Pharma and hospital prices are driving increases that threaten to stall Michigan’s economy, companies told the Small Business Association of Michigan.
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 gives Wolverine Worldwide $1M for office rehab amid PFAS cleanup
Shoe maker Wolverine Worldwide expects to move up to 100 workers to Michigan, where it also is working with the state on widespread PFAS cleanup.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Photos: See history of Willow Run, from B-24 bomber and engines to bankruptcy
The Willow Run bomber plant helped the US win World War II and was later a transmission plant for General Motors. Can it find a third act as a mobility hub?
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan sunk $67M into self-driving car test track. Now, some fear bankruptcy
The American Center for Mobility at the old Willow Run bomber plant was supposed to position Michigan on the vanguard of auto technology. Now, it’s in forbearance on a $35 million loan, and an audit warns bankruptcy is an option.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Gotion, tiny Michigan town square off in court over $2.6B battery factory
The EV battery maker sued Green Charter Township over access to water lines. Progress on the $2.6 billion factory stopped while the case is in court.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Lawmakers try again to get $50M for controversial Copperwood mine in UP
After a state subsidy stalled in approvals, officials now are trying to get the funding through budget earmarks
Posted inBusiness Watch
Whitmer subsidy record: Companies get $1 billion; jobs fall short of promises
Since Gretchen Whitmer became governor, Michigan has given $995 million to companies that promised to create 65,000 jobs. They’ve produced 13,000 — a rate of $76,000 per job, a Bridge investigation finds.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Top 10 subsidies under Whitmer: Michigan spends $900M; firms create 4,200 jobs
Ten mega projects have dominated economic development under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Most involve electric vehicles, remain behind schedule and have created one-fifth of the 25,000 jobs corporations promised.
Posted inBusiness Watch
After $1B and mixed results, Michigan lawmakers cooling on corporate incentives
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has pressed for more money for job-creating subsidies. But after some deals sputtered, lawmakers say it’s time for reforms.
Posted inTalent & Education
Attention MSU fans: Huge Sparty for sale. One catch: Must have 30-foot wall
An auction that launched Thursday will ‘go Green’ for MSU’s athletics department as the school’s surplus store seeks buyers for the iconic images from three outdated football stadium scoreboards.