Welcome to the MRLA Newsroom 

For all media inquires, please contact Emily Daunt, Vice President of Communications and Operations, at 517-377-3933, or edaunt@mrla.org 

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News Now

March 2021 
March 2, 2021 - Up North Live

• Michigan restaurants now allowed 50% capacity, nursing home visits

March 2, 2021 - Eater Detroit 

• Michigan Restaurants and Bars Can Increase Indoor Dining Capacity Starting March 5

March 2, 2021 - FOX 17

• Reactions to Whitmer restaurant capacity expansion

March 2, 2021 - MLive

• Restaurants, casinos, gyms, nursing homes: All the changes Michigan made to COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday

March 2, 2021 - MSN.com

• Michigan Restaurants and Bars Can Increase Indoor Dining Capacity Starting March 5

March 2, 2021 - CBS Detroit

• Governor Whitmer Announces Loosening COVID-19 Restrictions On Restaurants and Gatherings

March 2, 2021 - Detroit News

• Gov. Whitmer's officials ease COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants, nursing homes

March 2, 2021 - Associated Press

• Michigan loosens virus limits for businesses, nursing homes

March 3, 2021 - ABC 12 Flint

• Restaurants, stores happy for COVID-19 capacity increase, but hoping for more

March 3, 2021 - MSN.com

• Restaurants, stores happy for COVID-19 capacity increase, but hoping for more

March 3, 2021 - Detroit Free Press

• Whitmer: Michigan to relax restaurant, business COVID-19 restrictions starting Friday

March 3, 2021 - Petoskey News Review 

• ​Updated epidemic orders allows 50% capacity in restaurants, bars

March 4, 2021 - Detroit News

• Michigan health director: Disagreement between Whitmer, Gordon 'possible'

March 4, 2021 - Holland Sentential 

• UPDATE: El Huarache not closing, posted sign to get traffic

March 8, 2021 - WXYZ TV 7 

• Michigan restaurants open with 50% capacity under loosened restrictions

March 10, 2021 - Crain's Business Detroit 

• Stimulus package includes $28.6 billion for restaurants

March 11, 2021 - 9&10 News

• Midland Tech Company Creates Contact Tracing Program for Restaurants, Event Centers

March 12, 2021 - Detroit News

• A year of covering bad news in the Detroit area restaurant scene

March 12, 2021 - Midland Daily News 

• DRI's Dittenber named to National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Board

March 12, 2021 - New York Times 

• As more of the U.S. returns to indoor dining, restaurant workers clamor for vaccine access.

March 16, 2021 - Detroit News 

• Westin Book Cadillac facing foreclosure amid lengthening pandemic

March 18, 2021 - MSN.com 

• State: Nearly 56K Employee Assistance Grants mailed for bar, restaurant, entertainment workers

March 18, 2021 - Oakland Press

• Michigan sending checks to nearly 56,000 hospitality workers impacted by pandemic

March 18, 2021 - Detroit Free Press

• Michigan sends $793 checks to nearly 56K workers affected by COVID-19 orders

March 18, 2021 - Metro Times
COVID-19 cases rise in Michigan after restaurants reopened for indoor dining
March 18, 2021 - Crain's Business Detroit 

• $793 COVID relief checks in the mail for 55,900 hospitality industry workers

March 18, 2021 - WLNS

• Employee assistance grants mailed to more than 55,900 Michiganders

March 18, 2021 - ABC 12

• Nearly 56,000 Michiganders receiving state grants for COVID-19 income losses

March 18, 2021 - Detroit News

• 56K hospitality workers to receive nearly $800 from state grant program

March 18, 2021 - UP Matters

• More than 55,900 Michigan residents receive Employee Assistance Grants

March 18, 2021 - MSN.com

• Michigan sends $793 checks to nearly 56K workers affected by COVID-19 orders

March 18, 2021 - NBC 6/FOX UP

• State: Nearly 56K Employee Assistance Grants mailed for bar, restaurant, entertainment workers

March 18, 2021 - WILX

• Gov. Whitmer announces Employee Assistance Grants have been mailed to more than 55,900 Michiganders

March 18, 2021 - CW 50

• Michigan Hospitality Workers To Receive Payments From State’s Employee Assistance Grant Program

March 18, 2021 - MLive

• Michigan workers in certain jobs given $793 grants from the state

March 18, 2021 - Arab American News
Restaurant, banquet hall employees that applied for grants will receive $793 in mail
March 22, 2021 -  Bridge Magazine

• Michigan is ready to vacation again. Is it enough to save the hotel industry?

March 22, 2021 -  Detroit News

• Michigan Senate's final shot to block health director comes Tuesday

March 23, 2021 -  The Center Square

• Groups urge fiscally conservative approach of federal funds

March 25, 2021 -  WXYZ TV 7 

• Michigan banquet facility limitations push entertainment company to do business outside of state

March 25, 2021 -  The Center Square

• Michigan Senate approves restaurant, event center reopening bill tied to COVID-19 data

March 25, 2021 -  WXYZ TV 7 

• Michigan banquet facility restrictions push entertainment company to do business outside of state

March 25, 2021 -  Bridge Magazine 

• Senate Republicans: Use clear metrics to guide restaurant COVID closings

March 25, 2021 -  MiBiz

• Kent County waives food service licensing fees for 2021

March 25, 2021 -  Iosco County News Herald

• Michigan Senate approves restaurant, event center reopening bill tied to COVID-19 data

March 26, 2021 -  WNEM 

• Banquet halls, entertainment centers doing business out of Michigan

March 26, 2021 - MSN.com

• Banquet halls, entertainment centers doing business out of Michigan

March 30, 2021 - FOX 17

• MRLA survey shows support for indoor dining, metric-driven restrictions

March 30, 2021 - WLNS

• MRLA survey shows support to resume indoor dining and travel

March 30, 2021 -  Eater Detroit

• As Cases Soar, Michigan Restaurant Association Touts Full Reopening Sooner Rather Than Later

March 30, 2021 - MLive

• 43% haven’t eaten in a restaurant since Michigan dine-in ban ended, survey indicates

March 30, 2021 -  FOX 2 TV

• Michigan restaurant association says 3 in 4 want Whitmer to reveal metrics behind COVID restrictions

March 30, 2021 - dBusiness

• Survey: Strong Public Support to Fully Reopen Michigan Restaurants

March 30, 2021 -  The Center Square

• Survey: Michiganders support metric-driven plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants

March 30, 2021 - Fox 17 

• MRLA survey shows support for indoor dining, metric-driven restrictions

March 30, 2021 -  MSN.com

• As Cases Soar, Michigan Restaurant Association Touts Full Reopening Sooner Rather Than Later

March 30, 2021 - Detroit News

• Luxury lodging during a pandemic? Michigan hotels seek recovery signs

February 2021 

January 2021

February 18, 2021 - Sun Times News 

• ​​MI Restaurants Issue Reintegration Plan for the Hospitality Industry

February 18, 2021 - dBusiness

• MRLA Outlines Reopening Plan for Hospitality Industry

February 18, 2021 - WDIV 

• Michigan restaurant association proposes plan to increase indoor dining capacity

February 17, 2021 - TV 6 / FOX UP 

• Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance calls for comprehensive bar, restaurant reintegration plan

February 17, 2021 - MLive 

• Michigan restaurant group proposes plan for reopening to 100% capacity

February 17, 2021 - WNEM

• MRLA proposes plan to restore operations at restaurants, hotels

February 17, 2021 - WILX

• Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association releases roadmap for hospitality industry

February 17, 2021 - WZZM 

• Hospitality group releases roadmap to restore normal operations based on daily positivity rate, vaccination priority

February 17, 2021 - WXYZ TV 7 

• Michigan restaurant association releases plan to restore normal operations for hospitality industry

February 17, 2021 - MLive 

• ​Michigan quietly extended 25% restaurant capacity limit, 10 p.m. curfew through March 29

February 17, 2021 - Detroit News 

• ​Michigan restaurants propose reopening plan tied to COVID testing data

February 17, 2021 - Detroit Free Press 

• Restaurant industry advocates propose a plan for indoor dining tied to COVID-19 positivity

February 15, 2021 - dBusiness 

• MRLA, BYOD Partner to Offer Screening, Contact Tracing Software to Restaurants

February 12, 2021 - Grand Rapids Business Journal 

• Partners offer health screening and contact tracing software for hospitality industry

February 11, 2021 - MLive 

• Midland company unveils software to help restaurants satisfy Michigan’s new rules

February 10, 2021 - WSJM 

• Michigan Restaurant And Lodging Association Announces Partnership To Test Employees And Contact Trace

February 10, 2021 - Eater Detroit 

• Health Screening and Contact Tracing Software Now Available to Michigan Restaurants

February 10, 2021 - ABC 12 

• Midland company helps restaurants manage contact tracing, health screenings

February 10, 2021 - WILX TV 10 

• New contact tracing software is a game changer for restaurants

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January 27, 2021 - MLive 

• 90,000 laid-off Michigan workers apply for state grants, now unlikely to be $1,650 each

January 26, 2021 - Detroit News 

• Editorial: Despite some relief, restaurants still in peril

January 26, 2021 - Detroit Free Press 

• Michigan restaurants to reopen for indoor dining Feb. 1 — but not everyone is happy

January 25, 2021 - Metro Times 

• Michigan restaurant association calls for vaccine prioritization for hospitality workers

January 25, 2021 - WOOD TV 

• Michigan restaurants prepare to open at 25%

January 22, 2021 - ABC 12 

•  Restaurants eager to open for indoor service starting Feb. 1

January 22, 2021 - Lansing State Journal  

• Lansing restaurant owners eager for indoor dining to resume Feb. 1

January 22, 2021 - Eater Detroit 

• Michigan Restaurants and Bars Can Restart Indoor Dining Service on February 1

January 22, 2021 - WXYZ TV 7 

• Gov. Whitmer confirms Michigan restaurants can open starting Feb. 1

January 22, 2021 - Detroit Free Press 

• Michigan restaurants can reopen indoor dining with limited capacity, curfew on Feb. 1

January 20, 2021 - Detroit News 

• 3,000 Michigan restaurants believed closed. Those that survived look forward to Feb. 1

January 20, 2021 - Bridge Magazine 

• Michigan bars, restaurants can reopen Feb. 1 with restrictions, state says

January 19, 2021 - NBC 6 / FOX UP 

• Michigan restaurants ready to open indoor dining ASAP

January 19, 2021 - WLUC TV 6 

• Michigan restaurants ready to open indoor dining ASAP

January 19, 2021 - Detroit News

• Michigan health director: Strong reason to believe COVID-19 'pause' worked

January 16, 2021 - Midland Daily News 

• Applications open for Small Business Survival Grants Jan. 19  Paycheck protection, other resources now available

January 16, 2021 - MLive 

• More than 200 attend Grand Rapids rally, urge Whitmer to lift dining restrictions

January 15, 2021 - WLNS TV 6 

• COVID grant applications begin today

January 15, 2021 - NBC 6 / FOX UP 

• Employee assistant grant offering assistance to Michigan restaurant and entertainment workers impacted by November 2020 MDHHS order

January 15, 2021 - WXYZ TV 7 

• 3 metro Detroit food staples make list of '100 Restaurants America Can't Afford to Lose'

January 15, 2021 - WXYZ TV 7 

• MI employees affected by partial shutdown can apply for grants up to $1,650 starting Friday

January 14, 2021 - South Bend Tribune 

• ​Michigan workers affected by pandemic have 10 days to apply for $1,650 grants — Here's how

January 14, 2021 - WWJ 950 AM

• Michigan workers affected by pandemic have 10 days to apply for $1,650 grants — Here's how

January 14, 2021 - Iron Mountain Daily 

• Whitmer: Michigan restaurants likely can have dining Feb. 1

January 14, 2021 - Midland Daily News 

• Restaurants, legislators agree: It's time to reopen

January 14, 2021 - WILX TV 10 

• Employee assistance grant application now open from the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation

January 13, 2021 - Big Rapids Pioneer 

• Mecosta County restaurants, bars could reopen next month

January 13, 2021 - Grand Rapids Business Journal 

• Restaurant owner "disappointed" in extended closure of indoor dining

January 13, 2021 - FOX 17 

• Restaurant owner "disappointed" in extended closure of indoor dining

January 13, 2021 - Macomb Daily 

• Whitmer: Indoor dining likely to begin again Feb. 1

​January 13, 2021 - Detroit Free Press

• Michigan indoor dining 'likely' to reopen Feb. 1, beverage association says

January 13, 2021 - Detroit News 

• Gov. Whitmer administration: Plan is to reopen restaurants Feb. 1

January 13, 2021 - Detroit News 

• Uncertainty plagues Michigan restaurants as indoor dining ban drags on

January 13, 2021 - Eater Detroit 

• Michigan Extends Indoor Dining Ban Through January 31

January 13, 2021 - MLive 

• Whitmer ‘hopes’ to reopen indoor dining Feb. 1 with capacity limits, curfew

January 13, 2021 - Monroe News

• Fitness classes, some indoor sports to resume in Michigan 

January 13, 2021 - Monroe News 

• Indoor dining ban extended to Feb. 1

January 13, 2021- Patch 

•  Indoor Dining In Michigan Can Resume Feb. 1, Gov. Whitmer Says

January 13, 2021 - Oakland Press 

•  Whitmer: Indoor dining may be allowed on Feb. 1, depending on COVID-19 data

January 13, 2021 - FOX 17

• MRLA calls extension of indoor dining restrictions 'unacceptable'

January 13, 2021 - Associated Press 

• Whitmer: Michigan restaurants likely can offer dining Feb. 1

January 13, 2021 - Crain's Business Detroit 

• State allows indoor fitness classes to resume; restaurants can reopen Feb. 1

​January 13, 2021 - ABC 12 TV 

• Michigan restaurant group frustrated by continued indoor dining shutdown

​January 13, 2021 - WXYZ TV 7

• Michigan restaurant association says continuation of indoor dining pause is 'unacceptable'

​January 13, 2021 - The Alpena News 

• Restaurants may reopen Feb. 1

​January 13, 2021 - WNEM TV 5

• State resumes non-contact sports, indoor dining to reopen on Feb. 1

January 12, 20221 - ABC 12 TV

• Report: Dine-in at Michigan restaurants closed for two more weeks

​January 12, 2021 - WXYZ - TV 7

• In-person dining to resume in Michigan on Feb. 1

​January 12, 2021 - MLive 

• Restaurant leaders expect Michigan to keep indoor dining closed​Displaced Mich. employees eligible for grants up to $1,650, applications open Jan. 15​

​January 12, 2021 - FOX 17

• Grants for restaurant workers available​ this month

​January 12, 2021 - DBusiness 

• Restaurant Association to Open Assistance Grant Application Process Jan. 15​

​January 12, 2021 - MLive 

• Laid off during Michigan’s latest shutdown? You may be eligible for $1,650

January 12, 2021 - Eater Detroit 

• Grant Applications Open Soon for Michigan Restaurant Workers Impacted by Indoor Dining Restrictions​

January 12, 2021 - Detroit Free Press 

• Michigan workers affected by COVID-19 can apply for money from state​

January 12, 2021 - Crain's Detroit Business  

• New grants available to service workers impacted by pandemic​

January 9, 2021 - The Mining Journal 

• Michigan keeps unfairly targeting restaurants​

​January 8, 2021 - FOX 2 TV 

• Hundreds of boxes of food given to restaurant, hospitality workers in Roseville

​January 7, 2021 - Macomb Daily 

• ​Food giveaway in Roseville Friday targets hospitality workers

​January 3, 2021- The Washington Times 

• Editorial Round Up: Michigan