Economy

For months,  the Michigan Municipal League has been saying the state needs to reverse billions of dollars of cuts to revenue sharing to avoid a “perfect storm” for cities and other local governments. It claims the state’s model for funding local governments is broken. We find out from the MML’s Tony Minghine.

The proposal to create a Bus Rapid Transit system between the Capitol and Meridian Township continues to be revised. We talk with CATA’s assistant executive director Debbie Alexander about what’s next.

Ingham County Circuit Judge Bill Collette is a Haslett resident who’s also a member of the group Stop CATA’s BRT. We ask Collette about the agency’s new, alternative Bus Rapid Transit Plans and why he’s recommending an audit of CATA and the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission.

A prominent Detroit journalist explains the impact he thinks ride-sharing and self-driving cars could have on Michigan’s auto industry. We talk with Daniel Howes of the Detroit News.

Supporting Michigan businesses is a great way to show pride in our state, and it’s a great way to boost the local economy too. The “Buy Nearby” campaign is kicking off soon, and we talk about it with Jim Hallan, the CEO of the Michigan Retailers Association, and local business owner Celeste Saltzman.

Current State talks with MSU's vice president for university advancement, Bob Groves, about raising money for a Big Ten Conference school.

For years, siblings who grew up on Lansing’s east side have played a leading role in development in the area. We talk with Pat and Scott Gillespie about the current development climate.

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced its opposition to the Capital Area Transportation Authority’s Bus Rapid Transit plan. We talk with Tim Daman and Joe Ford from the Chamber about why they disapprove of the BRT.

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency is working with employers and other organizations, including some that often compete with each other, to help veterans find jobs. We talk with David Dunckel, an employment analyst with the MVAA, and Justin Mendoza of Quicken Loans about the Why Michigan? Talent Attraction Team.

A new report examines the economic impact being made by the more than 640,000 immigrants who call Michigan home. We learn more from Michigan Office for New Americans deputy director Karen Phillippi.

The food truck phenomenon in America is often seen as a novelty, literally a vehicle to offer specialty cuisine or as a mobile culinary classroom, but a new truck getting ready to roll in Flint is at the heart of a much more basic mission. Current State’s Kevin Lavery reports on the impending debut of “Flint Fresh.”

You might enjoy taking selfies, but how about a financial selfie? We talk to a Michigan financial professional who explains the four steps to organizing your finances.

Southwest Lansing was recently awarded a grant to put toward projects that would better the neighborhoods in the area. We speak with the people behind Rejuvenating South Lansing.

Some Meridian Township residents and businesses are speaking out against a proposal to build a Bus Rapid Transit system extending to Okemos. We speak with two opponents of the BRT proposal.

Renowned futurist Brian David Johnson is in Michigan speaking to policymakers at the Mackinac Policy Conference. We talk with Johnson about futurecasting and how he feels about Michigan’s future.