The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $22.5 million to expand rural broadband access to thousands of residents and dozens of businesses in Southwest Michigan.

Uncertainty over whether the federal government will approve new stimulus funding for state and local budgets continues to cloud the future of Michigan’s multi-billion-dollar revenue shortfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined 22 other states in challenging the Trump administration’s rollback of Obama-era automobile fuel economy standards.

Here is the MiBiz Growth Report for May 27, 2020.

Despite advanced degrees, ambition and experience, women of color in West Michigan continue to face unique challenges when it comes to getting hired and promoted, particularly for executive leadership roles, according to a new study.

Tension between Grand Rapids residents and the city’s police department spurred officials last year to create an Office of Oversight and Public Accountability. Earlier this month, Brandon Davis — the office’s interim director since August — was appointed to the job on a permanent basis.

GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids City Commission passed a $531 million budget Thursday for fiscal year 2021, which includes $5.4 million in economic relief funding for residents and businesses.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose sharply to 22.7 percent in April as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, state officials announced today.

GRANT — C3 Industries LLC expects to start selling recreational cannabis products Friday at its newly opened medical marijuana dispensary in southern Newaygo County.

GRAND RAPIDS — MiBiz Inc. has hired reporter Kate Carlson to cover real estate and development and small businesses for its West Michigan publication.

Companies that are beginning to bring employees back to work, or are considering reopening in the near future, have a litany of so-called playbooks, toolkits or guides to follow.

Michigan expects to save $80 million in payroll costs by participating in a work sharing program that reduces work hours among more state employees.

GRAND RAPIDS — Restaurant operator Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. said today that it declined millions in loans under a federal coronavirus relief program intended for small businesses. 

Over the past two weeks, Michigan has roughly tripled its COVID-19 testing and plans further measures to reach up to 30,000 tests per day, state officials said today.

As some employers express concern about retaining workers who are earning more income through unemployment benefits than their normal paychecks, researchers say long-term structural fixes are needed to state and federal programs.

As the business world adjusts to the COVID-19 pandemic and seeks to get back to work, companies will need to alter their approach to the market and how they promote their products or services, according to Jordan Buning, the president of DDM Marketing & Communications in Grand Rapids. Buning tells MiBiz those changes in messaging and branding and how companies position themselves in the marketplace could very well become permanent.

GRAND RAPIDS — Objections from religious institutions have halted another proposed medical marijuana dispensary in Grand Rapids, underscoring what critics say is a flawed and unclear regulatory system. 

GRAND RAPIDS — Josh Freeney has a decade-long head start on all the professionals who are just now being thrust into a situation where they’re working remotely. 

Here is the MiBiz growth report for May 10, 2020.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Friday opening construction, real estate and portions of the manufacturing sector on May 7, while requiring employers to adopt workplace safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

GRAND RAPIDS — The city of Grand Rapids will use $3.3 million in federal funding authorized through the CARES Act on neighborhoods, business recovery and transportation and infrastructure, City Manager Mark Washington said Thursday during a virtual town hall meeting.

GRAND RAPIDS — After a five-week shutdown over safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, Kent County will reopen its recycling facilities on Monday.

GRAND RAPIDS — Kent County Health Department officials are “actively and aggressively” seeking out COVID-19 cases in the community by testing in clusters of vulnerable residents, contributing to the recent rise in positive cases here.

Federal stimulus funding has started trickling into Michigan to offset costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but pressure continues for more sweeping relief to offset losses in sales and income taxes.

As phased-in regional approach to putting Michigan’s economy back to work from the COVID-19 pandemic will start with workplaces that have the lowest risk and include new practices for employers to follow.

The coronavirus brought swift public health and economic damages, but the mental toll from thousands of deaths, millions on unemployment and isolation could have lasting effects on mental health.

MiBiz growth report for April 26, 2020.