Michigan House Economic Competitiveness Committee — Letter to Representative Robinson (2/17/2026)

Summary

This is a letter dated 2/17/2026 from the Capital Area Startup Studio, addressed to members of the Michigan House Economic Competitiveness Committee and opening with Dear Representative Robinson. The letter expresses strong support for House Bill 5031 and says the bill allows existing SmartZones to extend for an additional 15 years. It states that the bill includes appropriate definitions and safeguards so that the bill is tied to meaningful and measurable public benefit. The letter closes with the name Blake Grewal, Co-Founder, Capital Area Startup Studio.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Full text

2/17/2026
Members of the Michigan House Economic Competitiveness Committee
Michigan House of Representatives
Lansing, MI 48933

Dear Representative Robinson,

I am writing on behalf of the Capital Area Startup Studio to express strong support for House Bill
5031. This legislation represents an important step forward in strengthening Michigan’s ability to
grow high-technology businesses.

HB 5031 updates the Recodified Tax Increment Financing Act to expand and clarify the tools
available to local development financing authorities. Specifically, allowing existing SmartZones
to extend their tax capture for an additional 15 years. These changes will help communities like
ours support job creation and accelerate Michigan’s leadership in technology-driven industries.

In our region, Lansing, this bill provides essential support for leveraging existing assets and
catalyzing new economic opportunities. The bill also includes appropriate definitions and
safeguards to ensure that tax increment capture is tied to meaningful and measurable public
benefit.

We urge your support for HB 5031 and encourage its passage in the Michigan Legislature. Its
impact will be significant for communities seeking to grow in innovative and future-facing
sectors. Thank you for your leadership and consideration. We welcome the opportunity to
discuss how HB 5031 can support economic development in our area.

Sincerely,




Blake Grewal​
Co-Founder
Capital Area Startup Studio
blake@getboost.tech


File and source

File

2026-02-19_testimony_hb-5031-blake-grewal-capital-area-startup-studio_62947.pdf

Size

44,012 bytes

SHA-256

41a4b5f6f7e82f7665a18041190224352aa6c67cd34da640142d40b88d9a2bcb

Our copy

2026-02-19_testimony_hb-5031-blake-grewal-capital-area-startup-studio_62947.pdf

Original

No public link identified.