Displaying items tagged: Small Business Association of Michigan
This banking crisis is nothing like 2009. Small businesses are contingency planning anyway.
It’s a painful memory: In 2009 the banking crisis and housing recession led to a credit crunch, and business owners suddenly couldn’t access the capital they needed to operate and grow.
Ford battery plant deal demonstrates West Michigan’s ‘cohesive industry cluster’ in EV technology
Ford Motor Co.’s plans to invest $3.5 billion to build an electric vehicle battery plant near Marshall came as good news to economic developers across West Michigan.
Small business group pushes changes to ‘retirement tax’ bills
LANSING — A business group on Monday requested changes to fast-tracked bills that would reverse Michigan’s “retirement tax,” proposing revisions its leader said would narrow disparities in how different seniors would be taxed under the legislation.
Talent, economic development and playing defense: Biz advocates prepare for new landscape in Lansing
As Democrats prepare to control both the executive and legislative branches of state government for the first time in 40 years, business advocates hope to find common ground on issues such as talent and economic development.
Michigan small biz growth during pandemic exceeds national average and shows permanence, SBAM scorecard finds
A spike in small business formations in Michigan that began in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic continues and easily outpaces the national growth rate.
Small biz group rallies opposition to federal rule proposal aimed at ‘gig economy’ workers
The Small Business Association of Michigan is building opposition to a proposed federal rule change that could affect millions of workers who earn their living as independent contractors.
Q&A: Consultant in new advocacy role sees creativity as strength for small biz
JetCo Federal President Sue Schweim Tellier has stepped into a new advocacy role after being named vice chairperson of the Small Business Association of Michigan’s (SBAM) executive committee.
Statewide tax cuts still on the table as Whitmer, lawmakers negotiate
Statewide tax cuts remain on the table for later this year despite a recent budget deal between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and lawmakers for the state’s coming fiscal year that keeps present tax rates.
State GOP lawmakers pass tax cut plan amid expected budget revenue windfall
Republicans in Lansing have passed another election-year tax cut plan that would reduce the personal income tax, raise Michigan’s earned income tax credit, and create a $500 per-child tax credit.
Michigan slips in hospital-payment ranking as health systems also face rising costs
Michigan slipped six spots in RAND Corp.’s latest analysis of what hospitals in the U.S. charge private health insurers compared to what they receive from Medicare.
Tax cut plans come as Michigan’s business tax climate ranks favorably
Michigan’s business tax climate ranks comparatively well to other states, and business advocates say election-year tax cuts proposed in Lansing could further improve that standing.
Two West Michigan nonprofits named ‘hubs’ for state child care pilot program
A pilot child care program expansion will help West Michigan parents find affordable child care, tackling one factor that has contributed to labor shortages and employees’ difficulty returning to work.
Michigan COVID-19 hospitalizations continue decline after omicron surge
COVID-19 hospitalizations across Michigan declined again during the last week, continuing a trend after peaking about a month ago.
Tax cut negotiations on deck between Whitmer, Republicans
Competing proposals from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republicans who control the Legislature put tax cuts on the election-year agenda in Lansing.
Small biz advocates seek support to boost labor participation, weather supply chain challenges
Small business advocates are calling for more support from the state Legislature to help companies that they say are not recovering at the same rate as other sectors in Michigan’s economy.
Lawmakers finalize $1.5B in support for large, small businesses in year-end session
State lawmakers have passed $1.48 billion in additional spending to provide incentives for major economic development projects and relief for small businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Report: Small businesses not recovering at same rate as overall Michigan economy
Michigan’s economy overall is recovering from last year, but lingering effects from COVID-19 are having a disproportionately negative effect on small businesses, according to a new report released by the Small Business Association of Michigan.
Biden administration issues vaccine mandate rules; biz groups opposed ahead of likely legal challenge
Businesses that employ 100 or more people will have to either require workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine or get tested weekly beginning Jan. 4, the Biden administration has announced.
Survey: Majority of small business owners oppose vaccine mandate amid staffing shortages
A majority of Michigan small businesses oppose President Biden’s recently announced vaccine mandate as staffing shortages and rising costs remain the biggest obstacles for business owners, according to a new survey by the Small Business Association of Michigan.
Biz, health care advocates promote vaccines to ensure economic recovery
As the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations steadily rise in Michigan, business and health care advocates say getting more people vaccinated remains paramount to ending the pandemic and avoiding further economic damage.
Entrepreneur scorecard details struggles, optimism for Michigan small businesses
Michigan’s small businesses were disproportionately harmed compared to other industries during the pandemic with significant declines in revenue and the number of businesses operating, but experts remain optimistic about a strong post-pandemic recovery.
GOP lawmakers push corporate income tax cut, tax credits for businesses
Republican lawmakers are advancing bills that would reduce Michigan’s corporate income tax rate by 20 percent and create tax credits for businesses that lost at least a quarter of their revenue during COVID-19 restrictions.
Biz groups want state to revisit rules after new CDC mask guidelines
GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce today urged Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to update state restrictions after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can go maskless in most indoor settings.
Business coalition says health care legislation will drive up costs for employers, do ‘more harm than good’
A coalition of Michigan business groups is urging state senators to reject legislation that they claim will drive up the cost of health coverage for small employers.
PPP loan changes meant to benefit small, minority-owned businesses
The Biden administration on Monday announced a series of changes to the Paycheck Protection Program that are aimed at improving access to federal COVID-19 relief loans for small and minority-owned businesses.
Biz groups back Biden’s early action on COVID-19 and immigration; policy concerns remain
Within hours of his inauguration on Jan. 20, President Joe Biden signed executive orders seeking to bolster the country’s COVID-19 response and issued a memo to top federal officials to “preserve and fortify” a key immigration policy for certain undocumented immigrants.
Whitmer, GOP legislature compete over COVID relief funding
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican lawmakers are squaring off over multi-billion-dollar COVID-19 spending plans that would bolster a vaccine rollout, K-12 schools preparedness and crucial business support.
Business groups back House Republicans’ COVID-19 spending plan
Statewide business groups announced their support today for House Republicans’ COVID-19 spending plan that’s a rebuttal to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s $5.6 billion plan unveiled last week.
Protect Michigan Commission aims to raise awareness for COVID-19 vaccinations
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today named a commission that will work to raise awareness on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and promote the need for people to get vaccinated.
More flexibility comes with latest round of PPP loans
The new round of federal Paycheck Protection Program loans includes a number of changes from the prior funding intended to aid small businesses hurting from the COVID-19 pandemic.