AGP Executive Report

Public Health & Food Supply: Michigan’s Cyclospora outbreak keeps expanding, with cases surpassing 5,000 and then 10,000 as officials warn the foodborne parasite is driving “explosive diarrhea” and changing consumer behavior, including fewer produce purchases. Local Health Regulation: Warren is moving to regulate kratom, approving a first reading of an ordinance to prohibit sales and distribution amid safety concerns, joining other Macomb-area actions. Energy & Housing Efficiency: EGLE is pushing Renewables Ready Communities awards to spur local wind, solar, and battery projects, while the UP is seeing EGLE-backed home energy rebates for upgrades like mini-split heat pumps. Construction & Infrastructure Safety: New Baltimore is getting more than $2M for Safe Routes to Schools and pedestrian improvements near Anchor Bay schools, and Owosso demolition work is raising questions about safety and traffic impacts. Manufacturing & Materials: UFP Industries posted strong Q2 results, and Ford’s aluminum supply disruption tied to Novelis fires in New York continues to ripple through vehicle production and sales. Workforce & Training: Michigan’s data-center buildout is pulling in skilled trades, with AI firms recruiting electricians and carpenters and training pipelines expanding. Legal & Health Care: U-M Health-West agreed to overhaul religious accommodation policies and pay $410,000 to resolve a religious bias firing case. Retail & Delivery: Uber Eats is adding more regional grocers, including Michigan-linked Busch’s Fresh Food Market, expanding on-demand grocery delivery. Sports Business: The Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs sat out practice amid contract uncertainty as training camp begins.

Manufacturing Expansion: STEMCO finished expanding its Millington, Michigan plant by about 20,000 square feet to boost capacity for heavy-duty commercial vehicle components, including Kaiser king pins and bushings. Energy & Data Centers: DTE says its data center pipeline has grown to more than 8GW after major executed deals with Oracle and Google, with more load in development and long-term power supply terms. Food Safety: Michigan remains a key hotspot in the cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to lettuce; the state reports more than 9,500 illnesses as national cases top 18,000, while some consumers keep avoiding fresh produce. Local Business & Community: Goodwill Industries named Kalamazoo’s Katherine Yale its International 2026 Achiever of the Year for rebuilding her life and now working as a recovery coach navigator. Policy & Infrastructure: EGLE expanded its Renewables Ready Communities Awards, offering local governments up to $4,000 per MW (potentially $5,000) for permitting and hosting wind, solar, and battery projects. Workforce/Logistics: Grip is bringing in a veteran to lead national cold-chain fulfillment operations, underscoring how delivery timing and refrigerant decisions protect frozen food margins.

Auto Manufacturing & Policy: President Trump renewed attacks on electric vehicle policies at GM’s Milford Proving Ground, arguing consumers should choose between EVs and gasoline and warning EVs take fewer workers to build. Local Infrastructure: Detroit City Council advanced the $184M Alley Sewer Repair Program with more contracts, targeting private sewer laterals; construction is expected to start around mid-September. Energy Grid & Permitting: ITC Michigan is holding public meetings in Fowlerville on a proposed Oneida-Sabine Lake 345-kilovolt transmission line route, aimed at reducing outages and supporting growth. Clean Energy Incentives: EGLE expanded its Renewables Ready Communities Awards, offering up to $4,000 per megawatt (with a possible 25% boost) for communities that permit large wind, solar, and battery projects. Food Safety & Agriculture: Michigan’s cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to climb, with health officials reporting 9,680 cases and 160 hospitalizations as investigators still work to confirm sources tied to lettuce. Local Food Supply: MDARD launched a Good Food for Michigan Pledge to connect schools and hospitals with Michigan growers, boosting traceability during the outbreak. Sports Business: The Tigers face a deadline decision on Tarik Skubal, while the Verlander trade debate resurfaces as Detroit weighs what to do with another ace. Public Safety Tech: A Flock LPR alert helped Shelby Township police arrest a multi-state fugitive early in the morning, leading to new charges.

Michigan Senate Primary: Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed faced off in the final Democratic U.S. Senate debate, with transparency and outside money taking center stage as both dodged some direct answers ahead of the Aug. 4 vote. Auto Manufacturing & Trade: Trump used a GM Milford stop to tout tariffs and a U.S. auto comeback, while a heckler interruption turned into a “communists” retort—another reminder that trade politics are now part of Michigan’s factory-floor messaging. Food Safety & Litigation: A Durand couple sued Taco Bell and Taylor Farms over Cyclospora, as Yum Brands braces for earnings scrutiny tied to the outbreak’s impact on traffic and trust. Energy & Utilities: DTE Energy beat profit estimates, highlighting strength in its energy trading business while continuing major grid investment. Fresh Food for Institutions: MDARD announced a push to expand Michigan-grown food in schools and hospitals through the Good Food for Michigan Project. Data Centers Debate: A new look at where Michigan governor candidates stand shows rising local anger over data-center noise, water use, and utility costs. Business Leadership: Cracker Barrel named David Deno as incoming CEO, with the chain’s Michigan footprint expected to stay steady. Health Research: New findings explain how misfolded proteins may quietly drive beta-cell stress in diabetes progression.

Auto & Trade Politics: President Trump made a campaign-style stop at GM’s Milford proving ground, touting tariffs and claiming Michigan’s auto comeback while GOP allies took the stage; the visit comes as businesses warn tariffs are hurting. Cross-Border Logistics: The Gordie Howe International Bridge opened to traffic, promising smoother Detroit-Windsor trucking and a new alternative to the Ambassador Bridge. Food Safety & Litigation: Another cyclospora-related lawsuit targets Taco Bell and Taylor Farms as retailers reassess produce sourcing amid the outbreak. Cybersecurity: Coca-Cola’s Fairlife resumed most production after a ransomware attack, while DC’s housing authority faced a breach that disrupted services for weeks. Energy & Infrastructure: Consumers Energy is weighing a temporary reduction of Manistee River flow for dam inspections, drawing environmental pushback. Manufacturing Jobs & Growth: GM CEO Mary Barra signaled the company’s push beyond cars into defense, software, and energy systems—potentially reshaping supplier opportunities in Michigan. Policy Watch: Michigan’s “Money Out of Politics” measure cleared a key signature step toward the November ballot. Tech & Eminent Domain: A legal debate is heating up over whether governments can seize land for data center power lines.

Auto & Trade: President Trump is set to tout his economy and tariff agenda at GM’s Milford Proving Ground as Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary nears, with new Canada tariffs raising fresh worries for auto supply chains and costs. Cross-Border Infrastructure: The Gordie Howe International Bridge opens to vehicle traffic today, adding a faster Detroit River crossing after months of cross-border controversy tied to tariff threats and a Canada-only ribbon-cutting. Manufacturing Investment: GM also points to continued U.S. expansion, including plans tied to shifting production and modernization efforts. Food Safety & Retail: Taylor Farms’ cyclospora recall delay request to the White House drew pushback from former FDA chief Scott Gottlieb, as the outbreak linked to shredded lettuce continues to spread. Fresh Produce Supply: Edible Garden announced expanded Walmart distribution for fresh cut herbs across the Mid-Atlantic, highlighting year-round controlled-environment growing. Weather Watch: Mid-Michigan faces a new round of strong to severe storms early in the week.

Manufacturing & Politics: Trump is set to visit Metro Detroit Monday to talk manufacturing and auto-industry rebuilding at a GM facility in Milford. Food Safety: The FDA and CDC widened the cyclosporiasis investigation tied to shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico; cases now span nine states including Michigan, and Taylor Farms shut down the implicated processing facility. Consumer Health: A separate multistate salmonella egg recall is underway, with Michigan included, after nearly 1.6 million cartons were pulled for potential contamination. Energy & Prices: Oil prices slid sharply as Middle East tensions eased, lifting markets and easing inflation worries; locally, Van Buren County’s lowest regular gas hit $3.78 in the week ending July 18. Courts & Housing Finance: Michigan’s Tax Tribunal ruling on a senior-care retirement center’s property value was sent back after it failed to properly consider rent restrictions tied to federal bond rules. Local Safety: A fatal single-vehicle crash in Jackson County is under investigation, with alcohol suspected. Business/Industry: Ascentage Pharma named CEO Dr. Dajun Yang to The Medicine Maker Power List 2026.

Detroit Corporate Place-Making: Rocket Classic’s title sponsorship is ending after 2026, but the event’s decade-plus run is being framed as a lasting Detroit investment—more than $10M raised for local nonprofits, including work aimed at closing the city’s digital divide. Auto Aftermarket Growth: Ford Custom Garage is expanding fast, with sales more than tripling since launch as Ford pushes dealer-and-upfitter customization as an “easy button” for buyers and a bigger aftermarket revenue stream. Michigan Manufacturing & Energy Tech: GM is leaning harder into software subscriptions, with OnStar deferred revenue jumping to $6.3B, signaling higher-margin growth beyond traditional vehicle sales. Food & Agriculture Risk: Michigan is tracking a major Cyclospora surge, with case counts rising sharply in state updates, while national coverage keeps spotlighting lettuce-linked recalls and outbreak response. Trade & Supply Chain Pressure: New tariff moves are described as building a more durable U.S. tariff wall—raising uncertainty for manufacturers and cross-border logistics tied to auto parts and industrial machinery. Civic & Workforce Angle: A Michigan workforce competitiveness discussion ties into broader labor and skills pressures, while local governance updates (like Lansing board/ward alignment) show how policy execution can affect community outcomes.

Historic Preservation: Warren’s National Packard Museum broke ground on a $1M–$1.5M, 7,463-square-foot climate-controlled storage facility to protect and display dozens more Packard vehicles, with lifts and a mechanics bay. Auto Safety & Manufacturing: Ford issued multiple recalls totaling nearly 1 million vehicles in a single week, including Explorer/Aviator seat issues and Bronco fire-risk wiring concerns. Energy & Costs: Michigan gas prices climbed as Brent crude topped $100 a barrel amid Red Sea shipping tensions, with AAA putting the statewide average at $4.26 and diesel at $5.15. Food Industry & Public Health: A Salmonella egg recall topped 19 million eggs after 98 illnesses, while a growing cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded lettuce has expanded to nine states, with Michigan reporting more than 8,100 cases. Trade & Cross-Border Industry: Trump doubled down on tariffs and floated an “air filter barrier” idea as Canada opened a new Detroit River bridge amid tariff friction. AI in Michigan Business: An OpenAI safety incident is raising new cybersecurity questions for Michigan companies adopting AI agents.

Great Lakes trade & infrastructure: Canada opened the $6.4B Gordie Howe International Bridge ceremony without U.S. officials, as Trump’s new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods loom over the Monday traffic start, with the dispute now tied to toll-profit terms and cross-border business expectations. Food safety & Michigan agriculture: The CDC confirmed Cyclospora links expanding to four more states, while Michigan continues to report thousands of cases; locally, shoppers are shifting toward farmers markets and growers as lettuce-related concerns ripple through produce sales. Maritime innovation: Michigan awarded $1.5M to advance Great Lakes maritime innovation, including workforce and commercialization support, as the state rolls out a 10-year maritime strategy. Energy & data centers: Trump’s administration expanded its Ratepayer Protection Pledge, aiming to prevent AI-driven energy costs from spiking for households and businesses, with utilities and developers backing the effort. Local construction watch: Metro Detroit road work continues this week, including Consumers Energy pipeline replacement and ongoing paving/repairs that affect drivers and access. Right-to-repair: John Deere owners gained more ability to repair equipment under an FTC settlement, a win for Michigan’s equipment users and service ecosystem.

Food Safety & Agriculture: Taylor Farms issued a fresh statement amid the widening Cyclospora outbreak, saying it’s removed potentially implicated product, expanded its recall out of caution, and suspended iceberg lettuce sourcing/production from central Mexico while it reviews its Mexico facility. Public Health Data: A University of Michigan researcher warns that data gaps and disappearing federal datasets can create “disease blind spots,” complicating outbreak tracking and response. Trade & Industry: The U.S. rolled out new Section 301 tariffs tied to forced labor claims, setting a legal precedent that could outlast the current administration—raising stakes for Michigan manufacturers and supply chains. Energy Infrastructure: GM and IONATE are deploying smart grid transformer tech at GM’s Romulus plant to boost capacity and manage power-flow issues in real time. Local Construction & Housing: Cadillac is building Lakelynn Apartments, a roughly 250-unit attainable housing project, with a possible city-approved trail and dog park component. Transportation/Logistics: Flint begins strict weight limits on a historic brick stretch of Saginaw Street to protect the roadway from heavy commercial traffic. Auto/Manufacturing: Toyota unveiled a refreshed 2027 Sequoia with a factory Trailhunter off-road package, including upgraded suspension and traction features. Cross-Border Trade: Canada held a Canada-only ribbon cutting for the Gordie Howe Bridge after U.S.-Canada tensions and tariff threats disrupted joint plans.

Food Safety & Supply Chains: Michigan remains the hardest-hit state in the expanding cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in Central Mexico, with Michigan reporting 7,644 cases as the CDC adds more states and Taco Bell leans on $1 lettuce-free promos to win back customers. Processing & Operations: Taylor Farms temporarily shut down the linked Mexico processing facility as cases rise, while the FDA continues to investigate the source. Cross-Border Infrastructure: The Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to open to traffic Monday, with Canada holding its own ribbon-cutting after a joint ceremony was canceled amid 50% U.S. tariffs—an upgrade expected to reshape Detroit-area trucking and auto supply routes. Local Transportation: Canton’s Sheldon Road bridge weight limit was slashed to three tons after inspection, affecting heavier commercial vehicles. Energy & Grid Tech: GM is deploying smart grid transformer tech at a Michigan plant to boost capacity, while Michigan’s new $85B budget package prioritizes roads and education. Digital Industry & Waste: A new wave of AI data centers is raising fresh concerns about e-waste and hardware turnover, adding pressure on how Michigan and the Midwest manage tech growth.

Food Safety Shock in Michigan: Taylor Farms temporarily shut its central Mexico shredded-iceberg-lettuce facility tied to the U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak, as Michigan reported 7,644 cases and 160 hospitalizations, with the CDC tracking 4,173 cases across 41 states and FDA investigating a separate 72-case cluster. Trade & Auto Security: A Senate panel advanced the Connected Vehicle Security Act, with Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) backing it and Sen. Ted Cruz accusing GM of pushing a provision aimed at squeezing Mercedes; GM disputes that framing. Defense Manufacturing in Metro Detroit: Marines tested General Dynamics Land Systems and Textron ARV-30 reconnaissance prototypes at Detroit Arsenal to potentially replace the LAV-25’s direct-fire role. GM’s Michigan-Relevant Earnings: GM posted $48B Q2 net revenue, updated 2026 guidance, and cited onshoring costs and inflation pressures even as truck/SUV strength supported margins. Wildfire Smoke Fallout: Canadian fires kept air quality hazardous across the Midwest, with Michigan residents again dealing with smoke impacts. Michigan Politics & Campaign Trail: Trump is set to rally in Oakland County as early voting begins ahead of the Aug. 4 primary.

Auto Trade Policy: A U.S. Senate Commerce push to restrict Chinese ownership in automakers is putting Mercedes-Benz in the crosshairs, with lawmakers warning the 15% threshold could block the German brand despite its nearly 20% passive Chinese investment. Food Safety & Agriculture: Michigan remains the hardest hit in the 2026 cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce linked to Taylor Farms; the FDA is now investigating a second outbreak, while Taco Bell is trying to steady consumer confidence with a $1, lettuce-free menu item. Local Growth & Jobs: Jackson County is seeing population momentum after decades of decline, crediting its 20-year Drive Jackson plan and a new food hub/farm stop project for measurable economic impact. Energy & Utilities: The MPSC is expanding public access to detailed utility performance data, aiming for more transparency as Michigan utilities face scrutiny. Manufacturing & Policy: The FTC settlement in a John Deere right-to-repair case reinforces farmers’ ability to diagnose and repair equipment without anti-competitive restrictions. Detroit Community: Detroit is testing a youth advisory council model to give teens real power—while critics warn it can slip into tokenism without shared decision-making.

Food Safety & Agriculture: Michigan’s cyclosporiasis outbreak appears to be leveling off, with the state reporting 6,571 cumulative cases and steady hospitalizations (102) after a voluntary Taylor Farms recall; health officials still urge vigilance as FDA tracing continues and local farms report rising demand for produce. Manufacturing & Jobs: Star of the West is getting $450,000 in Michigan grant support to build a new food-grade corn mill in Quincy, a $79M project aimed at adding value for Michigan growers and creating 17 jobs. Regenerative Farming: MDARD launched a NextGen Crop Insurance pilot to reward soil-health practices like cover crops and reduced tillage with pricing tied to lower long-term risk. Trade & Infrastructure: The Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to open Monday, but U.S.-Canada tariff tensions have derailed planned joint celebrations, adding uncertainty for Michigan’s cross-border logistics. Energy & Policy: Michigan’s unemployment benefits now require more weekly work-search activities, while wildfire smoke from Canada is estimated to have cost Michigan over $4B across sectors. Auto & Supply Chain Security: A Senate committee advanced a bill targeting Chinese-connected automakers, with Michigan Democrat Elissa Slotkin among key sponsors.

Food Safety Fallout: Michigan’s Cyclospora outbreak keeps climbing, with officials pointing to shredded iceberg lettuce tied to Taco Bell and supplier Taylor Farms, while FDA testing confusion (including a “false positive” earlier) adds to consumer anxiety and drives more recalls and lawsuits, including a Durand couple suing Taco Bell and Taylor Fresh Foods. Local Infrastructure: Detroit is spending about $36,000 per site to remove and replace “dirty dirt” at more than 100 demolition sites as the city tightens testing after federal scrutiny. Water & Construction: Great Lakes Water Authority plans an $81M upgrade along 14 Mile Road in Oakland County, replacing aging pipes and adding leak-detection monitoring. Energy & Industry: GM raised its 2026 outlook on strong U.S. truck/SUV demand and is pursuing a $1B U.S. Army contract for infantry squad vehicles. Tech & Governance: Detroit council opposes unchecked water use by AI data centers as the city drafts new rules. Policy & Trade: A new study says Trump-era tariffs hit Midwest households hardest, raising costs by $2,000 on average and cutting manufacturing jobs. Workplace/Automation: A Ford worker disputes a wrongful firing over a $1.95 cookie purchase at a self-checkout kiosk, now preparing to sue. Road Safety: Michigan State Police stepped up Move Over enforcement to protect roadside crews.