economy

A food organization in Ypsilanti is fostering future food entrepreneurs by expanding its kitchen operations. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

Michigan’s jobless rate edged up in May to 5.1%. We have more from Rick Pluta.

Washtenaw County’s Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) has released its annual report for 2025-26. WEMU’s Ana Longoria details.

Ann Arbor businesses are feeling the impact of people suffering homelessness and mental health challenges. For this month's "Washtenaw Business Lens," WEMU's Caroline MacGregor and Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber Executive Vice President and Director of Government Relations, Andy LaBarre discussed these economic impacts with the Executive Director of Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, Trish Cortes.

Ann Arbor SPARK’s annual report shows that Ann Arbor’s future could be driven by businesses utilizing artificial intelligence technologies. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

Washtenaw County needs to ensure it has the workforce that keeps up with the ongoing changes to the economy. That was one of the messages brought forth this week at a panel discussion sponsored by the Washtenaw Economic Club. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Nearly 6000 trade union members are set to converge on Ann Arbor this summer for advanced training at Washtenaw Community College. WEMU’s Caroline MacGregor reports.

Ann Arbor SPARK’s newest annual report for the past fiscal year shows continued investment and growth in its business incubation efforts in Ypsilanti. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

Each month, we partner with the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber to look at how the news of the day impacts the local business community. For this month's "Washtenaw Business Lens," WEMU's Caroline MacGregor was joined by Andy LaBarre, Executive Vice President and Director of Government Relations for the Chamber, and Destination Ann Arbor Director of Community Engagement Jennifer Chizek to talk about the upcoming tourism season and what Destination Ann Arbor predicts for this summer and fall.

Environmental concerns continue to surround data centers, and there are a number either approved or planned in Washtenaw County. Supporters of these centers contend there are ways to ensure environmental health while improving the local economy. We’ve explored environmental concerns on WEMU’s "Issues of the Environment." This time around, we’ll get a business perspective on it. Phil Santer is Chief Operating Officer for Ann Arbor SPARK, and he joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the economics of these data centers.