Michigan Economy

As the minting process stops and the coins are phased out, businesses will be instructed to round their change up or down five cents to accommodate the anticipated discrepancy for cash payments.

A new survey says northern Michigan companies are concerned about uncertainty of new federal tariff policies. The findings touch on hiring, sales and overall impact.

“The inconsistency in which these tariffs are threatened and applied has created a very difficult environment for business owners,” said Bill Hallan, CEO of the Michigan Retailers Association.

State environmental officials and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are touting a $25 million grant to build infrastructure and revitalize buildings in local communities.

Employees at the Delfield manufacturing plant in Mount Pleasant took to the streets Wednesday morning in protest of the company locking its doors after a third tentative contract agreement with the local United Steel Workers Union fell through.

Michigan’s January jobs report held a mixed bag as the state gained jobs but not enough to stave off an increase in the state’s monthly unemployment to 5.3%. That’s an increase of one-tenth of a percentage point from the December rate.

A recent University of Michigan study found that women farmworkers in Michigan face unique occupational stressors, such as gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, reproductive health concerns, pregnancy challenges, and work-life balance issues.

The Great Lakes are one of the most important economic drivers in Michigan, yet we know more about the surface of the moon than the floor of the lakes, according to the Great Lakes Observing System.

The number of hunters is in decline and impacting on the economy in northeast Michigan. WCMU's David Nicholas spoke with Steve Schulwitz of the Alpena News to learn more about the shifting trends in hunting.

The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance, a coalition of business leaders, say the pending changes to the minimum wages laws will have a disproportionate impact on the tourism economy in the region and hospitality industries.