Chris Holman welcomes back Tony Stamas, President and CEO, Midland Business Alliance, Midland, MI.
Watch Tony and Chris discuss Midland Business Alliance updates, trade policy efforts, tariff impacts, and the 2026 outlook for the region in the YouTube video shared below:
Chris had several things he wanted to find out from Tony in this interview:
- Welcome back Tony, remind us of the scope and purpose of the Midland Business Alliance?
- How did the second half of 2025 go for the Midland Business Alliance?
- And what’s on tap for 2026?
- Midland Business Alliance recently was among six prominent Michigan business groups join a nonpartisan coalition to promote smart, consistent trade policies. Tell us about that?
- How have tariffs been impacting the Midland area economy?
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Six prominent Michigan business groups join nonpartisan coalition to promote smart, consistent trade policies
Groups representing businesses, retailers join the Michigan Smart Trade Alliance to showcase importance of effective trade, tariff policies
LANSING, Michigan — Six groups that represent retailers, health care providers, manufacturers and other businesses across Michigan are supporting efforts by the Michigan Smart Trade Alliance (MISTA) to promote smart and consistent trade policy to help grow Michigan’s economy and lower costs for families.
The Michigan Retailers Association, the Midwest Independent Retailers Association, the Michigan Osteopathic Association, the Midland Business Alliance, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance have joined MISTA in supporting trade policies that provide consistency for manufacturers, protect our relationship with Canada and help to create new jobs.
“To thrive in our global economy, retailers and small businesses need consistency and predictability,” said Bill Hallan, CEO of Michigan Retailers, which represents more than 5,000 businesses operating 15,000 stores across the state. “We support the Smart Trade Alliance’s mission of creating an open dialogue aimed at securing supply chains and steadying important trading relationships.”
“We support MISTA’s effort to foster a constructive dialogue on consistent trade and tariff policies, recognizing the vital role these policies play in Midland’s economy and the broader Great Lakes Bay Region,” said Tony Stamas, president and CEO of the Midland Business Alliance (left), an organization that represents more than 3,000 businesses and is dedicated to cultivating a strong and diverse economy around Midland.
Other organizations that have joined MISTA’s coalition are the Midwest Independent Retailers Association, the Michigan Osteopathic Association, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance.
The members represent growing momentum in Michigan to create a space to discuss and advocate for consistent, straightforward trade policies, which help small business owners as well as farmers, the automotive industry, and retailers better compete in an international economy.
“We are not surprised these groups have joined and more are on the way. There is widespread agreement with our mission of elevating the voices of families, farmers, job creators and entrepreneurs who want a space to talk about the importance of consistent trade and tariff policy,” said John Sellek, a spokesman for MISTA. “Michigan’s employers and manufacturers rely on smart, consistent trade and tariff policies to compete globally and plan for a successful future.”
“We are grateful for the growing support for our mission to promote smart and consistent trade policy as Michiganders face increasing costs for everything from the raw materials needed by manufacturers to groceries for families,” said Mark Fisk, a spokesman for MISTA. “Smart trade policies encourage future investment and job creation.”
Additional information is available online at www.smarttradealliance.com. The website offers the opportunity to sign a pledge to show support for efforts to promote smart, fair trade, and tariff policies.
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