Insider Intelligence

Michigan has been ranked first for fastest foreign direct investment (FDI) job growth over the past five years, according to Global Business Alliance’s most recent national trends analysis. Michigan was also ranked as third for the largest concentration of FDI manufacturing jobs, seventh for most overall FDI jobs, and tied for third for the largest […]

As home to the largest concentration of Dutch Americans in the country, a small group of us with Grand Rapids ties saw the opportunity to create an organization that could help strengthen the cultural and economic ties between West Michigan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  In 2010, the West Michigan Global Initiative (WMGI) was […]

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan package of bills into law aiming to protect workers and businesses from the ongoing pandemic. Under the new laws, employers are required to allow workers exposed to COVID-19, or who exhibit symptoms, to stay home and prohibits retaliation against the employee. The bill also provides a minimum damages award […]

This week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation codifying part of her executive orders expanding unemployment benefits. The new laws extend unemployment benefits for Michigan workers who have lost work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic from 20 to 26 weeks until the end of the year. Governor Whitmer also called on the Legislature to […]

Last month, Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 6.5% points to 14.8%. Total employment for the month advanced by 464,000 but was still 556,000 below February’s pre-pandemic levels. The national rate declined by 2.2% last month to 11.1%. Highlights from the monthly job report by the Department of Technology, Management and Budget include: The […]

The House approved of several measures aimed at helping restaurants who are facing declining revenue due to the pandemic. The bills would allow local municipalities to establish designated outdoor drinking areas where people can purchase and enjoy alcoholic beverages. In areas where the “social districts” are in place, people of legal drinking age can walk […]

Representative Tommy Brann (R-Wyoming) introduced legislation building upon a state program established earlier this year to provide relief to small businesses. The proposed program would provide grants of up to $10,000 to eligible businesses with 50 or fewer employees impacted by COVID-19. The money could be used to pay employees, for rent or mortgage payments, […]

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced the creation of a $3 million Tech Startup Stabilization Fund. The fund will help stabilize early-stage tech startups in the state that are being impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak through direct investments or loans that can be converted into equity. Investment and loan sizes are expected to range between […]