LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – This week marks “Buy Michigan Week” which is designed to remind Michiganders to buy locally to spur the state’s economy and grow the job market.

“Michigan made products—from cars to cherries—power our economy and share our story with the rest of the world,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “I encourage every Michigander to support local small businesses and take a little extra pride in Michigan-made products this week.”

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Small Business Association of Michigan President & CEO Brian Calley praised the resiliency of the state’s small businesses.

“While small businesses have faced many challenges since the pandemic, entrepreneurs have also found opportunity,
Calley said. “New business starts are up, and that’s a great sign for our economy.”

The small business community in Michigan took a hit under Gov. Whitmer’s COVID-19 shutdowns of 2020 and 2021. While the Governor cited “more than 150,000 Michiganders applying to start small businesses” in 2021, her press release failed to cite her jumpstart plan she kicked off in June of that year. That announcement came just before her official full reopening of restaurants and bars stemming from her three week shutdown issued that previous November. Those businesses, along with larger gatherings, resumed in June and July 2021 after the soon-scrapped “MI Vacc to Normal” plan which Whitmer used as an incentive for Michiganders to get the COVID-19 vaccines.

At the end of 2021, Gov. Whitmer handed out more than $1 million in grants to small businesses through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) Match on Main grant program. Recently, MEDC has been instrumental in providing taxpayer-funded financial incentives to Chinese-based Gotion and CATL to set up shop in the state, along with potential megasites in Eagle Township and the Flint area.

While there is optimism among Michigan’s small businesses, Calley emphasized that it’s still an uphill climb in some areas.

“The most common themes we hear from small business owners is that they struggle to find people to keep fully staffed, costs are rising, and while the supply chain is getting better, it’s not as reliable as it used to be,” Calley said. “We wholeheartedly agree with the Governor’s call to buy more local. Small changes in buying habits make a significant difference over time.”