Shows
'JR MorningMEDC Grant Cancelled Following ScrutinyJune 6, 2025 ~ Detroit News reporter Beth LeBlanc joins Chris and Jamie to discuss the cancellation of a $20 million MEDC grant that has been under scrutiny due to questionable expenditures and concerns over how state taxpayer money is being managed.2025-06-0605 min
Michigan Business NetworkMichigan Business Beat | Elissa Sangalli, Northern Initiatives, Connecting Underserved BorrowersOriginally uploaded July 11th, re-edited April 22nd.
Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Elissa Sangalli, President/CEO, Northern Initiatives, Marquette, MI.
Questions
1. Can you explain the significance of Michigan having the largest state-supported CDFI program in the nation?
2. How will the $19 million awarded in this second round of MEDC funding specifically impact Michigan communities?
3. How has MEDC’s MI CDFI Fund impacted Northern Initiatives and other members of the coalition's ability to support underserved communities?
4. The FY2025 state of Michigan budget recently passed and the MI CDFI Fund was allotted $5M in funding.
What specific initiatives or projects are expected to benefit most fr...2025-04-2208 min
West Michigan Weekend (A Public Affairs Program from iHeartradio)How City of Grand Rapids and the MEDC are using Permit-Ready Plans to enhance new housing development (04-13-25)On this episode host Phil Tower speaks with Michelle Parkkonen, Managing Director of technical assistance programs at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation MEDC.Michele spoke with us about the exciting new collaboration between the City of Grand Rapids and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is unveiling resources that will streamline the process for communities to add housing in existing neighborhoods. Permit-Ready Plans, a collaborative partnership between the City of Grand Rapids, MEDC, Michigan Municipal League (MML), and Driven Design, LLC, lowers the barrier for infill housing development by decreasing construction costs and shortening permit processing...2025-04-1312 min
Montrose FreshThe Association’s Boozy Book Fair & MEDC’s Major MovesToday: At The Association's Boozy Book Fair, book lovers enjoy a grown-up twist on the classic school book fair with a curated selection of fiction, themed cocktails inspired by popular series, and unique surprises like “Blind Date With a Book” boxes. And later: At its annual luncheon, MEDC highlighted updates on the Manufacturers Association, a potential new employer, new ownership of a historic plant, and seventy-five years of Montrose Regional Health.Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2025-03-2605 min
Michigan Business NetworkMichigan Business Beat | Quentin Messer Jr. MEDC, Revitalizing Detroit’s North End with Opportunity!Chris Holman welcomes back Quentin Messer, Jr. ,Chief Executive Officer and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund MEDC, Detroit, MI.
Chris had several things he wanted to find out from Quentin in this conversation: The more than $500,000 in RAP funding to redevelop 9301 Oakland Ave. is a significant investment in the city’s future. Can you talk about why this project was selected for this funding and how it will transform Detroit’s North End?
What role do you see Detroit playing in Michigan’s broader economic landscape in the years to come?
How does the RAP initiative align with M...2025-03-0907 min
The Michigan OpportunityS5 Ep.1 - Quentin Messer, Chief Executive & Economic Competitiveness Officer, MEDCMichigan’s Economic story and what’s next for the state.We begin our fifth season with a new series Around Michigan in Under 30 Minutes, by connecting with longtime podcast supporter and returning guest, Quentin Messer Jr., Chief Executive & Economic Competitiveness Officer at MEDC. In this episode he discusses the Make it in Michigan strategy, gives us a preview of what is to come for the state, and he shares a Detroit Lions metaphor you won’t forget. 2025-01-2926 minThe Michigan OpportunityS4 Ep.21 - Aileen Bovan, Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Officer, MEDC and Geoffrey Crawley, Chief Marketing Officer, Synergies CompaniesJoin experts discussing the unique nature of synergies companies and its role in community and economic development with the MEDCWe hear from Aileen Bovan of the MEDC discuss leading the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategies of the organization and overseeing capital projects to align with the MEDC’s mission and vision. Also Geoffrey Crawley, Chief Marketing Officer at Synergies Companies, explains how this Detroit-based company has been a premier staffing and HR supplier since 2008, offering comprehensive solutions for Fortune 500 clients nationwide. 2024-06-2027 min
The Sound of AutomationEpisode 44: How Economic Developers Help Manufacturers GrowIn this episode of The Sound of Automation podcast, we talk to Quentin Messer, the CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Bryan and Quentin discuss how economic developers like MEDC can help small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses grow. Listen in to learn about some of the ways MEDC attracts and retains business in Michigan and how you can leverage similar resources in your own market. For more information on Wipfli, please visit our website at:https://www.wipfli.com/manufacturing. You can also contact us here.2024-05-2227 minWest Michigan Weekend (A Public Affairs Program from iHeartradio)A JA Focus on financial literacy in high schools, plus The MEDC's STEAM Ahead internship opportunities(05-19-24)On the program this week, host Phil Tower, welcomes Bill Coderre, president and CEO of Junior Achievement Michigan Great Lakes. JA's primary focus these days is helping students with financial literacy. A big reason for that push with Junior achievement is that a new law passed in 2022 by the Michigan legislature requires that students must take a course in personal finance that is aligned with the personal finance content expectations or take a course in which the content expectations are embedded. Students earn ½ credit once they have demonstrated learning about personal finance content expectations.Online: Jun...2024-05-1828 min
Michigan Business NetworkMichigan Business Beat | Travis Alden, The Right Place - Pairs with Strategic Site Readiness ProgramChris Holman welcomes Travis Alden, Senior Director of Community Development, - The Right Place, Grand Rapids, MI.
[A project to develop a 237-acre parcel in Lowell Charter Township into a commercial and industrial campus was one of 18 projects to receive funds at the end of January from the MEDC’s new Strategic Site Readiness Program]
Welcome Travis, give us a brief overview of MEDC's new Strategic Site Readiness Program?
Tell us the highlights of this new project you're working on in Lowell Charter Twp.?
Getting things "Shovel Ready" ... Does The Right Place have any idea in store for beyond that...2024-03-0406 min
Exploring Economic Development with MEDCEpisode 42 | Getting to Know Mayor J. Christian Dumais | EED with MEDCMayor J. Christian Dumais joins us for Episode 42 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC to discuss his first 30 days in office, priorities for the administration and why Marlborough is the city to watch.2024-02-0750 minExploring Economic Development with MEDCEpisode 41 | Discussing the Tax Rate with City Council President Mike Ossing | EED with MEDCCity Council President Mike Ossing joins us for Episode 41 of Exploring Economic Development with MEDC to dig into the recent tax rate decrease and explain what we can expect to see from the City Council in the coming months.2024-02-0743 minThe Michigan OpportunityS3 Ep.51 - Empowering Innovation: Midwest's Edward Lowe Foundation Teams Up with MEDC in a Dynamic Partnership to Fuel Small Business GrowthDan Wyant, Chairman and President at Edward Lowe Foundation, and Rodney Parkkonen, Small Business Consultant at MEDC, discuss their unique and dynamic partnership that assists small businesses to thrive in Michigan. Dan also has experience with many previous leadership roles in state government and policy. Ed and Darlene Lowe established the Edward Lowe Foundation in 1985 to leverage entrepreneurship as a strategy for economic growth and community development. In contrast to most U.S. foundations, which are grant-giving entities, they are an operating foundation that funds its own programs. Their entrepreneurship initiatives are focused on second-stage c...2024-01-3126 min
McKinney MomentumMeet the New MEDC President - Michael Kowski - McKinney MomentumSend us a textJoin Madison Clark in our MEDC studio today as she interviews our new president and CEO, Michael Kowski. Kowski brings extensive long-term city planning experience to MEDC, including urban development and design, land acquisition, and capital improvement projects. He most recently served as the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of McKinney where he oversaw projects like the creation of the $11 million indoor tennis facility at The Courts of McKinney, the $25 million renovation of the McKinney Soccer Complex at Craig Ranch, and the acquisition of 230 acres of parkland within t...2024-01-1829 minThe Michigan OpportunityS3 Ep.43 - Terri Fitzpatrick, Executive Vice President, Chief Real Estate and Global Attraction Officer, MEDCTerri Fitzpatrick, a proud member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, leads the MEDC’s Office of Tribal Business Development. Fitzpatrick is also the chief real estate and global attraction officer for the state’s site readiness and global attraction efforts, helping businesses move to and expand in Michigan. Those two career responsibilities overlap in their focus on building community by diversifying and increasing economic opportunity. Listen as Fitzpatrick explains the economic relationships that Tribes have with Michigan and how their goals align to bring prosperity to every corner of the state.2023-11-2016 min