PAAdvisory Briefs

Film Office Releases Strategic Plan

Michigan’s Film Office released this week its 2015 Strategic Plan, which among other things, creates a positive perception of Michigan, calls for a strengthening of partnerships with the private sector and building collaborations with the educational community. These goals are just part of the conclusions spelled out in Michigan Film Office Strategic Plan released Wednesday at the end of a three-month survey of policymakers, industry partners and film and creative industry stakeholders at the state and national level.

Smith Staff Reassigned To Ananich

Senator Virgil Smith’s Lansing staff was re-assigned this week per the request of Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich. Senator Smith (D-Detroit) has not been to session since he was charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor last week that came after a weekend altercation with his ex-wife.

Report: 37 Percent of State's Rural Roads in Poor Condition

A report issued this week suggests that Michigan has the highest percentage of its roads in rural areas in poor condition. The report from TRIP, a nonprofit institute suggested the percentage of Michigan rural roads in poor condition at 37 percent. It also said 13 percent of Michigan bridges in rural areas were structurally deficient, 14th worst in the country.

Michigan Jobless Rate Matches U.S. Rate in April

Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point in April to 5.4 percent and in doing so matched the U.S. unemployment rate for the month. It was the first time in nearly 15 years, since September 2000, that the U.S. and Michigan unemployment rates matched. In that month, with the U.S. still experiencing its biggest economic boom since World War II, both the state and U.S. unemployment rate stood at 3.9 percent. The jobless rate declined because the state saw more people working (3,000 more people employed, with the state adding 88,000 jobs since April 2014), but also because the total labor force fell by 6,000 (to a total of 4.74 million, down 10,000 people from April 2014). In fact, the Department of Technology, Management and Budget, which released the figures, said the state has seen no growth in its total labor force since April 2014.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, May 22, 2015 12:33 PM
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