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First Aired September 2, 2023 Calhoun County Vice-Chair, Commissioner Steve Frisbie tells Community Matters the latest attempt at establishing a transit authority in the county “will probably pass”. The question was removed from the agenda at a County Board of Commissioners meeting earlier in the summer of 2023 after it appeared not to have enough support among …
First Aired September 2, 2023 In her last Community Matters check-in before the fall 2023 legislative session in Lansing, Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Springport) of Michigan’s 45th District talks about a number of subjects. Among them: The House independent contractor bill lingering in Lansing, bills associated with juvenile justice and more. She also offers perspective on what the …
First Aired August 26, 2023 Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) of Michigan’s 44th District including Battle Creek, speaks with Community Matters just ahead of the autumn session in Lansing. In doing so, Haadsma discusses legislative priorities, the so-called independent contractor bill and his perception that political conflict between Democrats and Republicans will be more significant. Episode ResourcesMichigan …
First Aired August 19, 2023 Community Matters continues its coverage of the Marshall, Michigan-planned Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan plant. This time, Richard Piet is joined by attorney Robby Dube, a member of the legal team for the Committee for Marshall-Not the Megasite. Dube offers an update on a course of events that seemed headed for …
First Aired August 12, 2023 Ford Motor Company’s intent to build a new battery plant in Marshall, Michigan presents an interesting opportunity: The chance to build a new manufacturing facility from the ground up. On this episode of Community Matters, we ask manufacturing consultant Mike Craig of the west-Michigan-based GKW Business Solutions to help us understand what innovations Ford might …
First Aired August 5, 2023 In an update on the Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan project, Jim Durian, CEO of the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance (MAEDA) tells Community Matters the unbuilt plant is already attracting allied industies. Durian said a concrete mixing company, Shafer Redi-Mix, intends to buy a space at The Brooks industrial and research park – a move that …
First Aired August 5, 2023 UPDATE: After this story was published, efforts to move the next hearing to later August 2023 did not eventuate. A hearing was heard on August 9, 2023, as originally scheduled. A final written decision from the judge in the case is expected in late August 2023. Opponents of the Ford BlueOval …
First Aired July 29, 2023 With the expected Ford BlueOval Battery Park Michigan plant in Marshall, some may be wondering: When can I apply for one of the 2500 jobs expected? What type of jobs will they be? What skills would I need? At press time, Ford had not offered insights yet into many of those details. …
