A lawsuit claims Michigan set an ‘extraordinarily dangerous precedent’ by dedicating taxpayer money to a foreign company. Defenders say the project could revive mining in struggling area.
Business Watch
Covering the intersection of business and policy, and informing Michigan employers and workers on the long road back from coronavirus. Our Michigan Economic Dashboard shows key metrics that show how the state is performing.
Posted inBusiness Watch, Talent & Education
Push is on to boost career tech in Michigan schools. Not all agree that’s best
Nearly 115,000 students took a career and technical education course last year. But is it a direct path to a good job? Leaders say employers want even more training and schools need more trained instructors.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Fellow Democrats miffed at Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over $50M copper mine subsidy
Some lawmakers say the governor’s administration sidestepped the Legislature to award $50 million to the Copperwood Mine’s effort to bring back mining in the Upper Peninsula.
Posted inBusiness Watch
With fewer people drinking these days, Michigan wineries turn to goats
Wine consumption is down across the US and world, but wineries are turning to goat happy hours, snowshoe vineyard tours and other events to keep people coming through the doors.
Posted inBusiness Watch
As family farms decline, more Michigan farmers trying to preserve their land
The number of family-owned farms is on the decline, but the share of farms in preservation programs is on the upswing.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Controversial UP copper mine gets $50M in state grants after years of trying
Highland Copper says it’s close to building UP mine even as it seeks to cut costs. Opponents remain skeptical.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Ypsilanti Township eyes moratorium on power transmission to slow U-M data center
The Washtenaw County community wants a six-month pause on power updates before U-M moves forward with a $1.2 billion project to conduct nuclear weapons research.
Posted inBusiness Watch
U-M affirms Ypsilanti $1.2B computing center site; township officials vow fight
The University and Los Alamos National Laboratory are moving ahead with the project in Ypsilanti Township. Boosters say it will create good jobs; but officials say far too many details are secret.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Sisters aim to repair studio of iconic Michigan printmaker Gwen Frostic
Michigan artist Gwen Frostic’s studio has been on the market for a few years. Sisters Amy and Sarah Blessing bought the northern Michigan tourist attraction to continue the artist’s legacy.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan subsidy board beefs up ethics rules. Critics ask what took so long
The agency that doles out hundreds of millions in taxpayer money is just now mandating its board to make public potential conflicts of interest. The move follows a criminal case against a former board member.