The former transportation secretary visited the Detroit Auto Show, also weighing in on EVs, automated vehicles and tariffs.
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.
Michigan economic forecast: Meh in 2026, with a chance for optimism
President Donald Trump says the economy is going gangbusters, but business leaders and a new poll takes a more lackluster view.
Michigan faces ‘critical time’ to retain its $348B auto industry: report
Michigan can’t afford to lose its signature industry, advocates say. More innovation could be the answer.
Michigan startup aims to expose AI ‘deep fakes’ in videos, more
ProbeTruth is the first commercialized research from the UM-Flint campus, officials said. The company, which helps detect content generated by artificial intelligence, aims to employ 50 workers by the end of 2026.
Michigan OKs $605M for Grand Rapids high rises, Kalamazoo courthouse rehab
The bulk of the subsidies are to a development near the Grand River led by members of the powerful DeVos and VanAndel families. Advocates say they’re an important project. One critic says the deal was rushed.
What Trump’s marijuana rescheduling means for Michigan
Marijuana is already legal in Michigan. Now, President Donald Trump is making it a Schedule III drug, marking a major shift in federal policy and recognizing its medical use.
‘Silver tsunami’ of retiring business owners leaves Main Streets at a crossroads
Michigan still adds more businesses than it loses, but business is slowing down as nearly 1 in 4 proprietors reach retirement age.
Ford retreats from EVs after Michigan spends big on subsidies for battery plants
After losing billions, the automaker is downsizing its EV strategy and expanding into energy storage. That means big changes to production at the planned $3.5 billion BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall.
Tariffs take hold in west Michigan, home of former critic turned champion
Tariffs are prompting a historic clockmaker and furniture company to close down in west Michigan, home of a former congressional critic now selling President Trump’s policy on the international stage.
West Michigan has economic momentum, but sees signs of slowdown
The Grand Rapids region saw population gains slow and jobs flatline, but it remains a leader in the state and nation on several key economic metrics.