Governor Gretchen Whitmer outlined economic recovery plans Thursday that include state support for wage hikes and child care.
The plan would use federal dollars to help businesses boost pay rates to $15 an hour for three months to help businesses attract workers. But business owners would have to promise to continue that pay rate for an additional three months.
Whitmer says the plan would make it easier for low-income people to seek and accept jobs. She called for assistance with childcare costs and allowing people to accept part-time work without losing unemployment benefits.
"This is a creative way to help piece together all these supports to help our workforce and families. This would significantly help with the hiring crunch that a lot of businesses across our state are facing," she said.
“We want to help businesses pay greater wages so that there’s a real incentive for people to jump back in. We also know that child care is also a barrier. If you are worried about what’s going to happen to your kids if you go back to work, that’s a complete barrier for a lot of people in our state," she said.
Much of the plan would require approval by the Michigan Legislature.
