LANSING – The revelation that Iowa-based Midwest Living magazine writes the state’s Pure Michigan Travel Guide prompted Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer to question why Governor Rick Snyder’s administration did not pick a Michigan-based company for the job.
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reported Saturday that Des Moines, Iowa-based Midwest Living publishes the guide, which is printed in Michigan.
“I have no doubt that there are a number of Michigan businesses that could produce the Pure Michigan Travel Guide right here in Michigan, putting Michiganders to work in the process,” Schauer said in a statement. “Governor Snyder’s actions to outsource this business and our tax dollars to Iowa indicate that he feels otherwise. With Michigan’s unemployment rate still one of the highest in the nation, I can’t understand why the MEDC would spend $1.5 million to create jobs in Iowa.”
Schauer’s campaign set up an online petition for people to sign asking Snyder why his administration would pay an out-of-state company $1.5 million for the job.
Michelle Begnoche, spokesperson for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, told the Record-Eagle that Midwest Living offered the best value for the price.
“We look at Michigan companies, we work very hard to work with Michigan companies, but we want to make sure the product we’re delivering is consistent and has the quality and the distribution,” Begnoche said.
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