It’s curtains for a 90-acre neighborhood, as work accelerates on assembling a 1,300-acre site for a large-scale manufacturer in mid-Michigan. Boosters remain hopeful, but some residents and lawmakers are upset.
Paula Gardner
Paula directs the business reporting on Bridge, writing much of it and setting the strategy for how statewide business coverage fits into Bridge’s nonpartisan policy-driven editorial mix. Paula came to Bridge in 2020 after several years at MLive.com, where she covered the state on both business and environmental teams. Prior to that, she was editor of the Ann Arbor News and news director of online startup AnnArbor,com, and also focused on business news as an editor and reporter at Michigan Business Review. Born and raised in metro Detroit, Paula moved to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan, and has lived in the city for 20 years with her husband, who grew up in their neighborhood. Paula also regularly visits East Lansing and Grand Rapids to visit her college-aged children. She can be reached at pgardner@bridgemi.com
Posted inBusiness Watch
MEDC under fire, board silent following criminal charges against ex-member
A potential target in an ongoing criminal probe, MEDC CEO Quentin Messer said Tuesday he still has “the best job in economic development.”
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan loaned $35M to mobility center. Debt could cripple it, boosters say
Amid a backlash against public subsidies, Michigan seeks repayment of loan for autonomous testing site. Activists say the nonprofit is doing vital work to keep Michigan competitive.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Bill Ford: Michigan is ‘headed in wrong direction’
The auto executive calls on business leaders in Grand Rapids to help improve the state’s business climate. Ford also said he hopes onshoring auto suppliers will help the state.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Overflow crowd tells Lansing lawmakers: Stop secrecy around data centers
Michigan is awash in data center proposals, in part because of tax incentives. Many residents say enough is enough, calling for tighter regulations and to non-disclosure agreements with local officials.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan feared Cheboygan Dam danger for years before rains pushed it to brink
Records show state, local and federal officials tried for years to compel repairs that could prevent a flood, but its private owners didn’t act. Once again, regulators are finger-pointing about who is to blame.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan betting that space is next frontier to create jobs
Satellites, rockets and more are fueling a new ‘space race.’ Michigan has a piece of it but officials say more is possible.
Posted inBusiness Watch
A first for Michigan’s $2.4B SOAR business incentive program: New jobs
Companies say they’ve created 1,846 of the 14,559 jobs they originally promised in exchange for Michigan SOAR subsidies. They still have several years to meet their targets.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Neighborhood demolition to begin at $261M Michigan megasite despite holdouts
Dozens of homes are slated for demolition this month in Mundy Township. Some residents have refused to sell and move out of a neighborhood that officials want to raze for a potential large-scale development.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Locals to U-M: Your $1.2B supercomputer not welcome here
The project would include nuclear weapons research, prompting Ypsilanti Township to say that could be a community danger.