News Story

Michigan Falling Behind On ‘How Open For Business’ Ranking

New York last, South Dakota highest on 11-factor test

A Virginia-based political consulting firm puts Michigan in 41st place in an ongoing analysis that tracks “How open for business is each state?”

The company called MultiState updated its report on May 8. Michigan dropped from 39th to 41st after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended the state’s stay-at-home order through May 28.

States were given scores in a range of 1 to 100. The higher the score, the more prepared the state was to reopen its economy.

Michigan’s score as of May 8 was 16. New York was last, with a score of 9. South Dakota was first, with a score of 92.

The states were rated on 11 factors:

Are residents under a stay-at-home order?

How broadly does the state define the term “essential business?”

Are nonessential offices (not customer-facing) allowed to open?

Are construction sites allowed to operate?

Are nonessential retail businesses open?

Are personal care services open to customers?

Are physical fitness businesses open to customers?

Are restaurants open for service beyond pickup and delivery?

Are bars open beyond pickup and delivery?

Are venues that service large crowds open?

Will that state approach reopenings on a statewide, regional, or county-by-county timeline?

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.