLA.org.