 |
Auto Supplier Brings Flint Jobs
A new auto supplier company announced
on Tuesday their plans to establish a facility in Flint, bringing hundreds of
jobs.
C3 Venture Flint, a new organization
aimed at recycling plastics into auto parts, has headquartered in Flint and is
expected to create 380 new jobs in the area. The company made the announcement
following a $5.7 million Michigan Business Development Program loan from the
Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF). This loan has the ability to convert to a grant
based on job creation.
RTA Ballot Question Delayed
The board of the Regional Transit
Authority (RTA) of Southeast Michigan met Thursday to discuss voting on the
ballot issue for November, but the vote ultimately failed delaying the decision
further.
The RTA was created as a provision in
legislation passed after the issue of developing a Detroit area transit system
had been debated for several decades. The RTA aims to send a millage proposal to
voters to raise $4.6 billion over 20 years to connect Wayne, Macomb, and
Oakland counties. Seven of the nine members of the RTA were needed to support
the measure before the voters could make a decision in November, however Macomb
and Oakland representatives voted no.
Officials from Macomb and Oakland
County voiced their objections to the RTA, stating the system does not provide
enough services for the amount of taxes residents would have to pay. Former
Representative Chuck Moss, one of the Oakland representatives, commented
Oakland County would contribute around $700 million to the system but only
receive $79 million in services.
Chairman of the RTA, former House
Speaker Paul Hillegonds, commented the authority has about one week to call an
emergency meeting to call for a vote and get the issue on the ballot this
November.
Fiat Chrysler New Assembly Plant
Fiat Chrysler has plans to revamp its
Sterling Height Assembly Plant to produce the next generation Ram 1500 truck. The
company will spend nearly $1.5 billion on the project and has received an
alternative exemption from the State Essential Services Assessment by the Michigan
Strategic Fund. The recommended exemption is valued at $11.3 million, according
to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Fiat Chrysler has invested
$6.2 billion and created nearly 25,000 jobs across the nation since 2009.
The decision to reconstruct the
Sterling Heights facility stemmed from the halting of the Chrysler 200
production at the plant. This has caused the elimination of one shift and
indefinite layoffs for approximately 1,300 employees. The company commented in
a memo that, if a new product is not committed at this location, it is likely
the remaining shift will face indefinite layoff as well.
Presque Isle Payment Reduction
A judge presiding over a case at the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a proposal for decision that the
company owning the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette overcharged customers
and recommended a refund.
Wisconsin Energy Corporation, according
to the judge, massively overcharged customers and therefore recommended
ratepayers receive $17 million in refunds, plus interest. Presque Isle
generates majority of the Upper Peninsula’s electricity, but also some for
Wisconsin as well.
The decision awaits approval from the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s commissioners.
PAAdvisory Briefs
Snyder
Establishes Literacy Commission
Governor Rick Snyder on Wednesday
created a PreK-12 Literacy Commission to oversee work on literacy issue across the
state. The commission will largely be responsible for reviewing and researching
national programs and making policy recommendations to the state to address the
needs of local schools. The commission will reside in and be staffed by the
Department of Education.
Tribe
Partial Settlement
The state and the
Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, otherwise known as the
Gun Lake Tribe, reached a partial settlement regarding the tribe’s claim the
new online lottery games violate compact provisions on gaming expansion in the
state. In the settlement, the $21.74 million the tribe has in escrow will be
divided with half going to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and 15
percent to GLIMI, a non-gaming economic development entity established by the
tribe. The remaining 35 percent will go back to the tribe and into the D.K.
Sprague Education Endowment Fund.
Switch
Designated Renaissance Zone
Kent County on Tuesday received a MSF
Designated Renaissance Zone approval for 15 years for Switch, Ltd. Data Center,
a tech company in based in Nevada. Switch is renovating the former Steelcase
Inc. pyramid to build an eastern data center campus to be called SUPERNAP Grand
Rapids. It will be the largest data center in the eastern U.S. and is expected
to provide $151.2 million in total private investment and create 103 jobs in
the area.
Flint
Water Refunds
Former customers of City of Flint
water can now request a refund, according to an announcement Tuesday. This
marks the second phase of the $30 million credit relief program with more than
$1.28 million in credits to be applied to 5,439 inactive accounts. To apply for
a refund, former customers must fill out and submit a form found either on
Flint’s website at City Hall or the Flint Public Library. Upon completion,
customers will receive a Claim for Refund form that must be signed and
returned.
Unemployment
Rise in Most Markets
Unemployment rates in June increased
in 14 of the state’s 17 regional labor markets according to the Department of
Technology, Management and Budget. Northeast and Northwest Lower Michigan saw
drops in unemployment as summer tourism began, and the Lansing-East Lansing
market also saw a drop in June. Despite the increase, all 17 markets are below
the unemployment rates from June 2015.
This Week's Newsletter
Past Newsletters
|