Posted on 07/13/2011 5:54:02 AM PDT by MichCapCon
In 2008, Hollywood actor and Michigan native Jeff Daniels was put at the center of a $40 million business development and marketing campaign put on by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The state government agency charged with giving out discriminatory tax advantages to a few favored businesses promoted Michigan as a place to do business, and said that the MEDC could give the upper hand to those seeking its help.
But while the MEDC trumpeted the advertisements ability to win awards in 2008, Michigans unemployment rate during that year shot up from 7.1 percent in January to 10.6 percent in December. And Daniels Purple Rose Theatre was en route to losing $193,556 that year, according to tax documents that the nonprofit submitted to the IRS.
In the press release announcing the awards that the Daniels ads collected, the MEDC touted the states competitive business environment. However, this week the Jackson Citizen Patriot reported that Daniels theatre company would be laying off three full-time employees, including Alan Ribant, the managing director. Daniels is listed as the executive director. According to documents filed by the IRS, the Purple Rose Theatre lost another $64,940 in 2009, the last year that paperwork is available.
(Excerpt) Read more at michigancapitolconfidential.com ...
What kind of shows are being put on at this theater?
I’ve never HEARD of Jeff Daniels except for the commercials!! What the hell does he do?? WHY did he get such a tax break.
I’ve never HEARD of Jeff Daniels except for the commercials!! What the hell does he do?? WHY did he get such a tax break.
‘Michigan comedy “Consider the Oyster” glimmers like a pearl’
'Gettysburg,' starring Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen, and Jeff Daniels...
Think dumb and dumber.
geesh....not exactly a blockbuster.
Why is he complaining? The theater was set up as a non-profit, so I ‘d say he’s exceeding expectations!
“The Purple Rose of Cairo” is a lot of fun. Daniels’ character suddenly pops out of the screen and tries living as an actual person.
Jeff Daniels is a native Michigander, actor, conservative. He does a lot for charity, and is somewhat of an outcast in hollywood.
That charge down Little Round Top, had me weeping in the nobility of those men.
After we saw 'Gettysburg,' we decided to go there. It's well worth the time. If you spend a few days there, you will leave knowing quite a bit about the battle.
The biggest problem with the ads was they ran, Michigan still had its punitive business tax, which it just dropped. They were kind of like the “It's not your father's Oldsmobile” ads which ran when Oldsmobiles were still behind the times. In the late 1990s Olds introduced some truly competitive products - Alero and Intrigue, but unfortunately lacked credibility.
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