Michigan approves $846 million in aggressive bid to attract new business

  • Michigan lawmakers approved $1 billion in spending Wednesday, mostly to fund business incentives
  • The deal was reached between Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, with some critics
  • The SOAR fund was launched last December with $1 billion, with most of it spent on three deals, requiring its replenishment

LANSING — Michigan is intensifying efforts to bring more large-scale development to the state, voting Wednesday to add hundreds of millions of dollars to a fund that would sweeten how much it can offer “transformative” businesses in incentives.

A bipartisan vote in the Michigan Legislature boosted the state’s business attraction budget by $640 million and reauthorized more than $200 million left over from a previous investment in the fund.

The Legislature approved the increase to the Strategic Outreach And Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund late Wednesday, bringing the available balance to $846.1 million — which supporters said will keep Michigan competitive

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American Airlines introduces new business class: Flagship Suites

The rumors are true: American Airlines will be phasing out long-haul first class in the coming years.

But well-heeled travelers don’t need to fret too much. The airline is planning to consolidate its Flagship First and Flagship Business classes into a new Flagship Suites configuration on its most premium-heavy planes, promising direct aisle access and a privacy door for everyone up front on many of its high-value routes.

American will also update and expand the premium economy cabins on those aircraft as part of the overhaul, installing new seats with headrest wings for greater privacy.

“What’s core to all of this is American Airlines continuing to listen to our customers and continuing to get feedback from our customers,” Julie Rath, American’s vice president of customer experience told USA TODAY. “Our Flagship Suites that we’re delivering are really aligned with what the customer expectation is in the premium cabin.”

Summer air

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New business moves into vacant Pier 1 building as 24th Street West begins to fill up

Once empty buildings along the 24th Street West and King Avenue West corridor are quickly filling in after years of vacancy.

The Pier 1 Imports store, which sits at the corner of 24th Street West and Rosebud Drive, has sat vacant since 2020 when the national retail chain filed for bankruptcy. The building will become the site of a new Skechers shoe store; work on the building began earlier this month.

The new Skechers store sits directly across 24th Street from a new Chick-fil-A, which is currently under construction. The chicken sandwich shop will be the second in Montana and is being built in the back end of the parking lot of Planet Fitness.

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Planet Fitness, of course, was a vacant Toys ‘R’ Us until the gym took over the building in 2019.

Just south on King Avenue West will be three new retailers filling in

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American unveils snazzy new business and premium economy cabins at the expense of first class

American Airlines is going all-in on the premium experience — with a twist.

The Fort Worth-based carrier on Tuesday unveiled brand-new business-class and premium economy cabins that will debut in 2024 on newly delivered Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A321XLR aircraft.

The airline will also retrofit two of its most premium planes with new products, though it will come at the expense of first class on planes that currently have business class.

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There’s lots to unpack about the announcement, so read on for more details.

American introduces new business-class suites

Headlining the news is the introduction of a brand-new business-class product for American. The carrier is installing private suites in the forward cabin on all new 787-9 Dreamliners beginning in 2024.

AMERICAN AIRLINES

These so-called Flagship Suites will be arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration and feature direct aisle access for each passenger. Additionally, each

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Tampa potter banks on a new business idea: dented mixing bowls

Kelley Pitcher reached up to hang a sign above her vendor stall at the Hyde Park Village monthly market which showcased images of her newly patented product — the stainless steel “Belly Bowl.”

Pitcher, a Valrico resident, wasn’t sure what the reaction would be.

It was still steamy outside over Labor Day weekend. She’d had already skipped the August market because of the weather and was worried few shoppers would be in attendance. But she was too excited to show off her latest invention — a mixing bowl you balance against your tummy, to local shoppers in Tampa Bay.

As Pitcher and her partner Joel Lebel set up their custom display shelves in front of the shopping plaza’s iconic fountain, Lebel said: “I don’t expect a huge turnout…”

“But sometimes it’s a surprise,” Pitcher added.

They’ve sold goods at the local Hyde Park Village Fresh Market countless times before under

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Chris Long, ex-NFLer, living up to name with new business

Chris Long is living up to his last name — and playing the long game in building a media business.

The two-time Super Bowl champion spoke to The Post about a wide range of business and football topics, and revealed exclusively that his “Green Light” podcast will be partnering with Amazon’s Amp live audio platform on Thursdays during the NFL season.

Long, who played defensive end for the Rams, Patriots and Eagles from 2008 through 2018, has worked with Amazon on NFL studio coverage in the past, and saw this as an opportunity to be “more dressed down and casual.”

Long did not want to go into sports media and have to wear a suit and tie all the time.

“Did you see Amazon’s pregame show last week? Fitzy [Ryan Fitzpatrick] wore a Hawaiian shirt. Andrew Whitworth had a hoodie underneath his suit. I’m just more dressed down. It’s better

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15 Strategies for Quickly Expanding Your Business

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Let’s face it. Scaling your business is hard. It takes considerable effort. In the beginning, it means wearing different hats. It means dealing with sales and marketing. It means understanding taxes and corporate compliance. It involves having to interact with customers on a daily basis. And so much more. At the end of the day, it takes its toll on you.



Hero Images | Getty Images

If you’re struggling to grow your business, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, it’s hard. But, what’s the alternative? A life-sucking 9-to-5 job? Surely not. Okay, maybe you’re longing for the security of a guaranteed paycheck. But, at what mental or emotional price will that come?

The truth? If you buckle down, clear your mind, and just look at things in perspective, you can easily identify ways you can grow your business

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Garuda Indonesia’s Strange New Business Plan

In mid-2021, Garuda Indonesia announced plans for a major restructuring. The airline had been losing money for years (even pre-pandemic), and had crippling debt. It looks like the airline is now headed into a completely new direction, and… I’m not sure this is gong to end much better?

Garuda Indonesia’s new business plan

Indonesia’s State Enterprises Minister, Erick Thohir, has revealed new plans about what a restructured Garuda Indonesia will look like. As reported by Bloomberg:

  • Garuda Indonesia will stop flying most international routes, with few exceptions, including pilgrimage flights to Saudi Arabia; most long haul flights will instead be operated as part of codeshare agreements with other airlines
  • Garuda Indonesia will instead focus on selling business class, premium economy (which the airline doesn’t currently have), and economy seats, on “local” flights; Garuda Indonesia may no longer offer first class, but the writing was on the wall for that
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Downtime: Public relations executive lures new business through fishing

Brian Chandler with a catch beneath the Mayo Bridge. (Photo courtesy of Brian Chandler)

When Brian Chandler sought to hook a few more clients for his business, the public relations practitioner naturally went to a pair of his favorite pastimes: boating and fishing.

“I said I really would like to start to get some business in the marine, boating and fishing industry, just thinking, ‘OK, I love to do those things; how awesome would it be to work in the industry as well?’” recalled Chandler.

“We’ve had a solid Virginia/Mid-Atlantic book of business. My mind went to we could grow the firm even more if I’m able to do work in a passion that I know and I can speak intelligently about,” he said.

A decade later, Chandler’s firm, Commonwealth PR, has established a client base that regularly includes marine companies, boat manufacturers, charter fishing companies and similar

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