Governor Whitmer's $7 billion in business subsidies during her tenure has largely failed to deliver promised jobs, according to a Mackinac Center report. Of $2.7 billion at risk, only $1.8 billion was paid out, with 3% job creation—602 jobs from 20,595 promised—being the starkest metric. The report highlights specific failures: Fiat Chrysler's $109 million deal yielded no net job gains after incentives were canceled, Gotion's $125 million EV battery plant never materialized, and Sandisk pulled out of a $250 million Flint deal. These outcomes paint a picture of misallocated taxpayer funds undercutting economic credibility.

The subsidies stem from Whitmer's efforts to attract business through financial incentives rather than policy reforms. Eight major projects consumed $2.7 billion, with many cancellations or underwhelming results. The $125 million Gotion deal, intended for 2,350 jobs, exemplifies the gap between promises and reality. Similarly, Fiat Chrysler's plant upgrades in Warren and Detroit failed to meet targets, with job growth attributed to market forces, not state aid. The cumulative effect is a $2.7B taxpayer loss with minimal economic return, undermining Michigan's reputation as a business-friendly state.

This case matters for investors and policymakers alike. Wasted subsidies divert resources from productive investments and erode trust in government economic strategies. Businesses may now hesitate to pursue incentives in states with a history of overpromising. The report's findings call for a reevaluation of how states compete for corporate investment—prioritizing sustainable policies over short-term financial deals. The data suggests that without accountability measures, corporate welfare programs risk becoming costly experiments with negligible results.