Tell Michigan Legislators to not provide funds to the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator right now

According to an article from Electronic Intifada, “in November 2025, Michigan activists achieved a significant victory: the State of Michigan Retirement System no longer holds any Israel Bonds.

The decision followed more than a year of organizing by Michigan Divest, a statewide coalition of residents, public employees and human rights advocates who pressured state officials to end pension investments tied to Israel during its genocide in Gaza.”

However, the Michigan legislature wants to include $1 million for the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA) in the 2027 state budget. Budget negotiations are happening NOW and could be finalized by July 1st.

This request for MIBA is called a “Legislatively Directed Spending Item” (LDSI). More than 1,000 LDSIs, totaling over $2.6 billion, have been requested. There won’t be votes by all legislators on each of the LDSIs. Rather, decisions about which LDSIs will be included in the budget will be made by legislative leaders behind closed doors. Michigan Divest  has identified five legislators as key players in the budget negotiations who need to hear strong opposition to including MIBA in the budget from Michiganders across the state.

You can sign the petition to support the demands of the MI Money Out of MIBA Campaign. The petition is addressed to both the legislature and to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), demanding that they terminate their contract with MIBA and commit not to renew funding or award funding to MIBA in the future.

The Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA) has only been around since 2017, involving both business representatives and state officials. The Grand Rapids-based group The Right Place Inc. has always had an involvement with this group and still has a seat on the MIBA Board of Directors.  

GRIID first noted that the Right Place Inc. assisted an Israeli military company set up shop in West Michigan in 2015, which also led to an activist campaign to expose the Right Place for their role in supporting Israeli Apartheid.

Since Israel began it’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinians in 2023 GRIID discovered that the Israeli company Plasan North America has been sending military vehicles to Israel for use in the ongoing assault on Palestinians.

The work of groups like the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator and The Right Place Inc. makes them complicit in genocide. Please sign the petition to support the demands of the MI Money Out of MIBA Campaign.