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MICHIGAN JUMPS 13 SPOTS IN CNBC’S TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS RANKING
In CNBC’s Top States for Business annual ranking, Michigan landed the #11 spot, marking a 13-spot improvement in the ranking from 2019. Michigan increased its scores in education and infrastructure, with high scores in the categories of technology & innovation, cost of living and cost of doing business helping drive the jump in the ranking.
Michigan scored high in the technology & innovation category, which looks at factors including patents issued per capita and the vitality of the state’s technology ecosystem based on people, companies, and investment. With the world’s largest tech companies including Amazon, Microsoft and Google investing in Michigan, the state is also home to hundreds of startups across a broad cross section of the tech world. Here are some examples of recent tech investments in Michigan. • Tier 1 supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. investing $38.6 million and adding 100 new jobs in Three Rivers • Whirlpool investing $60 million to rehabilitate and reconstruct its Global Laundry and Dishwasher Technical Center in St. Joseph and launch an innovative new development for workforce housing in Benton Harbor • Storage products manufacturer Speedrack Products investing $64.5 million and adding 164 new jobs in Walker • Tier 1 supplier Flex-N-Gate investing $52.1 million and adding 245 new jobs in Troy • Software developer TechSmith investing $15 million and adding 50 new jobs at a new global headquarters in East
Lansing • Boston-based XL Fleet investing $1.2 million and adding nearly 50 new jobs at its new Fleet Electrification Technology
Center in Wixom • Mission Design and Automation investing $5.3 million, adding 109 new jobs at its headquarters in Holland and supporting Industry 4.0 adoption efforts in the state. • Superior Extrusion, Inc. in Marquette County, adding 44 new jobs as part of one of the largest manufacturing expansions in the Upper Peninsula in several years.
MEDC LAUNCHES CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN
The Lansing Makers Network is growing into a new space that will expand its programming and operations with the help of a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and nonprofit Lansing Makers Network. If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by September 10, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program.
Lansing Makers Network (LMN) is a maker’s space for hobbyists, entrepreneurs, artists, and engineers to meet, make, learn, and teach together. With tools and equipment for woodworking, blacksmithing, metalworking, machining, jewelry-making, laser-cutting, 3D printing, sewing, and more, LMN provides a space for tinkerers to play and entrepreneurs to grow.
Through this campaign, LMN will move into a larger and more accessible space allowing the nonprofit to host more makers and events. They will also be able to create and expand youth and adult programming in the space, invest in new equipment and infrastructural improvements, and expand free services they offer to the public. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/lansingmakers.
REFER A BUSINESS, GET $50
Being an MRA Members pays off. Tell us about someone who would benefit by being a member of MRA. When you refer a business that joins MRA, we will pay you a $50 Referral Bonus. Contact MRA Customer Service at 800.366.3699 to learn more.
HELP AVAILABLE FOR MICHIGAN RESTAURANTS
The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemicrelated revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding if funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023. For more information on eligibility and to apply, visit www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/ covid-19-relief-options.
THE CITY OF HOUGHTON RECEIVES CERTIFICATION AS REDEVELOPMENT READY COMMUNITY
The city of Houghton has been awarded the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) recently.
As an RRC participant, Houghton received a comprehensive assessment that measured current community and economic development practices. The program evaluates and certifies communities that integrate transparency, predictability, and efficiency into economic development practices. Certification status is a compelling indicator that a community has removed development barriers and streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive to investors.
Houghton joins an elite group of 58 Michigan communities that have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” when it comes to planning and zoning.
$150M LOCAL PARKS & TRAILS INVESTMENT PROPOSED
Governor Whitmer recently announced a historic planned investment of $150 million in Michigan’s community parks and recreation facilities. The funds would address critical needs in local park systems with funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. Together with the Governor’s previously announced investment in State Parks, the plan would create more jobs across the state.
Over the past five years, the state has averaged almost $40 million a year in grant applications to the DNR Natural Resources Trust Fund, Recreation Passport Grants, and Land and Water Conservation Fund. Nearly $20 million of those annual requests could not be funded because of limited resources. Governor Whitmer’s proposed investment would close this gap and ensure that every community has safe, clean, and beautiful outdoor recreation spaces.
S&P BOOSTS MICHIGAN’S CREDIT RATING OUTLOOK
The State of Michigan’s improving economy and multi-billion-dollar revenue surplus coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted S&P Global Ratings to improve the state’s credit rating outlook from “negative” to “stable” – an affirmation that Michigan is headed in the right direction.
This is the second credit rating boost the state has received in the last month, a sign of growing confidence in Michigan’s communities and small businesses. The State of Michigan recently announced new revenue projections taking the state from a nearly $3 billion deficit to a $3.5 billion surplus.
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MICHIGAN INVESTS IN TRAINING TO GET MICHIGANDERS BACK TO WORK
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) announced the recipients of grants totaling more than $15.6 million to help get Michigan back to work. The Michigan Learning and Education Advancement Program (MiLEAP) grants have been awarded to 10 groups who will work as Regional Consortia to assist job seekers in transitioning from education and training programs to high-skill, high-wage careers, resulting in industry-recognized credential attainment and reduced educational debt.
In all, the $15.6 million investment will allow the 10 awardees to serve an estimated 5,069 participants. • Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! (450 participants, awarded $1.6M) • Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (556 participants, $1.9M) • Networks Northwest dba Northwest Michigan Works! (375 participants, $1M) • West Michigan Works! (667 participants, $2M) • Oakland County Michigan Works! (667 participants, $2M • Berrien-Cass-Van Buren Michigan Works! (670 participants, $2M) • Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Southwest Partnership (444 participants, $1M) • Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium (460 participants, $1.3M) • Michigan Works! West Central (180 participants, $540,000) • Mott Region 6 Consortium (600 participants, $1.7M)
NEW FILING DEADLINE FOR 2019/2020 EEO-1 COMPONENT 1 REPORTS
The deadline to submit and certify your 2019/2020 EEO-1 Component 1 data has changed. The new filing deadline is now Aug. 23, 2021.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) encourages employers to file the required EEO-1 Component 1 report(s) as soon as possible. Organizations can file their information through the new EEO-1 Component 1 Online Filing System.
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