Automotive suppliers could get $25M in state funding to diversify, MEDC proposes lending program

Automotive suppliers who want to diversify their businesses but don't have the funding could have access to some of a $25 million program if it's approved. The program could generate some $100 million in financing for suppliers.

According to excerpts from the story:

The new chief executive of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. said in an interview that he would propose a new $25 million lending program designed to help auto suppliers diversify their businesses.

Gregory Main, who assumed the MEDC post after the departure of Jim Epolito five weeks ago, said the program is critical in spite of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's executive order Tuesday slashing $20 million from MEDC's 10-year, $2 billion 21st Century Jobs Fund. Main hopes to offer distressed auto suppliers a fresh source of capital, although the funds would have to be paired with commercial loans.

"The key here is we're not going to do the underwriting. The banks are going to continue to do the underwriting," Main told Business Review."We're going to follow along and put the banks in a better position to do the loans."

Read the complete story here.

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