MI Money Out of MIBA: Divest Public Funds from the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator
Michigan Economic Development Corporation Executive Committee, Michigan Legislature
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 now!
MI Money Out of MIBA is a campaign by Michigan Divest, Engineers Against Apartheid, USPCN-Detroit, and the Michigan Coalition Against Genocide (full list still in formation)
Petition by
To:
Michigan Economic Development Corporation Executive Committee, Michigan Legislature
From:
[Your Name]
We, the undersigned organizations and Michigan residents oppose the use of Michigan public funds to support the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA).
We call on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to cease awarding grants to MIBA and for the Michigan Legislature to reject any proposals for appropriating funds to MIBA from Legislatively Directed Spending Items (LDSI).
MIBA is a non-profit that receives public funds to facilitate business relationships between Israel and Michigan, including in the weapons and defense industry. In 2023, Israel began its campaign of escalated genocide in Gaza and the West Bank. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague found Israel is responsible for the crime of apartheid, and that its occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza is unlawful. In 2024, in the case of South Africa v. Israel, the ICJ found it plausible that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza; since then, dozens of countries have joined South Africa’s case. Major reports from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem, and the United Nations, among others, have determined that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Since 2018, MIBA has received over $6 million dollars of public funds administered through the MEDC, $2,450,000 of which has been granted since the escalated genocide in Palestine began in 2023. MEDC awarded its most recent grant to MIBA in 2026, which ends in December. MEDC has authority to terminate this contract with 30 days’ notice. MEDC is responsible for using public funds to support economic development in Michigan communities. It is unclear how MEDC's support for MIBA is helping Michigan communities thrive.
In February 2026, MIBA also submitted to the Michigan Legislature a $1,000,000 proposal for appropriated taxpayer funds via Legislatively Directed Spending Items (LDSI) which was sponsored by multiple representatives. LDSI are earmarked funds that the state typically allocates to city and county community programs and infrastructure improvements (such as improving fire safety or public health programs). This proposal could be included in the forthcoming omnibus budget.
Our state should not be using any public funds to subsidize business with a country carrying out a genocide, apartheid, and occupation.
We demand:
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.