How Michigan’s Climate Transition Creates Opportunities for Entrepreneurs, Supply Chains and their Communities

Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and Detroit Port Authority are hosting a forum on how shifting priorities in the federal government and other economic and cultural forces are impacting the transition of Michigan’s economy, and how that is impacting Michigan businesses and communities.

Michigan is at a pivotal point in its climate and economic transition. Its utilities and leading manufacturers, especially the automotive industry, have announced ambitious goals that would substantially reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from their operations or products within the next 15 to 25 years. Michigan was also one of the top recipients of direct investment from the Inflation Reduction Act, with nearly $28 billion of investment expected to create some 26,000 jobs. The federal funding, coupled with targeted state and federal regulations, was supporting emerging industries while investing in under-resourced neighborhoods in Detroit and around the state.

• Game-changing grants for climate investments in Detroit, Kalamazoo and Benton Harbor.
• Improved air quality regulations that were accelerating the electric vehicle transition and creating opportunities throughout the supply chain, including small and minority-owned businesses.
• Electrification and weatherization investments that were creating opportunities for contractors and suppliers.
• And a culture of innovation that would center Detroit and Michigan in the decarbonized and circular economy of the future.

This Forum will explore the impact of the federal funding freeze, reduction in agency support, and elimination of incentives, grant programs and infrastructure for solar, battery storage, HVAC, weatherization, EV charging, and sustainable construction. Coupled with regulatory and administrative actions intended to slow the transition, these policies have the potential to undermine economic opportunity and environmental justice in Michigan. There is now an expectation among certain industries that the transition will move slower than was expected just a year ago.

Learn how businesses and communities are responding in Michigan: How they’ve impacted or pivoted, and what opportunities lie ahead.

Free for MiSBF members and guests of members.