[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6260358,"mediaKeyId","3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49","parentId",3130843,"title","Committee approves April 16 minutes and excuses absent members by unanimous consent","audioSeconds",23,"startMs",3963000,"endMs",3986000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49&start=3963&end=3986","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49/thumbnail_3963000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6260358/Michigan/Committee-approves-April-16-minutes-and-excuses-absent-members-by-unanimous-consent","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260358-7f2bffc7f2f2d37470421b02077c87cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425082&Signature=IEpazBgsxjgPO9JNQxFTmpCKytQ1bVXY3TXB5nFdsjKXwOAGDSo58nTnfJdtmsmsQHMcrKEUegO1HCXB3o9YqTdZklrXakRfXZ6ElAz0A13mcFWJ~G80ZK0DXge8ov-yWdkON4~x19-QipYisRLFL9AxPZuV3eZfamvJjZD7XhiN3qEeFjxq6hbiMWmY8mizOt7QYIYPX6c3a8HarabcNHaPvwO4ooqZRQVY03NtLAg8z47NserZhtXSRx~mOlnyaWpXfxTZrc07gyEhU083VFyeEQOzZwFA1h9JhDecg0LdniDvNbPLObep9fNQjlnf4TBbYHsZjymYnnU2OO7P4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Appropriations - Labor and Economic Opportunity ","date","2025-04-23T00:00:00Z","article","The Appropriations Committee on Labor and Economic Opportunity approved meeting minutes and excused absent members by unanimous consent at the close of its session.

Representative Martis moved to approve the minutes of the April 16 meeting. \"There being no objections, the minutes are approved,\" the clerk said.

Representative Robinson moved to excuse absent members. The committee approved the motion by unanimous consent, the clerk reported.

Both actions were taken by unanimous consent; no roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations - Labor and Economic Opportunity | Wednesday, April 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the close of the Appropriations Committee on Labor and Economic Opportunity meeting, members approved the April 16 minutes and excused absent members by unanimous consent; both actions were handled without roll call.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Labor and Economic Opportunity, Appropriations, House of Representative, Committees\t\t\t\t\t, Legislative, Michigan","taxId",30765,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6260363,"Michigan Arts and Culture Council narrows grant lines, reduces match to increase rural access",1065,2492000,3557000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49&start=2492&end=3557","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49/thumbnail_2492000.jpg","/articles/6260363/Michigan/Michigan-Arts-and-Culture-Council-narrows-grant-lines-reduces-match-to-increase-rural-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260363-9f6d0d0596c5da5fd5234d9b184657b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425082&Signature=EqIJPOjgmhkm-vBIIMrmkj8SMeUFbTOmQuJ6-pOHAMYuxZFNfVNLxKUzx5KPpC0CAGIGKP1rxthaGmTiGr-e2myRSlhUsOY5GixUO2mEEGmjcHLZ5RujfbpxztBwXr~pxvsv~TnQK8-OnoUirdUn4JbqkYfkHqHyDt7a~QoWDR~Iizr7VkAmCyj7i1dqE2LXn4bFe0-BNaqfNRRJ4W6Mys5b9OFlSEh0N54UmBZe1hHUouLnThwcuu9YPLuE-Vs5iQQHsBuejID3nb8y~04AR1~UUB1wLVCvph2885m4EUuB1VSoS09svRILDwiTCECxOTJ4WM-HknKefC8CPsjroA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A representative for the Michigan Arts and Culture Council briefed the committee on program changes intended to simplify grant administration and improve rural access.

\"The Michigan Arts and Culture Council was established in 1966,\" the presenter said, describing the agency’s role in distributing arts and cultural resources statewide. The council told members that it streamlined its programs in FY25 from nine to three large program lines: mission support for nonprofit arts organizations, experience support for arts-related projects in non-arts organizations, and a partnership program for statewide or regional providers.

The council representative explained steps taken to improve rural access: the cash match requirement was reduced to 25% from a previous 1:1 match, and the agency removed a tiered award system in favor of a single-maximum award level for eligible applicants. The council also simplified application requirements, replacing longer narratives and peer review with a compliance-based process (UEI, EIN, IRS filings and state charitable registration) and shorter project synopses.

Committee members asked whether subgrants and regrants were tracked; the presenter said MEDC and the council track how regranting partners distribute funds and that a posted report will show how pass-through dollars were deployed at the local level. The council said FY24 funding (including general funds and nonprofit relief dollars) totaled roughly $14.7 million, with about $9.7 million in general fund grants to more than a thousand awards across 74 counties and roughly $5 million in nonprofit relief distributed to about 123 organizations across 26 counties.

\"We also changed the program too. Instead of having the huge narrative ... it's now rolled into one, and it's compliance based,\" the presenter said, adding the changes aimed to reduce barriers for smaller rural organizations that previously struggled with larger narratives, peer review and 1:1 matches.

The committee did not act on arts funding during the briefing; members asked for follow-up documentation and county-level breakdowns.","The Michigan Arts and Culture Council told the committee it consolidated nine grant programs into three for FY25, lowered cash-match requirements to 25% for many applicants, and changed the review process to a compliance-based system to improve access for rural and underserved organizations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6260368,"Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation outlines programs, cites Calumet Electronics award",593,1811000,2404000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49&start=1811&end=2404","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49/thumbnail_1811000.jpg","/articles/6260368/Michigan/Michigan-Office-of-Defense-and-Aerospace-Innovation-outlines-programs-cites-Calumet-Electronics-award","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260368-c50eb0ba3ca4912d609a65a256a2cbea/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425082&Signature=iDJUVv3G8-IwyCJthEM3FMpIZbB2Sot5YusxlY9XzFL3dRbeWu1Vv5gWi5uKX8XfARjYTA7Q9MQm0HI9IlgQPFUP1Rl6M1J9eZPXbUFWdupmJG2COosr~xQqf8xbLdeKHVaW3ma9M~h0YbCRt2kIpMFfb0q6cCCfBK0NQB5jKzF5TBXuXxkUIGcZnQ9NJPD6AOmDZhWR7qp-O~mi2BYhAz~vWFnx7mbZPLRjAesrBAwMtEPtnWDc0nexgq8~zkitLddqBmq5SaGb2pGfQ~MT0tLuWtatL8nBV5d9t0dZg8pZS~RnTIJfwxJ0KJGloYrGRZSpFj6LEWIzJES34oLrYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Colonel John Gutierrez appeared before the Appropriations Committee to describe the Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation (ODAI) and the programs the office manages to help Michigan businesses compete for Department of Defense contracts.

\"Our mission at the Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation, or ODAI, is to catalyze growth within the defense and aerospace sectors while advancing innovation as well as defense research opportunities that benefit Michigan's economy,\" Colonel John Gutierrez said. He told the committee the defense industry contributes about $30 billion to Michigan’s economy and employs more than 66,000 people.

Gutierrez summarized ODAI initiatives including proposal-grant writing support (awards to cover part of proposal-writing costs), a Department of Defense cybersecurity assistance program in partnership with the University of Michigan, a bid-targeting system to match companies to federal opportunities, and outreach efforts including roundtables, an \"uncrewed triple challenge\" competition, webinars and supplier-assist visits.

The office also highlighted a Calumet Electronics Corporation project in Houghton County. MEDC/ODAI staff described a performance-based $7.5 million Michigan Business Development Program grant that supported a larger federal Title III Defense Production Act award, enabling Calumet to build a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and scale production of advanced substrates — a capability ODAI said is important for radar, electronic warfare and communications systems.

Gutierrez said ODAI’s programs aim to improve small and medium-sized firms’ competitiveness for federal contracts and that the office has engaged thousands of participants through outreach and supplier visits.

There were no committee votes related to ODAI in the briefing; members asked clarifying questions about partnerships with universities and next steps to codify a strategic plan and a Michigan Military Advisory Board to guide the effort.","The newly announced Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation described grant and service lines aimed at helping Michigan defense and aerospace companies win federal contracts and highlighted a sponsored Calumet Electronics project that leveraged federal Title III funds.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6260373,"SOAR fund update: Corning, Ford Blue Oval cited as transformational projects; resized incentives and lapses explained",2442,1358000,3800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49&start=1358&end=3800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49/thumbnail_1358000.jpg","/articles/6260373/Michigan/SOAR-fund-update-Corning-Ford-Blue-Oval-cited-as-transformational-projects-resized-incentives-and-lapses-explained","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260373-70ce71eb6a32686b9ce29e863687608d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425082&Signature=YViaL7iykVLPi2zdJWL5n4oVwhTm87V4HWWRrZympc1rr49KXazcrvdjq3Gf4KOSzha9V2dLAhy0KhpFmtNmn5giYIA~-rhFPg01xlKKAmuNPHZDGsN0UNAlyo4ZquMy65YAwwLLtqmMCj2JixMWRa-NQTcGns7ycyFIAVLBUUqekKlBpXWrCqIipuAhiBSOmL5jdCvHx7CY5WqPvBHf~9FcaD95whGR~OKt6ewNWj5T1SPgvX9676FpVTTGk99w5vrFsPFDurOU~-EI9nTU4XH-WZx1X0QrFAK~pIwlNncecCSK2jnxNf4uVm7779u~V9jPZ5RE-fh1VzWVajVlGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MEDC staff told the Appropriations Committee that the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund supports transformational projects and that awards are performance-based and often involve multi-year delivery.

\"In December 2021, Governor Whitmer signed bipartisan economic development bills into law that created the Strategic Outreach and Reserve Fund, or the SOAR Fund,\" a MEDC presenter said. The fund includes a Critical Industry Program (CIP) for deal-closing investments and a Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) for preparing investable sites.

Staff reported SOAR active-work-project fund status as roughly 52% expended, 28% outstanding obligations and 10% committed. MEDC said SOAR projects often involve long lead times and large capital requirements; staff cited roughly $3.4 billion in investment driven to date and commitments for more than 15,900 jobs from SOAR-supported projects.

MEDC highlighted project examples. The Corning proposal in Richland Township was presented as a planned solar-components manufacturing facility expected to generate more than $900 million in investment and more than 1,100 jobs; MSF supported the project with a $68 million CIP grant and a $29 million SSRP grant to local partners, both described as performance-based. MEDC said the grants include milestones and controls on fund flow.

Staff also reviewed the Blue Oval Michigan battery campus in Marshall. MEDC said the initial award was amended after Ford announced a retiming and resizing. \"The amendment to the project effectively amounted to a two-thirds reduction of its critical industry program grant down to $141,000,000 for the creation of at least 1,700 jobs and capital investment with the ability to earn up to a maximum of $166,000,000 for 2,500 jobs and additional investment up to $3,000,000,000,\" the presentation said. MEDC emphasized that amended awards remain performance-based and subject to clawbacks.

Committee members asked where money goes when a project is resized or no longer moves forward. In response MEDC staff said funds typically remain in the associated work project account for up to 48 months; if the project lapses the funds remain in the program and can be used on other projects after standard review and board consideration. MEDC staff said they would generally present any reallocation in public MSF board meetings and seek legislative transfers for transparency.

No formal approvals were taken on SOAR uses during the briefing; MEDC staff reiterated that all SOAR-supported projects require MSF board approval and legislative appropriation or transfer.

The committee’s line of questioning also touched on timing and reuse of funds from resized projects; MEDC staff offered further explanations about work-project accounting and legislative transfer practices.","MEDC staff updated the committee on the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund, described major supported projects including Corning and Ford's Blue Oval Michigan campus, and explained how resized projects and unused incentives are handled within work projects.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6260378,"MEDC, Michigan Strategic Fund report outlines FY25 work projects, program impacts",467,451000,918000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49&start=451&end=918","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130843-e63fe0b438a5ce2e757d04915a72bc49/thumbnail_451000.jpg","/articles/6260378/Michigan/MEDC-Michigan-Strategic-Fund-report-outlines-FY25-work-projects-program-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260378-25355122b7b371437b58ff9fc6f8e095/orig.mp4?Expires=1770425082&Signature=Y2khuMLcDgYPBkRm4jIELDlYMb1pOIxgYZ2xERXV9FgKRQVeC28L4NAb3c2F05Xl18cumS7lwka10ap08gH0wp9s4uvAD~h74MZinr916FHknpDrSQBH7IQR6k5k2MQ5Q2gtD6Xv2qcEIwfpJBlxQNm7UG1miCGbnDE90j6YTwCBBctmZ092ZcojcU8q~s7VXALcet79vHoi6tfegEwNIj9y~ibnbvZOu3eY4ozEQ8iGgD7xIhccqg1Y2ZooNYHxF21thc2c9jzvusEkJlqVQMBOCaHz72NouUAgxPwwAWcEB5eYNgdYz5pEq4eU7s1okfwAgz3f4ua-CzQB4zhGxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Appropriations Committee on Labor and Economic Opportunity heard an update from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Strategic Fund on the status of FY25 work projects, program outcomes and oversight.

\"According to MCL 18.145, a work project is a 1 time nonrecurring effort designed to achieve specific goals,\" said Jill Trepkoski, senior vice president, chief financial and procurement officer at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. \"A work project remains available until either the project is finished or 48 months after the last day of the fiscal year in which the appropriation was initially made. Any remaining balance will revert back to the State.\"

The update matters because the MEDC/MSF centralizes several economic development line items and many awards are paid over multiple years based on performance milestones. Trepkoski said the agency manages active work projects across business attraction, placemaking, small-business support and legislatively directed grants, and that funds appear in states of expended, outstanding obligation, committed, and unobligated depending on project stage.

MEDC reported 12 new work projects in FY24 covering business attraction, placemaking and small-business support; three of those were federally funded, four were restricted, and five were general fund. Trepkoski told the committee that about 20% of active work-project funds have been expended, 53% are outstanding obligations, and 26% are committed.

On the Business Attraction and Community Revitalization (BACR) line — MEDC’s core appropriation for business attraction and community revitalization programs — staff summarized year-to-year program outcomes. Trepkoski said the Michigan Business Development Program and Michigan Community Revitalization Program have helped finance projects that the agency reports committed to create more than 7,200 jobs and leveraged approximately $2.7 billion in private investment across 54 communities. She noted that in FY2024 the Community Revitalization Program invested about $30.1 million and leveraged about $213.1 million in private investment in eight communities.

Staff presented specific project examples to show how MEDC tools are used: a Michigan Business Development Program grant of $900,000 helped Silbon Corporation expand a semiconductor supply-chain operation; a $25,000 match-on-main grant helped launch Sheboygan Coffee Roasters and supported four jobs alongside a separate rehabilitation grant for the building.

MEDC framed its programs as performance-based. Trepkoski reminded the committee that \"award recipients must have executed agreements recorded in the accounting system before funds can be disbursed,\" and that agreements include clawback provisions if investment or job commitments are not met.

Committee members asked how funds from multi-year line items are tracked. Trepkoski explained that work projects can remain open for up to 48 months and that older project years (for example FY22–FY24) can remain in various stages while milestones are met and funds are spent. She said the 2021 work project had been fully expended by the end of last year and that MEDC typically manages two to three open work-project years at a time.

The update also touched on agency staffing and federal awards. MEDC reported 342 FTEs across civil-service and corporate positions, and indicated that federal dollars make up roughly 2.4% of MSF’s ongoing budget through several awards, including the Department of Interior Historic Preservation Fund and National Endowment for the Arts partnerships.

The committee did not take formal votes on program allocations during the briefing; staff said reporting and compliance processes remain central to disbursing incentives.

Several members thanked MEDC staff for the briefing and asked for follow-up details on specific subgrant tracking and work-project balances.

MEDC said it will post and update a public report on FY25 legislative directed grants twice yearly, and staff offered to provide additional breakdowns on subgrants and county-level distributions on request.","MEDC and the Michigan Strategic Fund told the Appropriations Committee that work projects remain open for multiple years, summarized activity across core programs including business attraction/community revitalization (BACR), and reported FY24–FY25 figures for investments, jobs and small-business support.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves April 16 minutes and excuses absent members by unanimous consent

Michigan Arts and Culture Council narrows grant lines, reduces match to increase rural access

Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation outlines programs, cites Calumet Electronics award

SOAR fund update: Corning, Ford Blue Oval cited as transformational projects; resized incentives and lapses explained

MEDC, Michigan Strategic Fund report outlines FY25 work projects, program impacts