Livengood: Michigan doesn’t have enough babies. Would paid leave help?
September 12, 2023
Government
“We all believe supporting working families is important, and our members provide paid leave benefits for their employees. But a government-mandated bureaucracy is not the…
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As Michigan Loses Population, current Maryland resident Tyler W. Tells His Own Personal Story
August 21, 2023
Economy
Second to last. That’s where Michigan stands on population growth, compared to all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In the two decades between…
Is Gov. Whitmer’s New Education Department the Best Way to Improve our Schools?
August 17, 2023
EducationGovernment
Both the West Michigan Policy Forum and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer agree that fundamental reforms need to be made when it comes to our state’s educational…
Talent First Is A Powerful New Resource for Educational Accountability
July 19, 2023
EducationGovernment
Michigan’s education system is heading in the wrong direction. Thankfully, a new group is fighting for education that actually works for students and families: Talent…
When it comes to making Michigan a top-10 state and economy, we can’t overlook criminal justice reform. The simple fact is that 32,186 Michigan residents…
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Government
Is Gov. Whitmer’s New Education Department the Best Way to Improve our Schools?
August 17, 2023
EducationGovernment
Both the West Michigan Policy Forum and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer agree that fundamental reforms need to be made when it comes to our state’s educational…
Talent First Is A Powerful New Resource for Educational Accountability
July 19, 2023
EducationGovernment
Michigan’s education system is heading in the wrong direction. Thankfully, a new group is fighting for education that actually works for students and families: Talent…
When it comes to making Michigan a top-10 state and economy, we can’t overlook criminal justice reform. The simple fact is that 32,186 Michigan residents…
Will Gov. Whitmer’s “Growing Michigan Together Council” Work? Here’s What It Needs To Succeed.
July 5, 2023
Government
How can we make Michigan a top-10 state to live, work, and raise a family? This is the question that Gov. Whitmer’s new “Growing Michigan…
Right-to-work Taught Us To Stand Up For What We Believe In and Make Our Voices Heard
June 14, 2023
EconomyGovernmentLabor
Michigan’s former Right-to-work law has always been about jobs. And at Southwest Michigan First, we believe the greatest force for change is a job. With…
Summer School Programs Stop the ‘Summer Slide,’ Improve Michigan’s Economic Standing
June 12, 2023
EducationGovernment
Students across Michigan celebrated the official end of the 2022-23 school year recently, but it’s important to note that school doesn’t necessarily have to be…
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Transportation
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Talent
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Labor
You may have seen our recent op-ed in The Detroit News on the benefits of right-to-work. And you may have heard our conversation with Michael…
A Tale of Two Economies: Possibilities of Michigan’s Right-to-work
December 15, 2022
GovernmentLabor
As Michigan’s Right-to-work (RTW) law celebrates 10 years as a statute, it also faces the possibility of repeal from the incoming Democratic majority. In this…
Small Business in Michigan Continues to Take Punches with Judicial Overturn of Changes Made to Paid Sick Leave and Minimum Wage
December 14, 2022
GovernmentLabor
In 2018, at the urging of the National Federation of Independent Business in Michigan (NFIB) and the business community, the Michigan legislature adopted the minimum…
Protecting Right-to-work Laws: The Window of Freedom for Michigan Workers
December 9, 2022
GovernmentLabor
10 years ago we came together to protect the interest of all Michigan workers, unions, and our state’s economy by advocating to make Michigan a…
Caught between record-low unemployment and record-high inflation, it’s no secret that entrepreneurs are facing unprecedented challenges. It’s rare to enter a retail store or restaurant…
The hospitality industry is filled with incredible servers, who, for the most part, intentionally chose this business because of the perks of tipping. In an…
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Healthcare
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