On Monday, a 46-year-old pulmonologist at Spectrum Health became the first Michigan recipient of a COVID-19 vaccine. Health leaders say broad vaccination is needed to protect society, but businesses, including hospitals, do not yet appear ready to require them of workers.
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
West Michigan’s manufacturing base is helping it beat pandemic recession
Demand for workers is high as a low unemployment rate in Grand Rapids and an active manufacturing sector prompts ‘war for talent.’
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan spends $8.5M to push small manufacturers to become ‘digital ready’
The awareness plan for ‘Industry 4.0’ technology calls for 50 percent of the state’s manufacturing sector to pursue the changes by 2025.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Doug Rothwell: Michigan economy is no longer last but needs to improve
Doug Rothwell retired from Business Leaders for Michigan this year after decades of trying to boost Michigan’s economy. He says much work remains.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan COVID ‘pause’ will go at least 12 more days
The extension keeps bowling alleys, casinos and other businesses closed and bans indoor service at bars and restaurants while Whitmer again calls on the GOP Legislature for more unemployment aid and a mask mandate.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan’s COVID indoor dining ban expires within days. Or will it?
Bars, restaurants, movie theaters and other businesses are bracing for an extension to a state health order that ‘paused’ operations for three weeks.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Will Michigan Supreme Court rescue restaurants from COVID dining ban?
A federal judge Wednesday denied a request from the restaurant industry to resume indoor dining during the COVID surge. But the judge hinted he may soon punt the case to the state Supreme Court, which struck down the governor’s emergency authority in October.
Posted inBusiness Watch
$10M grant fund launched for small Michigan businesses hurt by COVID limits
Bars, restaurants, hotels and recreation facilities with fewer than 50 employees will be eligible for the much-needed relief.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Forecasts say Michigan’s economy will still be recovering in 2023
Economists at the University of Michigan say the pace of recovery in the state for workers and the government’s budget will depend on a new round of federal pandemic stimulus funding.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Desperation growing at Michigan restaurants after new COVID limits
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are growing, but the state’s bar and restaurant industry says its dining rooms are unfairly shut down. Layoffs continue, and many warn of more closures.