Spring Has Sprung, but Michigan’s Economy Feeling the Effects of a Late Frost
April 26, 2024
EconomyGovernment
Although it’s been said that April showers bring May flowers, not everything is coming up roses for Michigan’s economy. Our economic garden, if you will,…
Continue Reading
‘Michigan Economic Scorecard’ Shows Our State Lost Ground during the First Quarter of 2024
March 22, 2024
Economy
The health of our economy is critical to helping all Michigan families prosper. Unfortunately, we continue to see economic fallout resulting from anti-business decisions being…
Small business owners, legislators and economic development officials throughout Michigan - it’s time to register for the West Michigan Policy Forum’s biennial conference in Grand…
Michigan’s Elected Officials Can Learn From West Michigan’s Phenomenal Growth
February 22, 2024
EconomyGovernment
The city of Grand Rapids, Kent County and other parts of West Michigan were some of the fastest growing areas in our state during the…
Michigan Teams Are Winning National Championships while Economic Ranking Tanks under Governor Whitmer
February 16, 2024
Economy
The state of Michigan has truly become the home of sports champions. Coach Jim Harbaugh led his University of Michigan football squad to a national…
WMPF ON
Government
Spring Has Sprung, but Michigan’s Economy Feeling the Effects of a Late Frost
April 26, 2024
EconomyGovernment
Although it’s been said that April showers bring May flowers, not everything is coming up roses for Michigan’s economy. Our economic garden, if you will,…
Michigan’s Elected Officials Can Learn From West Michigan’s Phenomenal Growth
February 22, 2024
EconomyGovernment
The city of Grand Rapids, Kent County and other parts of West Michigan were some of the fastest growing areas in our state during the…
Governor Whitmer Focused on Right Issues During Annual State of the State Address, But Missed a Beat With Vague Proposals and Odd Song Lyrics
January 26, 2024
EconomyEducationGovernmentTaxes
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her sixth annual State of the State address this week. While we agree with the governor about the policy areas…
Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced with great fanfare that 700,000 Michigan households were getting a new tax break. It was good news because any reduction…
Governor Whitmer and Michigan’s Legislature Should Consider These Important New Year’s Resolutions
January 3, 2024
Government
People enjoy making New Year’s resolutions. And the media loves to write about them. We’ve determined eight much-needed 2024 resolutions from actual recent news articles…
Population Council’s Recommendations Fail to Provide Solutions to Grow Michigan Jobs and Population
December 14, 2023
Government
GRAND RAPIDS – (Dec. 14, 2023) –The West Michigan Policy Forum today expressed disappointment that the state’s Growing Michigan Together Council is not calling out…
WMPF ON
Transportation
‘D’ Grade For Michigan Roads Will Hurt Our Chances to Grow Jobs and Our Economy
June 7, 2023
Transportation
Although our elected leaders in Lansing eliminated the state’s A-F grading system for Michigan public schools, they thankfully cannot escape accountability from the American Society…
WMPF ON
Talent
Loud Population Trends in Michigan and Across the Country: Coincidence, Correlation, or Causation?
March 1, 2023
GovernmentTalent
Nearly 50,000 people have fled Michigan over the last three years, moving to states like Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Arizona.…
As the legislative session winds down, investors and leaders of the West Michigan Policy Forum heard from Michigan Representative Matt Hall of Comstock Township about…
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…
Beyond Fiscal Year 2023: Michigan has $7 Billion and We Need to Ensure it Gets in the Right Hands
September 7, 2022
GovernmentTalent
There’s $7 billion that remains available on Michigan’s balance sheet, half of which is leftover one-time federal stimulus dollars. Michigan’s fiscal year 2023 budget signed…
Do you know what one of the key elements to a thriving economy is? It’s often overlooked and underestimated, but it’s the foundation for a…
Michigan’s success in recent years can be traced back to important improvements in the way business and residents live, work and play in our state.…
WMPF ON
Labor
For small businesses, few things matter more than a level playing field and a strong workforce. The West Michigan Policy Forum agrees with Gov. Gretchen…
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…
Broken Promise on Right-to-work Further Erodes People’s Trust in Our Government
March 27, 2023
GovernmentLabor
With confidence in our politicians near an all-time low in the United States, it is essential for all elected officials, both Republican and Democrat, to…
How Right-to-work Helped Tennessee Become a Pro-business State, and How Michigan Can Follow Suit
February 22, 2023
GovernmentLabor
Last November, Tennessee joined eight other states in recognizing worker freedom as a fundamental right by constitutionalizing right-to-work - the law that protects workers from…
More than half of the United States agrees that workers should have the right to choose what’s best for them - with 28 states having…
In Michigan, we’ve had the opportunity to feel and see the prosperity and success being a right-to-work (RTW) state brings. And, we’re not alone in…
WMPF ON
Healthcare
Never before in US history have dollars flowed from Washington to the states the way they currently are. The price tag: $350 billion for eligible…
Protecting Lives and Livelihoods through #OpenMiSafely
November 14, 2021
GovernmentHealthcare
The West Michigan Policy Forum took communicating messaging and actions very seriously from the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal first and foremost…