LANSING (WKZO) -- The Michigan health insurance exchange got a boost from Washington DC Thursday.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a roughly 30-million dollar grant for the exchange.

The Michigan Affordable Insurance Exchange, required by federal law, will be an online marketplace where insurance firms will compete to sell low-cost health insurance to residents.  Michigan was one of eleven states to share 1.5-billion dollars in grants.

Governor Rick Snyder hopes to have a blueprint plan of the exchange to the Department of Health and Human Services by February 15th.