Debate about corporate subsidies comes as business leaders, others sound alarms that wages in Michigan incomes aren’t keeping pace with the nation. They are calling for investments in education, high-tech jobs.
MI Corporate Subsidies
An enterprise project from March 2024.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan lawmakers eye retooling corporate subsidies to target high-wage jobs
The push is on in Lansing to use incentives to lure tech jobs, as average incomes in Michigan fall behind and criticisms increase about using tax money to create low-wage work.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Corporate subsidies cost Michigan $335M; 40% of deals create low-paying jobs
Gov. Whitmer says tax money funds ‘good-paying jobs.’ But details on wages from subsidies are often difficult to find, and a Bridge Michigan investigation reveals $228 million in subsidies in 2023 are for jobs that pay less than average.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan lawmakers weigh $100M tax subsidy plan to create high-paying jobs
Sponsors say a plan to let growing businesses capture payroll taxes would increase prosperity at a time when Michigan incomes are falling and some economists sound dire warning about the state’s future.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Auto experts: Competition, politics, fading subsidies could affect Michigan EV sales
As it shifts to electric vehicles, the state’s auto industry faces threats from global competition, shifting political winds and changing subsidies, experts said Wednesday.
Posted inBusiness Watch
$273M in tax subsidies sought for Henry Ford, MSU, Pistons project
Henry Ford Health, Michigan State University and the Detroit Pistons are seeking $273 million in tax incentives largely to finance housing for the New Center development.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan Democrats offer plan to remake economic development
As mega-subsidies through Michigan’s SOAR Fund lose luster with both parties, Democrats propose adding more corporate accountability, oversight and community benefits to incentive deals.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan must end corporate welfare subsidies for developers
Awarding taxpayer subsidies is ineffective at creating jobs, unfair to businesses that don’t get them and expensive to governments. Worse still, those receiving them need not demonstrate subsidy programs actually work.
Posted inBusiness Watch
State board OKs $615M incentive plan for District Detroit
The Michigan Strategic Fund’s 9-1 vote came after more than two hours of public comment on the proposal and several other agenda items before the board.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Detroit OKs $748M in tax breaks for $1.5B downtown redevelopment
City Council made a series of key votes Tuesday to secure tax incentives for the $1.5 billion District Detroit development project.