So many are still out of work as local arts & entertainment venues are not able to reopen yet!

Keep spreading the word and giving! The more raised, the more aid distributed so that once the green light is given, our creatives will be ready to return to the cultural gathering places across the greater Ann Arbor are to do what they do so remarkably: give of their art so that we can rejoice, renew, remember and reflect on our humanity as individuals and together as community.

SBDC Reopens and Updates for Emergency Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL)

EIDL loans have opened up to basically most businesses. Those eligible can receive a $1,000 grant per employee/contractor that does not have to be repaid. If you applied while they were only accepting agriculture businesses that you may automatically added to the cue. Here is the link to apply.

Unemployment Fraud Alert -  The State of Michigan

The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) recently issued a national alert regarding an international criminal ring exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to commit large scale fraud against state unemployment programs. The UIA, Michigan State Police Cyber Command and Dept. of Technology Management and Budget Cybersecurity are coordinating with the USSS to obtain cyber threat indicators related to national fraud activity.

Responding to any fact-finding requests you receive from the UIA. If the Agency needs more information from the employer regarding a claimant ís separation, you may receive Form UIA 1713, Request for Information Relative to Possible Ineligibility or Disqualification.

Report suspected fraud or identity theft online by clicking on the Report Fraud or Report Identity Theft link or call 1-866-500-0017.

Federal & State COVID-19 Relief
for the Arts + Creative Industries

is data dependent and all that matters to your elected officials*

Your call to ACTION

PLEASE DO THESE FIVE MINUTE SURVEYS NOW

Artists, Creative Workers COVID-19 Impact Survey - click here

Arts + Creative Organizations + Businesses** COVID-19 Impact Survey - click here

**Businesses please know that the survey term "organization" means" business."

Your legislator needs YOUR SURVEY to support YOU!

This is the list of Region 9 Surveys submitted to date:

0 Hillsdale County surveys

0 Jackson County surveys

0 Lenawee County surveys

0 Livingston County surveys

0 Monroe County surveys

32 Washtenaw County surveys

Please, Region 9 let's get this job done!

Join the Arts Action Fund

It's FREE and takes just a minute. Add your name and be counted so Congress knows their are millions of arts and creative workers, educators, businesses and citizens who insist that arts and creativity are critical to our country. Join here for updates and calls to action.

The results now available for Southeast Michigan and the Atlanta Metro Region represent the first phase of a multi-phase study that will track how audiences feel about returning to events in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.?

FROM THE SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN RESULTS
Conditions for Return?

• 75% of respondents would be comfortable walking around a museum or gallery with social distancing and other health safety measures

• 24% of respondents would be comfortable attending a performance venue seating 1000 or more people with social distancing and other health safety measures

• 19% of respondents are ready to return to cultural events as soon as it is legally allowed

• 21% of respondents are waiting for the rate of new infections to drop to near zero

• 47% of respondents are waiting for broad availability of testing and treatment, vaccination, or immunity

• 62% of respondents trust the organization that sent them the survey to determine when it is safe for them to resume attending 

Michigan Humanities Arts and Humanities Touring Grants

Now open for performances that will take place between June 1 and August 15.

• Funds may be used to pay artists that provide virtual programming. Applications are considered in the order they are received, and the application window will remain open until all funds are committed.
• Browse the artist directory and apply for the grant, or you can learn more about the Arts and Humanities Touring Grant program on our website and view sample application questions.
• If you have any questions please feel free to email Director of Federal and State Grants, Jennifer Rupp, at jrupp@mihumanities.org.
• Fall 2020 Humanities Grant draft proposals are currently being accepted with a final application deadline of August 27.
• Visit the Humanities Grant website for additional information. 

Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
Find a COVID-19 testing location near you.

• Testing is NOT required for employees to return to work.
• Testing WILL help us keep workplaces safer by stopping the spread.

As businesses begin to reopen, employees are encouraged to get a COVID-19 test if they are at risk of exposure. This includes employees who are in contact with the public or work in industries that have seen outbreaks, such as farming, food processing, animal industries, etc., even if the employee does not have symptoms. Increased testing will help determine where the virus is so we can stop it before it spreads and safely re-engage the economy.

MI Symptoms Web Application

In an effort to help reopening businesses safely reengage in the economy, the MI Symptoms Web Application is a cost-free way for employers to comply with Executive Order 2020-97 and implement a COVID-19 symptoms screening questionnaire for employees. Read full press release.

Planning for reopening - Governor Whitmer's Orders

Arts and entertainment venues are not reopened yet for Regions 1 and 7. To plan ahead for that day, check out Governor Whitmer's updated Executive Order laying out new workplace safeguards for entertainment venues.

University of Michigan makes announcement for Fall Semester

990 Nonprofit filing deadlines is July 15

Forms 990-T, 1041 and 1120-POL are due. For details, including what forms are not included, see questions and answers regarding filing and payment deadlines.

The U.S. Treasury and SBA releases the final PPP Loan Forgiveness Application

It includes the changes made in the Paycheck Flexibility Act. SBA has also introduced a great EZ Forgiveness Application version as well as a full application version. This EZ form will make it much simpler to complete your forgiveness application form without doing complicated calculations.

Federal Reserve Board is seeking public feedback on its Main Street Lending Program proposal to provide access to credit for nonprofit organizations

On June 8, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced the expansion of the Mainstreet Lending Program to small and medium-size businesses. While these types of loans are not the forgivable type and were previously only available to major corporations, the terms may be attractive and provide much more flexibility for use of funds. $75 billion is being made available for these loans through the CARES Act. Please note that the Federal Reserve Board also confirmed that they will soon be announcing an additional loan program specifically for nonprofit organizations.

WEMU 89.1 FM

For the fastest updates and breaking news!

• Follow The Arts Alliance on Facebook
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The Arts Alliance’s COVID-19 Support Page

• Resources– including advocacy, support and affiliation agencies
• Aid, assistance and grants for artists, creatives and organizations – COVID-19

Contact us anytime at info@a3arts.org or 734-213-2733.

The Arts Alliance is the arts + creative industry authority in Washtenaw County. A regional agency, its mission is to advocate for and support Creative Washtenaw and ensure that the greater Ann Arbor, Michigan, region remains a great place to create, live, work, learn, play and visit.

The intrinsic and aesthetic values of the arts and creativity are determining factors of success for the members of The Arts Alliance: Creative people from students to industry experts leading the sector locally, nationally and internationally. They are professionals and amateurs who have creative practices, own creative businesses, hold creative jobs in profit, nonprofit and government entities; and offer creative products, services and programs throughout the Washtenaw community.

The Arts Alliance serves Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Whitmore Lake and Ypsilanti plus the 21 townships in the county.

It is committed to, forever evolving and learning about diversity, equity and inclusion.This includes leaning in to listen and act on how the communities it serves define the intrinsic and aesthetic qualities of art and creativity be it by the cultural expert, the credentialed scholar, the journeyed or self-taught master and/or the astute consumer of the form.

The Arts Alliance is supported by its members, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

For more information, please go to a3arts.org or contact info@a3arts.org or 734-213-2733.