In a Monday letter, chambers of commerce statewide urge the governor to allow long-suffering restaurants to ‘open as soon as we can in ways that are safe.’
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
Michigan looks for new CEO for economic development
Mark Burton leaves the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for dual roles at Honigman. The departure adds to the list of vacancies in the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Southwest Michigan First admits it has ‘work to do’ after Chatfield flap
The business group isn’t saying if the former House speaker got a severance after quitting, but it is taking stock of the controversy his hiring engendered. ‘It’s abundantly clear that the search process fell below standards.’
Posted inMichigan Government
Lee Chatfield quits Southwest Michigan First amid uproar over his politics
The former House Speaker submits a letter saying he can’t ‘apologize for various conservative beliefs I espoused while in office,’ as groups withdraw funding over his opposition expanding LBGTQ rights.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Lee Chatfield fought LGBT rights in Lansing. He’s on board in Kalamazoo.
As Republican Speaker of the House, Chatfield rose to political prominence through his opposition to gay marriage. But after backlash to his hire as CEO of an economic development group, Chatfield said he’ll support the group’s endorsement of adding LGBT protections to state law.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Business leaders seek federal aid to rebuild Michigan’s unemployment fund
Jobless claims during the pandemic cost the state billions and put pressure on business to keep the fund solvent. But there’s hope that federal aid will fund the relief instead of business owners.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Affordable housing crisis hits rural Michigan. Newaygo project offers hope.
Jobs are booming in tiny Newaygo in west Michigan, but housing hasn’t followed. So builders and city leaders got creative to put less expensive homes on the market — and other cities may follow.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan unemployment system surprised by so many COVID claims. Again.
What happens when you tell jobless workers to log in on Monday? They log in. Up to 340,000 login attempts per hour set a new record, crashing the state’s system as workers tried to reset benefits that expired in December.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan workers endure another glitch in unemployment's computer system
The state’s computer system Monday was unresponsive for many workers seeking access to the unemployment benefits system. It’s the latest in a series of technology failures impacting workers put out of work by COVID.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan restaurants still likely to struggle after reopening amid COVID
Michiganders filled northern Ohio restaurants over the past two months while Michigan was one of the last states to allow restaurants to reopen with some indoor dining. But other states that opened sooner still saw businesses struggle under capacity restrictions and continued fears of virus transmission.