MICHIGAN DIVEST calls for the termination of a $650,000 grant awarded to the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA) from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Grants issued to MIBA are used to finance Israeli business and partnership in Michigan.
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What is MIBA?
The Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA) is a non-profit organization that facilitates business and investment between Michigan and Israel. MIBA recruits both Israeli companies to do business in Michigan and Michigan companies to do business in Israel. MIBA does this through networking events, trade delegations, matchmaking services (i.e. connecting Israeli businesses with legal, financial, and public relations experts to help them do business in Michigan, connecting Michigan and Israeli businesses who might connect supply chains, etc.) and outreach to individuals and companies. MIBA also oversees The Elevator, a Detroit coworking space that provides free office space and a U.S. address for Israeli companies. MIBA is headquartered in Detroit.
MIBA focuses on six sectors: Defense, Mobility, Advanced Manufacturing, Health Technology, Food & AgTech, and Sustainability.
MIBA routinely collaborates with, supports, and advocates for Israeli corporations and institutions that enable and are complicit in apartheid and genocide. Some recent examples include, Elbit Systems (Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer), SIBAT (the Israel Ministry of Defense), and Ben-Guiron University among others.
What are we demanding?
We demand that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) commit to the following:
An immediate termination of its current funding to MIBAF for fiscal year 2026 (January 1, 2026-December 31, 2026).
Refrain from awarding any future corporate or appropriated funds to MIBA and its Foundation.
What is MEDC?
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is a state institution that aims to expand economic growth in Michigan by supporting the business, tourism and employment sectors. One way it does this is by providing grants and loans to businesses and organizations, financed by taxpayer funds.
MEDC allocates loans and grants from either appropriated taxpayer funds (requires Approval from the Michigan Strategic Fund Board) or corporate funds. Nearly 80% of MEDC’s corporate revenue is derived from Tribal gambling revenue.
When the MEDC finances grants to MIBA, our Michigan and Tribal community taxpayer funds are invested in foreign Israeli-based businesses and partnerships, instead of strengthening local U.S.-based Michigan businesses and partnerships.
