Town managers say the businesses are poised to boost strained budgets. And school and law enforcement officials contend there is little evidence to date the marijuana economy is bringing more crime or drug abuse to main street.
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
Business leaders to Whitmer: Time to ease Michigan restaurant restrictions
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.’
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 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.