BENTON HARBOR, Mich., (August 25, 2021) - Today, the Economic Development Leaders for Michigan (EDLM) and Cornerstone Alliance called for quick passage of the Michigan Employment Opportunity Act. The legislation would restore economic incentives from Good Jobs for Michigan, a key tool in attracting transformational projects to the state, but with additional tiers allowing the incentives to apply to smaller rural counties.

Rob Cleveland, CEO of Cornerstone Alliance added “I applaud the effort to bring back Good Jobs for Michigan. We are in a global competition for jobs and investment, and the bottom line is, Michigan does not have enough tools to compete for these jobs. Good Jobs for Michigan has the potential to benefit every Michigander by bringing better paying jobs to our state. I’m hopeful the legislature will move the bill through quickly, and the Governor will add her signature to this meaningful economic development tool.”

Under Michigan’s Senate Bill 615, as introduced by Senator Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth), companies can receive the performance-based incentives for creating jobs that meet or exceed the average wage in the regions they are located. Companies benefitting from Michigan Employment Opportunity Act only receive the incentive when they are paying the wages of the jobs, they committed to create. The incentives are funded through a personal income tax capture at no up-front cost to the state.

“Michigan has been at a competitive disadvantage with other states since this legislation expired,” said Maureen Donohue Krauss, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership and chair of EDLM. “Good Jobs for Michigan was a proven tool. This new legislation can help attract transformational projects and good-paying jobs to communities of all sizes in Michigan. As we all work to accelerate economic growth amid the pandemic, it’s important the Legislature pass this bill quickly.”

As introduced, the legislation has tiered job-creation criteria for counties of different sizes:
• Populations of 250,000 and above (must create 250 to 3,000 jobs)
• Populations of 90,001 to 249,999 (100 to 500 jobs)
• Populations of 90,000 or below (50 to 250 jobs)

The original Good Jobs for Michigan legislation expired in 2019. In just two years, the program was responsible for a commitment of more than 11,300 good-paying jobs and generating more than $6.6 billion in private sector investment through six large-scale projects across the state, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.