State official shares economic ups, downs

By PAMELA JANSSON

[email protected]

IRONWOOD — A business roundtable at Gogebic Community College on Aug. 16 included a status report of good and bad news from Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

After a brief welcome from GCC President Chris Patritto, Jonathan Smith — LEO’s senior chief deputy director — provided a slideshow presentation that summarized recent state accomplishments, as well as goals relating to the 2025 fiscal year budget.

Smith noted the following challenges now faced by the state:

— Michigan’s labor force participation has trailed the nation s...