Capitol Connection: August 20, 2024
Next Steps on Minimum Wage & Earned Sick Time
What’s Happening: Join us for a Michigan Business Town Hall meeting on the recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling on minimum wage and sick time.
When: Wednesday, August 28 from 9 to 10 a.m.
Agenda:
• Overview of the Decision
• Significant items and timeline
• Legislative Update & Strategy
• Advocacy Next Steps
• How your organization/company can help
Why it Matters: We will discuss the decision, the effort to advance legislation addressing harmful components and how employers can help advocate for a fix.
What We’ve Been Doing: The Lansing Regional Chamber has joined a diverse coalition of 55 business groups organized by the MI Chamber, which shares concerns about the Court’s decision. Read the coalition leave-behind, aimed at informing lawmakers.
Monthly Business Roundtables Kick Off in September
As we transition into fall, we're excited to announce the return of our monthly business roundtable meetings in September! These gatherings are designed for business, community, and government leaders to connect, share insights, and collaborate on initiatives that drive our region forward.
We're expanding our reach by offering four distinct business roundtables across the region, held every Wednesday of the month:
• Delta Township-Eaton County
• Lansing-Delhi Township
• East Lansing-Meridian Township
• Clinton County
Who should attend: These roundtables are open to all Chamber members, from businesses of every size and sector to our education partners, as well as elected officials and their staff, from the federal to local levels.
Keeping Groceries Affordable
State lawmakers are being asked to consider expensive new legislation that would slap families with costly new grocery fees. House Bill 4904 and Senate Bill 453 would expand the state’s bottle deposit law, raising prices for water, juice, and many other groceries.
New fees on bottled water, juices, cooking ingredients, and more couldn’t come at a worse time for Michiganders – forcing parents to make impossible choices and stretching limited dollars needed to feed a family. The Lansing Regional Chamber is a proud member of the Keep Groceries Affordable Coalition.
Chamber Highlights EV Industry's Impact on Greater Lansing
At a recent press conference, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) President & CEO Tim Daman underscored the transformative impact of the electric vehicle (EV) industry on the Greater Lansing region.
The LRCC highlighted its support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which has spurred significant investments in Michigan’s infrastructure and clean energy jobs.
Additionally, the LRCC pointed to Lansing’s long history of business leadership, dating back to the pivotal investment by RE Olds in 1901, and emphasized how today's EV innovations are setting the region’s course for the 21st century.
Key developments include the $2.6 billion Ultium Cells facility, a $500 million investment in GM’s Lansing Grand River plant for EV production, and a $23 million investment in EV charging stations, with seven in Lansing. Additionally, $2.6 million is allocated for multimodal chargers at airports, including Capital Region International Airport.
The LRCC called for continued collaboration to build a stronger, more prosperous future for the region, while acknowledging that there is still work to be done to support the necessary infrastructure and businesses.
LRCC Chamber Townhall Recap
The recent LRCC Chamber Townhall featured two influential state leaders including Michigan State Budget Director Jen Flood and State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks.
Both directors provided valuable overviews and updates from their respective offices, covering key financial initiatives and budgetary priorities impacting our state. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where attendees had the opportunity to discuss critical issues directly with these decision-makers.
Stay tuned this fall as we continue to schedule more LRCC Chamber Townhalls. This series offers a unique platform for key business leaders, elected officials, and candidates to engage in meaningful conversations on the pressing issues of the day.
Upcoming Events
First Friday Public Affairs Call Update
Join us for our upcoming First Friday Public Affairs Call Update on Friday, Sept. 6 from 11 to 11:30 a.m. via ZOOM. From national down to regional updates, these monthly calls are designed to keep our members informed and engaged. We would like to thank ITC Holdings for making these monthly updates possible.
September Lansing Economic Club
The Lansing Economic Club will welcome Jon Decker, White House Correspondent and Senior National Editor for Gray Television on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center. Decker will provide an overview of the 2024 presidential election
