Latest news with #GarlinGilchrist
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan launches welcome program for recent grads, new residents
Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe speaks during a press conference with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist on the porch of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Mich., during the second day of the Mackinac Policy Conference on May 28, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) MACKINAC ISLAND – Michigan's first chief growth officer announced the state is creating a welcome program offering perks to new residents and recent college graduates staying in the state. Participants in the Make MI Home program will receive free access to Michigan's state parks, opportunities to connect with others through curated events and discounts at various local attractions and businesses. Two years after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the creation of Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe's position in her Mackinac Policy Conference keynote, Doe said the state is beginning to trend in the right direction, with Detroit and Flint both showing population growth for the first time in several years. 'Every year, there are more people moving to Michigan and fewer moving out than there were in the year before,' Doe said. But she said there is still work to do to ensure those trends continue, which is why the state announced more than $700,000 of grant funding for five programs aimed at reversing Michigan's population decline. Make MI Home offers grants to programs throughout the state to help people with things like housing and relocation support, access to coworking spaces and more. Among the grant recipients is the City of Detroit, which will receive $210,000 to launch the Detroit Tech Fellowship Program, which will target recent graduates from Michigan universities to scale their startups in Michigan, providing access to coworking space, housing support, and cohort events to network and collaborate with peers and local entrepreneurs. 'What we're talking about today is making it easier for people to say yes to living in Michigan,' Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said. Gilchrist said he understands the need for the funding as someone who was born and raised in Michigan but left the state to pursue his career after graduating college. 'We grow our population one decision at a time, one person deciding where they're going to take their next step in life, where they're going to build their next chapter, where they're going to make their family and their future and their career real,' Gilchrist said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Michigan officials unveil new affordable housing program
The Mackinac Policy Conference continued Wednesday. The annual gathering on Mackinac Island is where lawmakers and business leaders discuss political and economic issues impacting Michiganders. The second day of the Mackinac Policy Conference started Wednesday with a topic on everyone's mind: affordable housing. Michigan is partnering with developers to build thousands of new homes over the next 10 years. "So far, we've approved 19 plans, resulting in 1,600 additional housing units in the state of Michigan. We're super excited for the next 2,500 coming our way, and we're hoping that other developers continue to use the Housing Tax Increment Financing tool," said Amy Hovey, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Also on Wednesday, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist announced up to $110 million in funding to train the state's next generation of infrastructure workers. "What this means is we are positioning people to have more money in their pockets because they will be more productive in solving the problems and creating and having the jobs and building the things that matter to the people of Michigan," Gilchrist said. The Michigan Department of Transportation says it's committed to that effort. "We have about $11 million in project funds that we're going to continue to work with our partners on key recruitment and retention efforts," said MDOT Director Brad Wieferich. The goal is to have about 5,000 workers trained by January 2030. "Everybody in Michigan benefits from roads that are safe. Everybody in Michigan benefits from having a connection to fast internet," Gilchrist said. "Everybody in Michigan benefits when they're confident in our bridges, when they know that our drinking water is clean, when we have utility infrastructure that supports our imaginations." Officials say this investment in Michigan's workforce will build a better future for everyone.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gilchrist focuses on vision for Michigan amid challenges from Trump administration
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist at the Mackinac Policy Conference | Susan J. Demas MACKINAC ISLAND – With Independent candidate for governor and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan holding a 54% favorability rating among metro Detroit voters, and fellow Detroit resident Jocelyn Benson also seeking the Democratic nomination, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said that his campaign would build off his record of work in all 83 Michigan counties. 'I think people from Detroit, just like people from all across Michigan, want to have a governor who is able to speak to the moment going forward. We are in an era where the economy is quickly evolving, where the support from the federal government, from [President Donald Trump's] administration, is dwindling and is causing danger for people, and I think we're going to need the kind of leadership that can speak to that forcefully. And I've demonstrated my ability to do that,' Gilchrist told the Michigan Advance at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Tuesday. Gilchrist pitched his vision of health, wealth and opportunity for the state, noting the shared anxiety of parents that their child will leave and never come home, while pointing to his own experience of growing up in Detroit, but then leaving the state for nine years to pursue a career in software engineering. With Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiling the state's Growing Michigan Together Council at the 2023 conference, which later issued a report outlining strategies to help address Michigan's dwindling population and improve its economic competitiveness, Gilchrist said Michigan needs to be an answer for whatever any person's next step may be. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX He highlighted a need for affordable childcare, highlighting his work on the Caring for MI Future Program, which helped open and expand more than 3,600 child care programs in the state. For people with school age children, Gilchrist pointed to efforts to improve equity in the state's education budget, offering $10,000 in funding per student. He also noted the importance of exposure to different career paths through things like career and technical education and internships, noting how his own exposure to engineering eventually led to his career. For those looking to pursue education after high school, Gilchrist pointed to efforts to provide Michigan residents with a free or reduced-cost education at a local community college, four-year university or trade school. He also called for continued support for Michigan's higher education institutions. For those starting their career, Gilchrist highlighted his work to support entrepreneurship through the Michigan Innovation Fund. 'I think it's about making sure that whatever your next step is, you can say yes to it in the state of Michigan,' Gilchrist said. Moving from 2026 into 2030, Michigan is set to hit its first interim goal of 50% clean energy, building up to a 100% clean energy standard by 2040. However, with the federal government threatening to harm Michigan's clean energy industry by ending most tax credits, Gilchrist said he would continue to support businesses and entrepreneurs in the clean energy sector, where he can, through policy, programs and investments. However, the federal government does have a role to play, he noted. 'I am deeply concerned that members of the Michigan delegation, [U.S. Rep.] John James (R-Shelby Twp.), the Republicans, they voted for something to come out of the House that would be damaging to our clean energy future,' Gilchrist said. 'Michigan is going to need a governor going to continue to fight for that and prioritize it…That's what I'll do,' he said. The following are more excerpts from the interview: Michigan Advance: The governor has kind of sought to find common ground with President Trump. If you were to take the governorship, would you consider a different approach, or would you continue to try and find that middle ground? Gilchrist: I'm a solution builder and a problem solver, and the governor's job is to work with every and any person who can make something happen for Michigan. And so she's done that and has put points on the board as a result of it. So as governor, I will work with any and everyone to make sure that Michigan can make progress. And I recognize that when someone attacks Michigan, attacks Michigan communities, attacks Michigan universities, that it is my responsibility as the person who has the interest of the state of Michigan as my interest, have to make sure we stand up for that too, and I'll do that as governor. Michigan Advance: Is there a disconnect in the rhetoric that we saw in 2024 about Trump is this huge threat to democracy, to all of these different things, and then the rhetoric that we're seeing this year about finding common ground with him? Gilchrist: There is no disconnect from the reality that Trump has been an absolute, not just a threat, but has frankly, trampled on, is ignoring court orders, is accepting $400 [million] airplanes. I mean, like this guy thinks the Constitution is a joke. He treats it like toilet paper. I think we were, you know, right to call that out and I think that still remains true, and I'll continue to do that. At the same time. We also need to make progress in Michigan. I think you can protect our values, promote our values and make progress and that's the kind of thing that I'll do. Look, I'm an engineer. We find a way to make progress and make things work. And so that's the kind of posture I'll have. Michigan Advance contributor Andrew Roth contributed to this report.
CBS News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Dearborn's annual Memorial Day parade returns for its 99th year
Many communities nationwide commemorate the holiday with parades, including Dearborn, where city officials say they host Michigan's oldest Memorial Day parade. The parade returned to the east side of the city, taking the original route when the parade first started 99 years ago. The day began with a memorial funeral procession paying tribute to the fallen. "It's a day to say thank you to the families who have lost people who served. It's a day for us to recognize how many people serve in our armed forces from the state of Michigan," Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud says the most important part is recognizing those who serve as a community. "I've been attending this festival, this parade, since I was a child sitting on the sideline of Michigan Avenue along with my family, and now to be in the parade itself is truly something special," Hammoud said. The parade started on Michigan Avenue and Schafer Road, its historic home. "I think it kind of honors the tradition that we celebrate during Memorial Day, and just kind of getting back to what it's always been," said Dearborn resident Stephanie Davis. More than 90 groups, including lawmakers, first responders, marching bands from local schools, and community organizations, walked the route. The day wrapped up with a remembrance ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. For veterans in attendance, it's an opportunity to pay tribute to friends who never made it out of uniform. "People are forgotten about when you stop saying their names and you stop remembering the things that they did, and I think Memorial Day makes sure that that doesn't happen," said veteran and Michigan State Police Trooper Joshua Olszewski.
CBS News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Here are the candidates running for Michigan governor
Michigan's Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is finishing her second term, which means a new face will take over after the 2026 midterm election. In the last few months, the number of people announcing their candidacy has grown, including high-profile names such as Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, U.S. Congressman John James and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. Here's a list of candidates who announced they are running for governor. Jocelyn Benson Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced in January that she would run for governor. Benson, elected in 2018, serves her second term overseeing the state's election processes and the motor vehicle department. She cited her achievements in that role, including decreasing wait times for in-person appointments and installing self-service motor vehicle stations across the state. Benson's campaign promises include bringing accountability and transparency to state government, and working on behalf of the state's families with a "progressive vision for Michigan's future." Mike Cox Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox dropped his name in the campaign pool in April, announcing that he is running for governor with the theme of "Make Michigan Great Again," and envisioning a future "where Florida and Texas look to us for ideas." Cox won two terms as Michigan attorney general in 2002 and 2006, citing those elections in his campaign statements as proof that he can win a statewide race. His work included helping homeowners renegotiate or get new loans after the 2009 recession. He has also touted creating Michigan's statewide child support division to help address the issue of unpaid child support for Michigan families and the Michigan Senior Brigade to help educate seniors and caregivers about avoiding financial scams. Cox then ran for governor in 2010, but lost in the Republican primary. After leaving office, he built up a private law practice. Mike Duggan Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan was among the first to announce that he was running for governor. After he announced in November 2024 that he was not seeking reelection, the Democratic mayor launched a gubernatorial campaign as an Independent. Duggan first took office in January 2014, and the city emerged from its historic bankruptcy in December of that year. He is the second-longest-serving mayor in the city, following former Mayor Coleman Young. Duggan served as CEO of the Detroit Medical Center from 2004 to 2013 before running for office on a successful write-in campaign, defeating former Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon. Duggan also spent three years as the Wayne County Prosecutor and another 14 as Wayne County's deputy county executive. Garlin Gilchrist Garlin Gilchrist, Michigan's first Black lieutenant governor, announced his candidacy for the state's top position in March. As second in command, Gilchrist started the Clean Slate program to help those who have settled their criminal justice cases get a fresh start. He also launched the Michigan Innovation Fund to support startup companies in the state. His work as the City of Detroit's Director of Innovation included creating the Improve Detroit smartphone app, which allows residents to report issues such as running water, potholes, damaged street signs and others for the city to address. If elected, Gilchrist would become the state's first Black governor. Anthony Hudson Michigan resident Anthony Hudson joined the list of gubernatorial candidates in March, describing himself as a "hardworking Michigan conservative." Hudson ran in the 2024 Republican primary for a U.S. House seat, but lost to Paul Junge. Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet eventually won the seat. The Texas native moved to Michigan in 2012 to be near his children. Key ideas in his policy platform include eliminating state property taxes and state income taxes and replacing both with a county tax, controlled locally, to fund services at the local level directly. As part of the effort to redirect specific funding and responsibilities away from state decisions to local decisions, he would eliminate the Michigan Department of Transportation. The intended money would instead go to the county road commissions. Hudson is also pushing for a "part-time legislature with part-time pay." The goal is to encourage Lansing's lawmakers to "stay connected to the real-world challenges of their communities." John James U.S. Rep. John James, who was reelected to Congress in 2024, announced in April that he was running for governor. The Republican lawmaker, representing Michigan's 10th congressional district, said the decision came "after deep reflection, prayer, and conversations with my wife and family." James served as an aviation officer in the U.S. Army for eight years and was president of a supply chain and logistics solutions group. He lost U.S. Senate races in 2018 and 2020 to incumbents Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters. He faced Democrat Carl Marlinga twice in the 2022 and 2024 elections, beating him in both. Aric Nesbitt Michigan state Sen. Aric Nesbitt announced his campaign for governor in January, becoming the first Republican to launch his candidacy. Nesbitt previously served as Senate minority leader during the last legislative session in Lansing. He served in the state's House of Representatives before becoming a senator. Nesbitt assisted Michigan conservatives in voter turnout efforts for returning President Trump during the 2020 election cycle and presented the state's electoral votes on behalf of Mr. Trump in December. Chris Swanson Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson launched his Democratic bid for governor in February. Swanson was elected sheriff of Michigan's fifth-largest county in 2020. The announcement marked his full leap into politics after gaining national attention for marching with protesters in 2020 and speaking at the Democratic National Convention last August. Swanson prides himself on his unique approach to law enforcement, which he claims brought people together. Public safety is his expertise; he says voters have it on their minds. The sheriff's law enforcement approach first drew national headlines in May of 2020, days after a White Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd, a Black man. At a protest in Flint, the largest city in Genesee County, Swanson removed his riot gear and marched alongside demonstrators. This month, Swanson said that police had planned for a different response, but "as I was walking up, I thought, there's got to be a better way."
