Bad Week for Michigan Corporate Welfare Machine

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 10/4/2010 | Jack McHugh

[MichCapCon]

On Thursday the plug was officially pulled on a monumentally hyped film infrastructure deal in Allen Park called "Unity Studios." There were no press releases from the Governor's office or the Michigan Economic Development Corp. announcing the evaporation of the mirage, but they had plenty to say when its promoters were granted their first batch of state corporate welfare promises in 2009:

Governor Granholm enthused, "(W)e are not only bringing new investment to the burgeoning film production community in Michigan, we are putting in place the infrastructure for an industry that will support long-term job growth and opportunity in new, creative sectors."

MEDC Head Greg Main chimed in with, "Our film program is just one component of our multi-faceted economic diversification strategy that includes growing new businesses from the rich talent and technology assets found in Michigan."

Coincidentally, the day before this week's announcement State Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, presented a more realistic interpretation of that last claim in the form of an amendment on a bill creating a government "New Economy Commission." He proposed giving it the duty to "outline the inherent risks in focusing on a few industries, which is by definition the opposite of diversifying." Unfortunately, the House majority wasn't interested and gaveled-down the amendment.

[MichCapCon]

MI ping

[Waverunner]

Our film program is just one component of our multi-faceted economic diversification strategy that includes growing new businesses from the rich talent and technology assets found in Michigan
-- Been using Dilbert's mission statement generator again I see.

[chippewaman]

Gov. Granholm ... epic fail of Canadian socialism (by a Canadian) in Michigan.

[GeronL]

I remember seeing this on TV when even the MSM figured out this guy was a scammer. A year or so ago.