Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) successfully championed a $257,000 federal budget appropriation to support UWSCMI’s workplace initiative sustaining ALICE employees.
United for ALICE@Work in Michigan is a business education and certification effort to help small- and medium-sized businesses better understand the needs of low-wage workers below the ALICE threshold. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed – workers who don’t earn enough to be financially stable. United for ALICE@Work teaches employers how to apply best practices that strengthen those workers’ ability to be mobile, stay employed and build financial strength.
“Sen. Stabenow’s partnership and effort to secure this funding were crucial to the long-term success of ALICE@Work,” said Chris Sargent, President and CEO of United Way of South Central Michigan.
“Small and medium businesses depend on the ALICE workforce, and vice versa. Together they form the backbone of state and local economies in Michigan,” Sargent added. “It’s vital that we work together to remove barriers and grow opportunities for ALICE families to thrive. We’re grateful for Sen. Stabenow’s hard work to make this happen.”
A total of $256,795 was allocated to United for ALICE@Work from the federal government’s FY 2023 budget. For FY 2022, the initiative received $50,000 through efforts by former U.S. Rep. Fred Upton for use in Kalamazoo. The allocation secured by Sen. Stabenow will allow United for ALICE@Work to expand into the south central Michigan region.
Sargent pointed to JobSTAR as a solid example of how an effort like United for ALICE@Work bears fruit. JobSTAR is a business resource network launched through a partnership led by United Way of Jackson County in 2018. It provides onsite Success Coaches that help employers and employees overcome barriers—such as lack of transportation, lack of child care, housing issues, etc.—that can keep employees from working.
Sargent also noted partnerships in Kalamazoo that have made grants and loans available to small businesses, especially those that are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)- and/or women-owned, as another creative approach to applying UWSCMI’s focus on ALICE and equity.
“These efforts are impossible without partnership and shared vision,” Sargent said. “That’s why we so appreciate Sen. Stabenow and our other community partners.” For a complete list of FY 2023 allocations, go to this website. You can learn more about ALICE, JobSTAR and our small business programs at unitedforscmi.org.