LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Roger Victory recently joined a package of bills to eliminate the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and reform Michigan’s strategy for economic development by creating the Bureau of Fair Competition and Free Enterprise.
“We have seen grant money from MEDC spent on $5,000 coffee machines and first-class plane tickets, and even when those dollars are spent on new jobs, we rarely get what we pay for with your tax dollars,” said Victory, R-Hudsonville. “We cannot continue to use the same strategy if we want to get different results.
“I have held roundtables and town halls with business owners and residents across West Michigan who have expressed great concerns with MEDC and the way it operates. My hope is these bills will help improve economic development here in Michigan by allowing us to retain and attract more businesses to the state.”
Victory sponsored Senate Bills 644, 651, 655 and 660, which would help define and implement the new bureau in state law. The 53-bill package consists of SBs 631-683.
Victory serves as the minority vice chair of the Senate Committee on Economic and Community Development.
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