MI Money Out of MIBA

MI Money Out of MIBA campaign opposes the use of Michigan public funds to support the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA), a Detroit-based nonprofit which seeks to build business relationships between Michigan and Israel, including in the weapons and defense sector. Michigan should not be using our public funds to subsidize business with a country carrying out a genocide, apartheid, and occupation.

MIBA has received MILLIONS in our public funds. Join us in calling on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan Legislature to demand an end to public funding to MIBA.

MI Money Out of MIBA is a campaign by Michigan Divest, Engineers Against Apartheid, US Palestinian Community Network-Detroit, and Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit.

What is MIBA?

The Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA) is a Michigan-based non-profit organization that facilitates business, investment, and trade relations between Michigan and Israel. It is located in Detroit, MI. MIBA facilitates business & investment between Michigan and Israel via Trade delegations, “Matchmaking services” (i.e. connecting Israeli companies with legal financial and public relations experts and suppliers), recruitment of individuals and companies, networking events, and through “The Elevator” which offers free office space and a U.S. mailing address for Israeli companies in downtown Detroit.

MIBA routinely collaborates with, supports, and advocates for Israeli corporations, institutions, and individuals complicit in apartheid and genocide, including Elbit Systems (Israel’s largest private weapons manufacturer), Rafael, Capture Systems (Remote-Controlled Weapons Systems), and Israel Aerospace Industries (Military and Aerospace Manufacturer) among many others. MIBA has helped multiple Israeli weapons manufacturers open offices in Michigan. In 2025, MIBA helped the Israeli weapons manufacturer Capture Systems obtain over $3 million in state public funds to open operations in Michigan.

MIBA gets the majority of their budget from Michigan public funds.


MIBA has received over $6 million in public funds from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). MEDC is a state institution and is one of their main funders. MIBA currently has a $650,000 grant from MEDC which ends this December 2026. In February 2026, MIBA also submitted a $1 million proposal for Legislatively Directed Spending Item appropriations. These are funds that are typically earmarked for community improvements such as in schools, public health, and fire safety, not for investing in foreign business with an apartheid state. See which projects in your community are competing for state funding with the Israeli war machine.

MI Money Out of MIBA demands an end to public funding of MIBA.

We call on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to terminate MIBA’s current $650,000 grant and refuse to award any future contracts, loans, or grants to MIBA. We call on the Michigan Legislature to refuse to allocate state budget funding to MIBA.

TAKE ACTION

ACTION 1: Give Public Comment at the next MEDC Executive Committee Meeting – September 10th

Tell the MEDC Executive Committee to terminate MIBA’s current $650,000 grant and refrain from awarding any future funding to MIBA. Attend in-person OR virtually.

  • When: September 10, 2026: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
  • Where: Michigan Economic Development Corporation, 300 N. Washington Sq., Lansing, MI 48913
  • Arrive before 9:00 am. Public comment is at the beginning of the meeting. Sign in at the front desk of MEDC, go into the board room on the left, and sign the public comment sheet.
  • Give public comment (all speakers have up to 3 minutes, but this may be reduced to 1.5 minutes)

Attending virtually?

  • To give public comment virtually, you must register for virtual public comment by 8:00 am on September 10th
  • Sign on before 9:00 am. Public comment is at the beginning of the meeting.
  • Click here for MEDC virtual public comment registration instructions and the Zoom meeting link

Need talking points?

ACTION 2: Submit Written Public Comment to the MEDC by 3:00pm on September 9th

Submit a written public comment to the MEDC Executive Committee by 3:00pm on Wednesday, September 9th: medccomments@michigan.org

Need talking points? Click here for talking points to use in your statements.

ACTION 3: Sign and Share the Petition

The MI Money Out of MIBA petition demands that: (1) MEDC exercise their power to terminate their 2026 grant contract with MIBA. (2) MEDC refuse to award any future contracts, loans, or grants to MIBA. (3) The Michigan Legislature reject MIBA’s current LDSI appropriations request and any future requests.

ACTION 4: Endorse MI Money Out of MIBA! – Organization Sign-On

Join us in opposing the use of Michigan public funds to support MIBA. We welcome endorsements from any organization, institution, or group who believe Michigan’s public funds should be invested in the needs of Michiganders and not in bridging business with an apartheid state.

  • Click here to endorse the MI Money Out of MIBA campaign.

MI Money Out of MIBA has been endorsed by the following organizations: Michigan Divest, Engineers Against Apartheid, US Palestinian Community Network Detroit, Jewish Voice for Peace Detroit, Michigan Coalition Against Genocide (MICAG), Oakland County Activism, WMU Students for Justice in Palestine, NAKBA Survivors Association, Detroit Anti-War Committee, Northwest Michigan DSA, Mideast Just Peace, Kairos, Wayne State University Alumni for Palestine, Red Cedar Friends Meeting (Lansing Quakers), Arab Americans for Progress, Doctors Against Genocide, Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War (KNOW), Indivisible MDR, Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council, Palestine Interfaith Network (PIN), The Rent is Too Damn High (RITDH), Ferndale for a Free Palestine, UAW Labor for Palestine, Labor for Palestine National Network, Palestinian Youth Movement – Michigan, Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids (PSGR), Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East – Ann Arbor, Statewide Indivisible Michigan, Michigan Peace Alliance, Codepink Lansing, Greater Lansing Democratic Socialists of America, No Detention Centers in Michigan (NDCM), Lansing For Palestine, Detroit Action