In December 2020, Michigan legislation allocated $45 million to the Michigan Hospitality Industry Employee Relief Fund to support workers impacted by the pandemic. The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) then turned to Plante Moran for help facilitating the program and administering funds. MICPA member Dave Herrington spearheaded the project and put together a team of colleagues including Scott Patton, Mark Warner, and Mike Grossman.
This project came with unique obstacles, namely creating a custom application process despite limited instruction from Michigan legislation. Dave and his team kept equity and fair access at the forefront of considerations when determining eligibility. In the end, direct payments were delivered to more than 55,000 Michigan hospitality workers thanks to the program and the team’s efforts.
