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1. Giving Small Business Owners a Fair Shot
Growing up as the son of an entrepreneur, attending business school, and leading organizations, I know that part of what makes America unique is our innovation and ability to dream something and work to make it a reality. From small town main streets to big cities, Michigan requires dreamers to take a risk and start a business, to grow our economy, to provide competition in the marketplace, and to meet the needs of our changing demographics and communities - all which can lower prices and create jobs. Right now, 1 out every 3 businesses fail within their first three years. I’ll seek to reduce barriers to success through:
Implementing long-term funding for childcare programs, so parents don't need to choose between staying home and not working or paying thousands of dollars in childcare while they work.
Developing affordable legal resources to help small businesses navigate our regulatory and labor processes.
Creating more job training programs throughout the state to help reduce the burden on managers trying to find qualified talent.
Awarding support to small businesses across industries in communities large and small through microgrant programs.
Establishing business resource centers/incubators in key regions around the state, including Grand Rapids, where businesses can access free or low-cost office space in a facility with other businesses, encouraging dialogue, problem solving, and even utilizing each other's businesses to meet business needs, becoming a self-sustaining marketplace as the businesses begin to scale. Each resource center will be staffed with a consultant to help these entrepreneurs with business and strategic planning, workshops on management topics, and helping them get connected to government contracting. Further, these centers could provide resources on law, business tax preparation, and more. On-site, low-cost childcare could be offered on site. The center will help businesses transition into permanent space through expanded microgrant programs.
As Michigan's population is planned to stagnate if trends don't change, we need to be an incubator for innovation and small businesses. We'll support our main streets and business corridors by Making It In Michigan!
2. Supporting a Living Wage
Any hard-working Michigander with a job deserves an income they can live off of, regardless of if their livelihood is flipping burgers or leading a team. While I recognize minimum wage is the floor, I believe the floor should still be enough to pay the bills. It should not be controversial to say that those with less qualifications still deserve a living wage if our society requires their position and their labor. Further, studies have shown that gradual and moderate increases in wages do not lead to inflation. While Michigan has made progress on this issue, certain communities have costs of living that far exceed state averages, while other lower-cost communities may be able to sustain a lower wage. Currently, Michigan law allows localities to implement a local income tax but prevents them from implementing a lower minimum wage. When we set wages based on state borders and not on economic realities in any given region, we are forcing both workers and businesses to fall into a one-size fits all approach. Michigan is economically and regionally diverse, and our law should allow for flexibility to better support our workers.
At the same time, I have concerns regarding legislation passed in February 2025 that speeds up the rate of increases to our minimum wage considerably, which I fear could lead to higher prices and higher unemployment, while also cutting into the effectiveness of the wage increase. These amendments were passed rapidly, last-minute, and were based on industry pressure rather than data.
My approach will always be one of facts, data, and best practices, with the goal of uplifting workers without harming industry or consumer prices.
3. Strengthening Organized Labor
Protecting organized labor leads to better working conditions and benefits for the people of our state. However, many workers no longer see the value in unions. Combined with the occasional news of union corruption, lower enthusiasm has led to weakened unions.
Protecting organized labor leads to better working conditions and benefits for the people of our state.
Require Employers to provide notice to employees upon hire of the relevant union for their industry, boosting union membership.
Improve state oversight to increase worker confidence in unions.
Defend against reinstatement of anti-union "Right to Work" legislation.
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