Michigan works to attract large-scale industry with nearly $1 billion budget
Lawmakers are working to create space in the state for vehicle battery plants to operate, according to a state reporter.
Lawmakers and residents of states across the country are always looking for new ways to attract business. In Michigan, the state legislature recently approved a strategic outreach fund worth $846 million to incentivize businesses to move to the state.
The decision by lawmakers was meant to specifically attract large-scale industry to the state.
“That’s kind of the goal with this money, to get these big businesses here, to put out a bat signal, if you will, to businesses around the country and around the world, saying, ‘Hey, Michigan is interested in getting these large-scale businesses.’” — Lauren Gibbons, reporter.
Listen: How the Michigan legislature is working to attract more money and jobs to the state.
Guest
Lauren Gibbons is a reporter covering Michigan politics for Bridge Michigan. She says while there are critics of the strategic outreach fund, most lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle supported it to get large-scale businesses to work in the state.
“That’s kind of the goal with this money, to get these big businesses here, to put out a bat signal, if you will, to businesses around the country and around the world, saying, ‘Hey, Michigan is interested in getting these large-scale businesses,’” says Gibbons.
Photo credit: Jake Neher/WDET.
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