News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena are off the air. Click here to learn more.

City of East Lansing waives fees for the hospitality industry during COVID-19

Courtesy East Lansing Facebook

The city of East Lansing is waiving restaurant and entertainment fees as a way of helping businesses stay open.

Restaurants and bars have been hit hard by the pandemic. The East Lansing city council voted Tuesday to waive licensing fees paid by establishments in the city.

Mayor Aaron Stephens says similar action was taken last year, and the city remains in a difficult position.

“Some of these businesses were even shut down for a little bit of time this past year, so it’s important to be cognizant of that.”

The move will cost East Lansing about $75-thousand dollars. The largest single fee being waived is $19-thousand.

Stephens urges residents to continue supporting these establishments.

For take-out food orders, 15-minute parking downtown is free.