AGP Executive Report

Food Policy: A new House bill would end SNAP’s Restaurant Meals Program, which lets eligible people use EBT at select restaurants in nine states including Michigan. Trade & Supply Chains: The U.S. escalated its Canada trade war by banning imports of some Canadian dairy, alcohol and motorcycles, while Canada’s retaliatory tariffs took effect Tuesday on hundreds of product categories—an issue Michigan businesses say is already raising costs for parts, lumber and other inputs. Auto Industry: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent Ford a sharp warning over Chinese partnerships tied to CATL and other firms; Ford fired back that the letter is wrongheaded. Energy & Utilities: Consumers Energy extended the deadline for selling 13 Michigan hydroelectric dams by up to 60 days, pushing the decision into November. Infrastructure: A Flushing Township bridge rehab in Genesee County may run past October after hidden deterioration was found, affecting nearby small businesses. Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reported some of the lowest E85 and regular gas prices in Michigan counties during the week ending Aug. 29, while broader coverage flags diesel hitting record highs and pressuring logistics costs.

Food Safety: USDA FSIS issued a Class I recall of about 1,513 pounds of imported Italian pork guanciale/jowl after routine reinspection testing found possible Listeria monocytogenes; product was distributed to Michigan and other states. Energy & Costs: AAA says Michigan regular gas averages $4.03, down 12 cents week over week, while diesel keeps climbing amid supply disruption worries. Trade & Industry: Canada imposed 15%–50% tariffs on hundreds of U.S. products (including steel, dairy, appliances, electronics and agriculture), with Michigan and other Midwest states flagged as likely hit as the trade fight spills into the midterm season. Manufacturing/Engineering: Elmet Group agreed to acquire ams OSRAM’s tungsten and molybdenum operations in Bavaria, building a new EU manufacturing footprint for refractory metals. Local Mobility Safety: Two 13-year-old boys were critically hurt when an e-moto-style bike was struck by a pickup while crossing Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Township.

Food Safety: USDA FSIS issued a Class I recall for about 1,500 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale (pork jowl) after possible listeria contamination, affecting products shipped to distributors and food service sites across multiple states including Michigan. Energy Prices: GasBuddy price reports show Michigan diesel and gasoline volatility easing from spring highs, with several county “lowest price” spotlights (diesel and midgrade) highlighting a still-tight market. Labor & Politics: UAW President Shawn Fain urged Michigan union members to back Democrats in November, tying Labor Day organizing to key races for governor and Congress. Trade Watch: Trump escalated the U.S.-Canada fight by demanding Bombardier stop selling in the U.S. unless it builds in America, as retaliatory tariffs loom—an issue with clear spillover risk for Michigan manufacturers. Local Industry & Community: Escanaba kept its Labor Day parade tradition moving despite downtown construction, rerouting the event and leaning on local bands and food trucks. Environment: A dispute over cormorants on Lake St. Clair’s Dog Island pits conservationists against a state lawmaker pushing relocation.

Power Restoration & Storm Recovery: DTE reported 9,482 Southeast Michigan customers still without power Monday morning, down from about 450,000 affected earlier in the week, with some outages stretching beyond four days. Food Safety for Labor Day: MDARD urged Michiganders to keep cold foods cold, cook meats thoroughly, avoid cross-contamination, and limit food sitting out to two hours. Local Agriculture & Direct Sales: Farm stands are seeing renewed demand as shoppers seek local food and producers use social media and preorders to sell directly. Jobs & Workforce Signals: Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling highlighted the August jobs report (162K jobs added; 4.1% unemployment) with emphasis on data centers and AI-related hiring. Energy Costs & Regulation: A new look at utility rate cases argues infrastructure spending is effectively converted into higher household bills through regulator-approved returns. Environment & Infrastructure: Volunteers relocated 3,000 Huron River mussels ahead of Peninsular Paper Dam removal in Ypsilanti to reduce harm from sediment. Food Industry Recall: USDA announced a listeria-related recall of imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale shipped to retailers and food service in multiple states including Michigan.

Green Infrastructure: Sterling Heights and Macomb County finished a $1.1M Sterling Relief Drain renovation, adding native habitat, 5,000 trees/shrubs, and a half-mile walking/biking path to improve stormwater and water quality. Energy & Costs: Diesel is hitting record territory tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict, with Michigan diesel around $5.88/gallon—up sharply year over year—raising pressure across trucking, farming, construction, and manufacturing. Trade & Auto Supply Chains: Rep. Haley Stevens warned Michigan is absorbing fallout from Trump’s Canada tariff fight, with uncertainty and investment pullbacks tied to the auto-heavy cross-border economy. Workforce & Learning: MSU rolled out an AI minor plus new AI classes and course updates to build “AI literacy” for the evolving workplace. Public Safety & Scams: BBB Scam Tracker shows Berkley, Muskegon, and Harper Woods among Michigan cities with scam reports in July, with online purchase scams and employment schemes driving losses. Environment Grants: Michigan’s Invasive Species Grant Program opened its 2026 proposal cycle with about $2.4M available statewide. Local Economy: Joybird opened a metro Detroit showroom inside La-Z-Boy in Novi, expanding handcrafted furniture and customization services. Water & Fisheries Recovery: DNR says fish populations are rebounding in the Tittabawassee Impoundments’ Four Lakes as Sanford Lake refills toward legal summer levels.

Labor & Creative Economy: UNITE HERE’s Union Hall Arts wrapped up in Detroit, giving seven union members four weeks and a $4,000 stipend to make art during Labor Day weekend—an unusual break from long work hours. Construction Safety: A 50-year-old worker survived a trench collapse in Oxford Township after hours-long rescue work during a sewer installation. Industrial Supply Chain: IMCD named Walter Ripple as EVP, Commercial, US, aiming to deepen specialty-chemicals supplier ties and accelerate organic growth. Energy & Weather Resilience: Michigan’s power restoration efforts continued after severe storms, with crews working to bring electricity back to affected communities. Public Health: A new study links stronger El Niño swings to human-caused warming, adding urgency to climate and extreme-weather planning. Transit Disruptions: Amtrak faced Labor Day weekend cancellations and delays at major stations, including Chicago and St. Louis, due to weather.

Severe Weather & Power Restoration: The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-2 tornado in Detroit and an EF-0 tornado in Lincoln Park after storms tore through Southeast Michigan, snapping trees, damaging buildings, and leaving tens of thousands without power as crews worked to restore service. Higher Ed Policy: University of Michigan is piloting a new approach for incoming freshmen—hiding first-semester letter grades on external transcripts as P/NC starting fall 2027—aimed at easing pressure tied to a “mental health crisis,” drawing mixed student reaction. AI & Work: New reporting argues AI isn’t driving broad job wipeouts in Michigan’s wider economy, but it is reshaping hiring patterns, hitting entry-level roles and AI-exposed tasks more sharply. Energy & Grid Watch: With storms still affecting reliability, Michigan utilities and regulators continue planning for grid upgrades and reliability as demand pressures grow. Local Business & Hospitality: Vecino, the acclaimed Midtown Detroit Mexican restaurant, is expanding to Cleveland with a planned November 2026 opening in Tremont’s Driftwood building. Defense Training: Central Michigan University’s Drone Lab is supporting the Northern Strike exercise, giving students hands-on unmanned aircraft training tied to national defense needs.

Energy & Reliability: Consumers Energy is rolling out “Crew Check,” letting customers type an address to confirm natural gas crews are working nearby and spot likely vehicles/contractors—an added safety layer after storms and tornado outages. Auto Insurance: Michigan’s auto insurance affordability keeps improving after the 2021 PIP reforms, with premiums down sharply, even as drivers still feel the cost gap. Manufacturing & Design Risk: Tuofa says rapid prototyping is moving too fast—digital files can reach production before engineering questions are settled—so it’s emphasizing drawing review, DFM, process planning, and physical testing. Local Business & Community: Hotel Yorba in Detroit’s Southwest area has a new owner and is asking residents what comes next after a city-ordered closure. Public Safety: A Hazel Park pension scam used a fake FTC warrant email, highlighting how fraudsters push victims to move money fast. Recreation & Youth: A new 906 Adventure Team expansion brings mountain biking and hiking resilience programming to Petoskey and Gaylord.

Election Integrity: Michigan AG Nick Brown and a 25-state coalition won a preliminary injunction blocking USPS from forcing states to get federal approval for ballot and return-envelope designs and to use a new USPS tracking portal ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms. Severe Weather & Power: Tornado damage and storms hit metro Detroit hard, with crews assessing destruction in neighborhoods like Islandview and ongoing restoration for hundreds of thousands without power. Energy Reliability: Indiana Michigan Power is asking for public input on major 765-kV transmission upgrades across Indiana and near the Michigan line as demand is expected to surge, including from data centers. Trade Costs: A new report says tariffs are costing Michigan households about $5,600 a year as importers pass higher costs into prices. Education & Workforce: Michigan third-grade reading proficiency fell again, with only 38.2% proficient in English language arts, adding pressure to improve literacy outcomes. Craft Beverage & Ag: The Michigan Craft Beverage Council opened grant proposals for 2027 research and education, prioritizing Michigan-grown inputs and regenerative agriculture.

Healthcare & Resilience: Three Rivers Health will replace tornado-damaged outpatient buildings with a new $23M, 27,000-square-foot medical office building opening next spring, consolidating rural health, infusion, and wound care services. Broadband & Rural Connectivity: Louisiana is targeting early 2027 to finish BEAD construction to 15,000 broadband serviceable locations across 23 parishes, aiming for statewide access by 2028. Energy & Reliability: After severe storms, more than 259,000 Michigan customers were without power Friday morning, mostly DTE, with restoration targets through Saturday. Public Safety Tech: MDOT says automated work-zone speed cameras could be active by the 2027 construction season, with fines starting only after certain speed thresholds. Industrial Services Expansion: MISTRAS Group opened new field service offices, including in Iron Mountain, to cut mobilization time for inspection and integrity work. Agriculture & Food Supply: Soy Checkoff pushes soybean nematode testing guidance ahead of harvest; meanwhile, U.S. milk production stayed strong in July. Local Infrastructure: Gladstone’s US-2/US-41/M-35 railroad crossing is set for removal Sept. 8 to improve traffic flow.

Energy Planning: Consumers Energy filed a 20-year Energy Supply Plan with the Michigan Public Service Commission, pairing expanded renewables with two fast-starting natural gas plants at existing industrial sites in Bay and Genesee counties (1.4 GW total, targeted for 2031) plus new power purchase contracts. Severe Weather & Power: Storms across metro Detroit and beyond triggered tornado warnings and left hundreds of thousands without power; Detroit’s east side damage is under review to determine whether a tornado touched down. Infrastructure & Heritage: Strong winds damaged the historic Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, breaking off part of the roof “crown” parapet; crews are stabilizing the site while planning repairs. Retail Pharmacy Access: Hometown Pharmacy announced four Northern Michigan closures, citing rising costs and low reimbursement—another sign of accelerating “pharmacy desert” conditions. Agriculture & Consumer Safety: MDARD and DNR renewed the “Don’t Move Firewood” push ahead of Labor Day to curb invasive pests, and issued food-safety reminders for cookouts and tailgating. Clean Energy Education: Solarize Marquette held a solar workshop for businesses and nonprofits, offering discounted solar plan options for attendees. Legal/Markets: Michigan courts ordered Kalshi to stop offering sports betting contracts to people in Michigan, with penalties up to $500,000 per day for noncompliance.

Mining & Critical Minerals: Michigan Tech received $1.03M from the U.S. Department of Energy to convert low-grade iron ore waste into usable iron using bioleaching, aiming to turn currently “no value” material into a domestic supply for ironmaking. Auto Supply Chain: Gov. Whitmer announced $21M in Michigan Supplier Conversion Grants for 11 small- and medium-sized auto employers to retool from internal-combustion parts to hybrid/electric vehicle supply chains. Workforce Planning: Michigan released its 2026 “Hot 50” and “Career Outlook” reports through 2034, highlighting high-demand, high-wage jobs for students and jobseekers. Ports & Shipbuilding: State Rep. Donni Steele met Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to push for investment in Michigan’s ports, waterways, and shipbuilding infrastructure. Energy Reliability: Storms left 86,000+ DTE customers without power across southeast Michigan, with Oakland, Wayne, and Livingston hit hardest. Manufacturing Policy: Michigan’s Strategic Fund board approved $50M for the Copperwood Mine, including road and energy/communications infrastructure support. Food & Agriculture Safety: MDARD/DNR expanded the “Don’t Move Firewood” campaign, urging residents not to transport untreated firewood more than 10 miles to curb invasive pests and diseases.

Great Lakes Infrastructure: Federal officials lifted a stop-work order on Illinois’ Brandon Road invasive carp barrier after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pushed the White House, as carp were found closer to Lake Michigan than ever. Trade & Manufacturing Pressure: Canada retaliated with up to 50% tariffs on more than $20B of U.S. goods, targeting states and raising new risks for Midwest and Michigan supply chains. Workforce & Wages: Michigan released updated “Hot 50” job outlook data, flagging fast-growing, higher-pay roles like nurse practitioner, data scientist, and health services managers. Construction Safety: Ann Arbor reported a scaffolding collapse at a new apartment project near a preschool, with calls for stronger third-party safety reviews. Roads & Travel: MDOT will remove lane restrictions on most active projects for Labor Day, while keeping key closures around the Mackinac Bridge walk. Local Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker showed continued scam activity across Michigan cities, with Detroit leading statewide reports in July. Energy Costs: A new push to cut power bills highlights rising electricity costs as a growing burden for households.

Industrial Services Expansion: MISTRAS Group opened new field services locations, including Iron Mountain, Michigan, to cut mobilization time and expand inspection and integrity-management support for energy, power, aerospace/defense, advanced manufacturing, and data centers. Construction & Infrastructure: MDOT will lift lane restrictions on 91 of 156 state road and bridge projects for Labor Day travel, though some work zones and shoulder closures remain; the Mackinac Bridge also has a scheduled Labor Day morning closure for the Bridge Walk. Workplace Safety: After an Ed Sheeran concert at Ford Field, six workers were injured during stage teardown/load-out in a stadium vehicle tunnel; Ford Field says it’s reviewing the incident with event partners. Energy & Trade Pressure: New Canada tariffs are set to hit Ford and GM directly, with broader spillovers expected for housing costs tied to Canadian lumber and cabinetry. Public Health & Food Supply: The FDA disclosed a standoff with a seed supplier tied to a multi-state sprout outbreak, widening a recall while noting some consumer-usable labeling may not cover sprouts outside the affected regions. Local Business: Aramark added new collegiate dining partnerships, including the University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan.

Defense & Tech: The U.S. Department of Defense awarded Michigan State University and partners a $22.1M, two-year contract to expand domestic radiation testing infrastructure for radiation-hardened microelectronics, adding a dedicated testing beamline at MSU’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. Trade & Auto Supply Chains: Trump’s latest Canada tariff escalation is set to hit autos and parts, with retaliatory Canadian duties scheduled to begin Sept. 8—raising fresh uncertainty for Michigan’s manufacturing and auto workforce. Border Agriculture Watch: U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at Detroit Metro made a first-in-the-nation interception of a potentially destructive straw crest moth, identified with USDA after a canine alert on luggage from Ghana. Manufacturing Pulse: ISM’s August Manufacturing Report on Business showed continued growth for the 22nd straight month, with 15 sectors expanding, including transportation equipment and food products. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy data shows Michigan fuel easing in late August, with one Iosco County station posting the lowest midgrade price at $4.58 and diesel prices also trending lower in parts of the state. Local Industry & Safety: A federal recall covers nearly 150,000 Ford Mustangs over a wiring harness defect that can cause sudden loss of engine power, while DOT ramps up a trucking fraud crackdown targeting CDL training providers. Food & Retail: The U.S. is allowing more imported lean beef for 90 days to try to lower grocery prices, though Michigan State’s livestock economist doubts the impact will be big.

Workplace Safety: MIOSHA opened an investigation after six workers were injured during load-out after Ed Sheeran’s Ford Field concert in Detroit, with two in serious condition and four stable. Senior Care Workforce: Michigan senior-care providers are facing a retention crunch as caregiver turnover threatens capacity and growth, with employers pointing to compensation and wellness programs as a fix. Trade & Manufacturing: A U.S. trade official played down the Canada tariff fight, but Michigan manufacturers and consumers are bracing for higher costs and retaliatory impacts. Great Lakes Policy: Rep. Debbie Dingell and colleagues introduced the Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act to block any federal renaming of the Great Lakes, including Lake Ontario. Energy/Environment: A PAC-backed effort is tied to Michigan Supreme Court justices’ campaigns ahead of a ruling against Enbridge’s Line 5, keeping the pipeline fight in the spotlight. Tech for Field Teams: Ascent Cloud launched Geopointe Go, bringing offline-capable field access to Geopointe capabilities without relying on Salesforce mobile or internet. Public Health: MDARD confirmed Michigan’s first 2026 eastern equine encephalitis case in a Clare County horse, urging mosquito precautions.