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LANSING, Mich.  – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II recognize International Women’s Day in Michigan, celebrating the achievements, contributions, and resilience of women throughout the state’s history.  

"On International Women's Day, we celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world,” said Governor Whitmer. “It’s also an opportunity for us to celebrate the progress we’ve made to make Michigan a state where everyone can succeed and recommit ourselves to expanding equal opportunities for all. Let’s keep closing gaps, raising wages, and helping women here in Michigan and around the world pursue their potential.” 

“Women have been at the forefront of change in Michigan. Women lead movements, build businesses, and strengthen our communities,” said Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II. “Today is a reminder that while we have made progress, we have to keep pushing forward to close gaps in economic opportunity, healthcare, and representation. Michigan thrives when women thrive, and we all have to do our part so that everyone has an opportunity to succeed.”  

The Whitmer-Gilchrist administration remains committed to empowering and uplifting Michigan women by bringing about meaningful change through policy such as protecting reproductive rights and expanding economic opportunities that support women and families.  

Some of Governor Whitmer and Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist’s accomplishments for empowering women, supporting working families, and protecting the right to quality health care include: 

• Spearheaded the Michigan Women’s Commission and the Women’s Economic Recovery Tour to empower women and provide them with opportunities for achieving economic mobility.   

• Provided grants to community organizations advocating for women’s rights and benefits in the workplace.      

• Lowered costs for Michigan families, by providing an average tax refund of $3,150 to more than 700,000 households through the Michigan Working Families Tax Credit.   

• Expanded free pre-k to all four-year-olds regardless of household income, ensuring all Michigan children are set up for long-term success early on.   

• Established the Michigan Community College Guarantee, making community college free for those who need it.   

• Signed a package of bills formally legalizing IVF and surrogacy, allowing families to make decisions best for them.   

• Partnered with MDDHS to launch the Take Control of Your Birth Control Program, expanding access to free contraceptives via 300 facilities across Michigan.   

• Expanded Medicaid coverage for family planning services up to 195% of the federal poverty level.   

• Allowed free-standing birth centers to gain licensure, expanding birthing options that reduce the risk of maternal and infant mortality, especially in Black mothers and children.  

LANSING, Mich. – ALDI is investing approximately $13 million to bring new locations to Hillsdale, Midland, and Rochester Hills in eastern Michigan. ALDI will build and equip the three new stand-alone grocery stores which combined will comprise approximately 61,000 square feet of space and feature a range of products including fresh meat and seafood, organic produce, and pantry essentials with approximately 30% of each store’s floor area dedicated to fresh food. The developments are being supported with a $12-million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation from Michigan Community Capital (MCC). The new ALDI location in Midland opened in November 2024, while the upcoming stores in Hillsdale and Rochester Hills are slated to open later this year.

The three ALDI stores in Michigan will address the critical need for affordable, fresh food in one non-metro and two metro communities that experience high rates of food insecurity. Each store within the Project Area qualifies as an “Area of Greater Economic Distress” as defined by the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund. 

ALDI, America’s fastest-growing retailer, offers shoppers groceries at everyday low prices in more than 2,400 stores nationwide. ALDI focuses on the groceries commonly purchased by shoppers, primarily under its exclusive brands, and is committed to providing customers with quality products at the lowest possible prices. ALDI strives to reduce the company’s impact on the environment through an energy efficient store design, including state-of-the-art lighting and refrigeration systems that have reduced energy features and environmentally friendly building materials. 

Approximately 27 new full-time equivalent positions will be created to support the new stores. All positions will be accessible to individuals without a four-year degree and will provide industry-leading benefits including competitive wages, health insurance, 401(k) program and paid time off.

“We are thrilled that ALDI continues to invest in Michigan,” said Eric Hanna, president, and CEO at Michigan Community Capital. “At a time when groceries are expensive, ALDI uses its skills in supply chain management and store efficiency to deliver affordable and healthy food where it’s most needed.”

New Markets Tax Credits are a federal subsidy tool administered by the U.S Department of Treasury and designed to attract capital to projects that support low- and moderate-income households and communities. Michigan Community Capital is the only Community Development Entity (CDE) that deploys this resource entirely in Michigan. Since the organization’s formation in 2005, MCC has secured $570 million in NMTC allocation through competitive rounds to support Michigan businesses and communities. 

MCC uses NMTC’s to support job creation, access to healthy food, and mixed-use projects that include mixed-income housing and commercial businesses that benefit low-income households.

U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, a U.S. Bank subsidiary, is serving as the New Markets Tax Credit investor on this project. Impact Finance provided $3.65 million in Federal New Markets Tax Credits.

-courtesy story