MARQUETTE — The Michigan National Guard is expanding its COVID-19 response force for vaccination and testing efforts across the state.

Almost 300 additional guard members are being deployed to support this mission, according to the State Emergency Operations Center.

The effort was to have begun on Sunday. The MING is scheduled to deploy three additional task forces to further assist the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and local health departments. The extra soldiers and airmen will be assigned directly to specific regions of the state including northern Michigan, mid-Michigan, western Michigan and southeast Michigan.

The MING is augmenting local health departments, as requested, in administering the vaccination in clinics in their areas.

“The availability of a COVID-19 vaccine is exciting as this allows us to go on the offensive against this ruthless disease,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, in a news release. “This will help reduce the risk and safeguard Michiganders during this pandemic.”

The additional 50 COVID-19 vaccination and testing teams will create three additional task forces known as Task Force North, Bronco and Red Lion.

A CVTT is composed of one medic and two supporting administrative personnel. They will join Task Force Spartan to ensure Michigan health care agencies have the personnel required to deliver the vaccine in their communities.

CVTTs will support individual teams in some locations and setting up entire mass vaccination clinics where requested.

“We are here to help the state where asked,” Rogers said. “From the city of Detroit to the far reaches of the Upper Peninsula, the Michigan National Guard will continue to assist our communities in this very important mission.”

Members named to

commission

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday appointed new members to the bipartisan Protect Michigan Commission.

The appointees, which represent an array of industries, professions and backgrounds, include Marquette City Commissioner Evan Bonsall. Melissa A. Holmquist of the Upper Peninsula Health Plan will serve as chairwoman for the health leaders work group.

Housed within the Department of Health and Human Services, the commission will help raise awareness of the safety and effectiveness of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, educate Michiganders and help protect the health and safety of Michigan residents.

Restaurants to get relief

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced that the state of Michigan will partner with One Fair Wage to distribute more than $250,000 in much-needed relief for restaurant owners and essential workers, as well as community members in need.

Funding for the program, called High Road Kitchens, comes from the non-profit organization One Fair Wage.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that we need to rethink and reimagine our nation’s economic policies to provide the greatest support to families and small businesses that have been disproportionately impacted due to no fault of their own,” Gilchrist said in a statement. “The beauty about One Fair Wage’s High Road Kitchens program is that it is an equity-driven approach to help restaurants and the people who work in them, increase wages and economic opportunity, and demonstrate that our investment priorities must support individuals, businesses and the community working together for shared prosperity.”

One Fair Wage’s High Road Kitchens program will provide grants to restaurants in Michigan that commit to paying One FairWage to all workers — a full minimum wage with tips — and provide free meals to community members in need, said Sara Jayaraman, One Fair Wage president, in a news release.

Each High Road Kitchen location will agree to serve at least one free meal for every $10 granted over the course of the eight-week program.

Restaurant partners will become members of RAISE High Road Restaurants. Membership is free. Details can be found at www.highroadrestaurants.org.

Visit https://cutt.ly/ Sj10Wyt for an application.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.