Regional Review: Globalization Is Vital Part of Midwest States’ Economies

Mali R. Schantz-Feld (Location USA / April 2013)

States in the Midwest are taking an active part to build their own destiny. While manufacturing has always been a part of the region’s history,diversification has spurred growth in the tourism, business services, and finance sectors as well. More

The States Leading the U.S. Manufacturing Resurgence

Mark Crawford (Q1 / Winter 2013)

Exhibiting know-how and innovation, U.S. manufacturers are adding to their payrolls and economic growth across the nation. We have identified 19 states where manufacturing is leading the way... More

Regional Supply Chains: A Win for OEMs and Their Locations

Clare Goldsberry (Q1 / Winter 2013)

Regional sourcing is helping manufacturers save time and money; with that in mind, savvy suppliers are moving closer to the end users of their products. More

Federal and State Legislative Moves to Boost Competitiveness & Business Climate

Jason Hickey, President, Hickey & Associates, LLC (Q1 / Winter 2013)

Understanding the competitive economic climate across the United States, Congress and state legislatures continue to propose new legislation to compete in today’s economic environment. More

The Return of Technology Clusters to the List of “Best-Performing Cities”

Area Development Online Research Desk (February 2013)

Milken Study Highlights Metros Recovering Most Quickly from the Economic Recession and Growing Their Economies. More

LINK: Best-Performing Cities 2012: Where America's Jobs Are Created and Sustained - Milken Institute

First Person: Redeveloping Former GM Sites for New Job-Creating Uses

Bruce Rasher, Redevelopment Manager, RACER Trust (November 2012)

The editor of Area Development recently spoke with RACER Trust’s Redevelopment Manager Bruce Rasher about his organization’s goal of cleaning up and marketing former GM properties to companies that will invest in the communities where these facilities are located and create good-paying jobs. More

Automotive In-Sourcing: A Long-Term North American Trend?

Gregory Burkart, Detroit Manging Director, Duff & Phelps (Automotive Site Guide 2012)

The five primary factors that are driving "in-sourcing" in the U.S. auto industry. More

First Person: How Daimler AG Affects Positive State and Local Economic Policy Change

David Trebing, General Manager, State and Local Relations , Daimler AG (August 2012)

The editor of Area Development magazine recently spoke with David Trebing, General Manager of State and Local Relations at Daimler AG, about his company's experience and his advice for working with economic developers. More

MICHIGAN at a glance

POPULATION: 9,876,187 (2011)

LABOR FORCE: 4,658,000 (2011)

RIGHT TO WORK: No

INDUSTRIES: Life sciences, advanced automotive technologies, advanced battery/electric vehicle mfg./development, homeland security/defense, LED (lightemitting diode) lamps, alternative energy technologies, autorelated R&D, advanced materials, telematics, tourism, agriculture, information technologies, micro- and nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, instrumentation and diagnostics, research and ancillary services

COLLEGE GRADUATES: (Age 25 and over) 24.7% (2009)

BASIC BUSINESS TAXES:
Corporate Income Tax: Corporate Income Tax: Michigan levis a flat 6 percent corporate income tax on firms structured as C corporations. Income for other business entities flows through to the owner's personal income taxes and is taxed at the personal income tax rate of 4.35 percent, a rate that will decline to 4.25 percent in 2013; certain small businesses may use an alternative 1.8 percent profits tax; filing threshold of $350,000 in Michigan gross receipts; tax is apportioned to Michigan on a 100 percent sales factor.

Sales and Use Tax: 6 percent; no local sales tax allowed; exemptions allowed for purchase of manufacturing equipment, energy used directly in manufacturing and pollution-control equipment

Property Tax: Assessed at 50 percent market value; assessment increases limited to 5 percent or inflation, whichever is less; owned industrial personal property gets automatic 24-mill exemption and commercial property gets a 12-mill exemption; a variety of property tax abatements are available.

BUSINESS INCENTIVES:
Pure Michigan Business Connect

Michigan Business Development Program

Michigan Business Growth Fund

Michigan Community Revitalization Program

21st Century Jobs Fund

21st Century Investment Fund (available to venture capital, mezzanine, and private equity funds with a Michigan focus)

Film and media production, infrastructure credits

Entrepreneurial credit

Tax-Free Renaissance Zones

Smart Zones (high-tech clusters of businesses and resources)

Private Activity Bond Program (taxable and tax-exempt)

Capital Access Program (loans for Michigan companies)