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Relief may come to those impacted by the winter that wasn’t in Michigan. Yesterday Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office encouraged businesses in the Northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula to apply for federal funding from the Small Business Administration. Winter during the past season has greatly impacted several large seasonal economic drivers such as the cancellation of all three Upper Peninsula Sled Dog races, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding events.
February 2024 brought to Michigan some of the warmest temperatures recorded in the month’s history. From mid-50-degree temperatures felt in the Keweenaw Peninsula to the hottest February day in history for the city of Detroit on the 27th reaching 73 degrees. The lack of snow-making conditions brought on by the impacts of climate change and a dry season landed very little snowfall throughout the state. U.S.
Representative Jack Bergman says that working with the Governor, business owners, and local leaders it’s all hands on deck to help navigate resources, and assistance to help Michigan Communities.
State Senator Ed McBroom added that many businesses in the Upper Peninsula and state rely on Michigan’s winters as economic drivers for small towns, and he wants to see many of those businesses still open for winters to come.
42 Michigan Counties are covered by the disaster designation for droughts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Several counties are located in the Upper Peninsula. Businesses in Ontoangon, Gogebic, and Iron counties are eligible from the western region of the Upper Peninsula. Those interested in learning more about the federal relief funding available to Michigan businesses impacted by the state’s lack of winter snowfall can find more details here.
