Business Watch

Tourism is big in Frankfort, but the Lake Michigan city is losing its year-round workforce. This year, its new land trust will sell houses for less than cost, hoping the affordability boost will balance the economy.

Michigan’s top economic development official said vetting of Gotion Inc. and other companies in line to receive state incentives will become more probing. Lawmakers have put the latest, $175 million Gotion incentive on hold.

Those who haven’t filed their taxes yet have until April 18. Need an extension? Read on.

The historic village in northern Macomb County is home to generations of Ford workers. But the automaker has set its future on new EV battery plants in other places, leaving officials to ponder other uses for the industrial site.

Marijuana prices are near record lows. But an oversupply of product and fierce competition are leaving many companies struggling in the state’s still young industry. Some want the state to step in with licensing controls.

The state’s first megasite project is prompting a growing divide between supporters and opponents in the region, as Gotion Inc. seeks to build a battery plant with 2,350 jobs. Critics cite Gotion parent company’s ties to China.

A meeting for Big Rapids-area residents to learn more about a proposed EV battery factory has been shifted to a virtual event. A local official explains why, citing fears that ‘agitators’ from outside the area would spread online misinformation and disrupt the event.

City Council made a series of key votes Tuesday to secure tax incentives for the $1.5 billion District Detroit development project.

The state is offering the automaker over $1 billion in funding as Ford plans a $3.5 billion investment in an electric vehicle battery factory about 20 miles east of Battle Creek.

Gotion Inc. plans to break ground this summer, but questions persist about its corporate ties to the Chinese Communist Party and whether the deal presents U.S. security risks. Gotion announced plans last year to build a $2.36 billion factory in Michigan.

BridgeDetroit asks developers who will benefit from a group of publicly-supported downtown projects.

Fallout from Silicon Valley Bank and other banks’ capital crises continues into the second week, raising still more questions about how far the impact will spread. So far, many businesses in Michigan appear unaffected, but the broader economy may not be so fortunate.

Lawmakers in charge of economic development will consider how economic development tools — including tax incentives — can better optimize a return on the state’s investment, committee chair Sen. Mallory McMorrow told Bridge.

A Michigan agency will convert the Chippewa ferry to electric power. The 61-year-old diesel engines will be replaced with electric motors.

The state’s public companies are faring well so far amid the up-and-down stock market, Bridge Michigan analysis shows. Among the big winners: Wolverine World Wide, Ally Financial and Penske Automotive.

Amid backlash over its handling of ice storm outages, Michigan’s largest utility’s public filings show it is trying to keep its returns stable. What that means for customers is higher rates even as they use less power.

The Detroit-based automaker is trying to cut $2 billion from its fixed costs with the voluntary plan.

A disconnect between business and policy goals and how Michigan voters view them emerged in the latest query by the Detroit Regional Chamber and polling partner The Glengariff Group Inc. of Lansing.

Michigan needs more electrical engineers and software developers for the companies it's attracting to make electric vehicles. With this new plan, Michigan is turning to colleges for them.

Automakers are racing to increase EV production, and Michigan is trying to get a big piece of it. Here is where the state — and the industry — stand today.