Latest news with #Gretchen Whitmer
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Whitmer: Trump promises 'better deal' for Michigan after semiconductor factory falls apart
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said President Donald Trump promised to deliver federal help for a big economic boost in the state after plans for a semiconductor factory near Flint recently fell through, an outcome she and other Michigan Democrats have blamed on national economic uncertainty they say stems from Trump's policies. Whitmer has set a goal of securing a semiconductor facility in Michigan before she leaves office. But that faced a major setback July 16 when Whitmer announced that a company eyeing the state will no longer build a plant in Michigan or anywhere else in the United States. Sandisk was working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which proposed a massive package of corporate subsidies before the company changed course. The company has declined to comment. But Whitmer cited economic challenges nationally, including tariffs, for the decision not to locate a new factory in Genesee County's Mundy Township. "We're hearing from businesses every single day what it means in terms of their ability to make investments and why we're seeing paralysis. It's not a surprise, unfortunately," Whitmer told reporters July 17. The governor said she called Trump a day earlier to share her disappointment with the semiconductor factory falling through. "He said, 'tell the press, we are going to work together to get an even better deal for the state of Michigan,' " Whitmer said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Whitmer's comments came after U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler visited Michigan to champion Trump's economic policies, zeroing in on the tax and spending law he recently signed. Over the hum of machinery in a small aerospace and defense manufacturing facility in Sterling Heights, Loeffler championed Trump's tax and spending bill as a boon for businesses and workers. The federal legislation recently signed into law by Trump will incentivize economic growth, she told reporters at NTL Industries, marking her latest stop on a nationwide tour to meet with manufacturers across the country. "This is a pro-small business bill, it's pro-worker," Loeffler told reporters. Asked to comment on businesses that may be reversing course on building in the United States due to Trump's policies, Loeffler said that's not happening. "Well, we sure haven't seen that," she said. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel pushed back in a statement. "We would encourage Loeffler to travel to Mundy Township while she's here to apologize for the thousands of jobs that the Trump Administration killed with its disastrous economic agenda," he said. Democrats have also railed against Trump's policies on the social safety net, including the cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and blasted the tax breaks in the law as a windfall for the wealthy paid for off the backs of poor people. Michigan Politics: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's goal to land a semiconductor factory in Michigan faces a setback Whitmer joined the chorus of criticism even as she courts Trump's support for her federal policy priorities. Whitmer said her administration is still analyzing the impact the new federal law will have on the state budget not only this year but also down the road. "One of the gimmicks Congress did was not make it all come into effect immediately, probably because they don't want people to know how bad it is when they go into the midterms to vote," she said. Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@ or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer spoke to Trump after semiconductor deal fell apart
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Whitmer says "massive economic uncertainty" is to blame on semiconductor project failure
Plans to build a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Michigan have fallen through, and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday that "massive economic uncertainty" is to blame. Bringing the company to Michigan was a key goal for Whitmer, who is in her final years as governor of the battleground state. Domestic manufacturing is a priority of President Donald Trump's second administration and the president has leveraged tariffs as a way to incentivize companies to build and stay in America. While Whitmer did not mention Trump by name in her remarks, she pointed the finger at his tariffs that have shaken up the economy periodically this year. "Their board came to this decision amid national economic turmoil, which is at risk of worsening amid threats of even higher tariffs," Whitmer said in a statement. Whitmer did not name the company, but state records show California-based technology firm Sandisk Corp. was considering the sprawling 1,300-acre site near the city of Flint and forecasted 9,400 jobs and 5,000 construction jobs as a result. Sandisk declined to comment on Wednesday. The news quickly set off dueling political statements from Republicans and Democrats in the state. The Trump administration is using tariffs and other tactics to bring manufacturing in critical areas like semiconductors back to the U.S., White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement in response to Whitmer's remarks. Desai pointed to new semiconductor development in Texas and Arizona this year as wins garnered by the Trump administration in the chips and technology industry. Other Democrats were quick to attribute the loss in Michigan to Trump's economic policies on Wednesday. "Trump's abandonment of long-term investments and chaotic tariff practices are not only raising costs, they just killed 10,000 good-paying jobs," U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, a Democrat who represents the area, said in a statement. "This could have been a game-changer for mid-Michigan's economy." Michigan House of Representatives Speaker Matt Hall, a Republican, said he supports Trump's strategy of relying on tariffs and incentives in the tax and spending bill to bring manufacturing development to America, not overseas. "We simply need state leaders who are focused on making sure Michigan is the best possible place to build and grow," he said. Sandisk, known for making flash drives and memory cards, was looking to break ground on the project in 2025, according to documents provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Michigan offered Sandisk $1.925 billion in cash grants, $250 million in workforce development funding, and about $3.76 billion in tax breaks, according to documents dated August 2024. Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act, incentivizing technology development about halfway through former President Joe Biden's term. Even as Trump and Republican lawmakers have since threatened to put an end to the act, the Department of Commerce was collaborating with Sandisk on securing federal incentives through the package. Whitmer, in her statement,t said that the company is no longer looking to build a semiconductor facility anywhere in the U.S. In a speech in May, Whitmer said she had been advocating with the Trump administration directly to help bring a chip plant to the state.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Whitmer says 'massive economic uncertainty' is to blame on semiconductor project failure in Michigan
Plans to build a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Michigan have fallen through and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday that 'massive economic uncertainty' is to blame. Bringing the company to Michigan was a key goal for Whitmer, a Democrat and potential 2028 presidential candidate who is in her final years as governor of the battleground state. Domestic manufacturing is a priority of President Donald Trump 's second administration and the president has leveraged tariffs as a way to incentivize companies to build and stay in America. While Whitmer did not mention Trump by name in her remarks, she pointed the finger at his tariffs that have shaken up the economy periodically this year. 'Their board came to this decision amid national economic turmoil, which is at risk of worsening amid threats of even higher tariffs,' Whitmer said in a statement. Whitmer did not name the company but state records show California-based technology firm Sandisk Corp. was considering the sprawling 1,300-acre site near the city of Flint and forecasted 9,400 jobs and 5,000 construction jobs as a result. Sandisk declined to comment on Wednesday. The news quickly set off dueling political statements from Republicans and Democrats in the state. The Trump administration is using tariffs and other tactics to bring manufacturing in critical areas like semiconductors back to the U.S., White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement in response to Whitmer's remarks. Desai pointed to new semiconductor development in Texas and Arizona this year as wins garnered by the Trump administration in the chips and technology industry. Other Democrats were quick to attribute the loss in Michigan to Trump's economic policies Wednesday. 'Trump's abandonment of long-term investments and chaotic tariff practices are not only raising costs, they just killed 10,000 good-paying jobs,' U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, a Democrat who represents the area, said in a statement. 'This could have been a game-changer for mid-Michigan's economy.' Michigan House of Representatives Speaker Matt Hall, a Republican, said he supports Trump's strategy of relying on tariffs and incentives in the tax and spending bill to bring manufacturing development to America, not overseas. 'We simply need state leaders who are focused on making sure Michigan is the best possible place to build and grow,' he said. Sandisk, known for making flash drives and memory cards, was looking to break ground on the project in 2025, according to documents provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Michigan offered Sandisk $1.925 billion in cash grants, $250 million in workforce development funding and about $3.76 billion in tax breaks, according to documents dated to August 2024. Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act incentivizing technology development about halfway through former President Joe Biden 's term. Even as Trump and Republican lawmakers have since threatened to put an end to the act, the Department of Commerce was collaborating with Sandisk on securing federal incentives through the package. Whitmer in her statement said that the company is no longer looking to build a semiconductor facility anywhere in the U.S. In a speech in May, Whitmer said she had been advocating with the Trump administration directly to help bring a chip plant to the state.
CBS News
7 days ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
GM to produce Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra at Michigan's Orion Assembly plant
General Motors announced that three of its SUVs and pickup trucks will be built at Michigan's Orion Assembly plant. In a statement on Tuesday, July 15, the automaker confirmed that production of the Cadillac Escalade, the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra will begin at the plant in early 2027 "to meet continued strong customer demand." "GM is proud to call Michigan home, and these moves will further strengthen our manufacturing footprint," the company said. The announcement comes a month after GM said it would invest $4 billion into three facilities, including Orion Assembly. At the time, the automaker said the facility would "begin production of gas-powered full-size SUVs and light-duty pickup trucks," but waited a month after to name the vehicles that would be built. The $4 billion investment also includes expansion of the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas, and Spring Hill Manufacturing in Spring Hill, Tennessee. GM says the investment will allow the automaker to produce more than 2 million vehicles annually in the U.S. "We believe the future of transportation will be driven by American innovation and manufacturing expertise," GM CEO Mary Barra said in June. "Today's (June 10) announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the U.S and to support American jobs. We're focused on giving customers choice and offering a broad range of vehicles they love." Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement on Tuesday, saying, "GM and Michigan have a long, rich history. Today's product announcement in Lake Orion will bring production of some of GM's most popular and profitable vehicles, a sign of the long-term viability of this investment in Michigan. This is just the latest example of the progress we are making to create good-paying union auto jobs and grow the economy. The governor added, "We don't care what you drive—gas, diesel, hybrid, or electric—as long as it's made in Michigan. Together, let's keep bringing manufacturing home, growing the middle class, and making more stuff in Michigan." Note: The video above previously aired on June 11, 2025.
