Paula Gardner
Bridge Magazine
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Past articles by Paula:
Most Michigan-based stocks roaring back in 2023 after a brutal year
The state’s public companies are faring well so far amid the up-and-down stock market, Bridge Michigan analysis shows. Among the big winners: Wolverine World Wide, Ally Financial and Penske Automotive. → Read More
GM offers buyouts to ‘majority’ of 35,000 salaried workers in Michigan
The Detroit-based automaker is trying to cut $2 billion from its fixed costs with the voluntary plan. → Read More
5 (mostly) good things to know about Michigan’s progress on EVs
Automakers are racing to increase EV production, and Michigan is trying to get a big piece of it. Here is where the state — and the industry — stand today. → Read More
Hugs, cookies, freebies and love planned to welcome MSU students back to campus
A small idea known as Spartan Sunday to shower students with treats and kindness has snowballed as volunteers and donations rolled in. → Read More
From cookies to cash, support floods into MSU after deadly shooting spree
Support for MSU after Monday’s mass shooting is growing in East Lansing and across the country. Donations, volunteers and thoughtful gestures — like moments of silence at other colleges — are intended to show the school that people share its pain. → Read More
Ford EV battery plant on Marshall Michigan megasite gets $1B in incentives
Ford Motor Co. fleshed out details on Monday of a battery plant it will build with a Chinese partner on farmland near Marshall. The plant, to employ 2,500, is scheduled to open in 2026. → Read More
Ford battery plant in Michigan rose from the state’s failure in 2021
Ford sent Michigan a wake-up call back in 2021 by investing $11.4 billion in other states. On Monday, when the automaker announced a new EV battery factory near Marshall, the state flipped that earlier loss into a win — and it now has others to show for it, too. → Read More
Marshall megasite wins Ford EV battery plant project with Chinese partner
The multi-billion-dollar project with Chinese battery giant CATL is touted to produce 2,500 jobs and add to Michigan’s growing share of EV-related development. Virginia had previously rejected the project because of its ties to China. → Read More
Doobie Tuesday and pizza deals: Michigan's marijuana biz turns to old-school promos
Faced with steep competition and price drops of 75 percent, the state’s 600-plus recreational cannabis dispensaries and suppliers are seeking a sales edge beyond ubiquitous billboards. But who imagined early bird specials? → Read More
Robust jobs market in January suggests economy not ‘cooling’ as predicted
Inflation is still high. But job growth is, too. Combined, they create a challenge for the nation’s monetary policy makers. → Read More
Bed Bath & Beyond’s decline breeds opportunity for Michigan retail centers
The state’s outdoor shopping centers won’t have to deal with vacancy for long if big-box stores file for bankruptcy, said Chris Brochert, managing partner at Lormax Stern. → Read More
Farmland near Grand Ledge could be Michigan megasite for high-tech project
About 1,400 acres of assembled land, including a farm now owned by MSU, is under contract in tiny Eagle Township. Economic developers pitch the land as ‘America’s best megasite’ for energy-heavy projects like semiconductors or EV batteries. → Read More
Minimum wage increase set for February blocked by Michigan court
Minimum wage was expected to jump to $13.03 an hour, but a Thursday court ruling blocks the increase. The Michigan Supreme Court will likely settle the issue. → Read More
Michigan businesses with hourly workers fret over continued pay hikes
Inflation may be moderating, but there still aren’t enough hourly workers to fill open restaurant, retail and other lower-paid hourly jobs. In Michigan, businesses that depend on such workers are still raising pay to attract employees, a trend they say can’t keep doing. → Read More
Michigan OKs new, 4-year contract with top economic developer to boost jobs
Quentin Messer Jr. will remain president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The deal was approved Tuesday. → Read More
Used car prices in Michigan are falling, but ‘seller’s market’ likely to last for years
As inflation starts to moderate, used car prices are falling faster than most consumer prices. Yet high interest rates, still-limited supply and other factors mean they’re unlikely to be considered ‘low’ again for many years. → Read More
Audit: Michigan unemployment agency still struggles with COVID-era claims
The latest review of the state’s dysfunctional unemployment office found that problems with oversight and fraud investigation persist. The agency’s director accused the auditor of rehashing old issues and not giving the agency enough credit for reforms. → Read More
Value of Michigan’s largest public companies dropped by over $120B in 2022
The decline among the state’s largest publicly traded companies is steeper than leading market indexes, with some companies — including General Motors and Ford Motor Co. — losing nearly half of their stock value. → Read More
Grand Rapids tech firm is paying more to compete for software developers
As the country competes for software developers, West Michigan is pushing even harder. Jeff Williams of Atomic Object offers insight into how the work, recruitment and competition are changing as Michigan communities vie to become tech hubs. → Read More
Census: Michigan’s population falls a hair in 2022
Michigan’s population declined by a few thousand, but experts say it should begin to grow again in a few years. → Read More