(The Center Square) – Michigan Republicans are calling for accountability within the Michigan Economic Development Corp. after taxpayers reportedly bought an $11,000 flight to Budapest and a $4,500 coffee maker.
Metro Detroit businesswoman and MEDC executive committee member Fay Beydoun received a $20 million grant for her company Global Link International to attract international business.
The Detroit News reported that money paid for a flight to a conference in Budapest and a Jura coffee maker.
The report didn’t include information about who received the coffeemaker, whether for personal or business use, or other details. The Center Square has filed a records request seeking more spending details.
Beydoun has served as executive director of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and the CEO of TEJARA, another organization working to further economic relations between the United States and the Arab world.
The report said she spent $100,000 of taxpayer money to sponsor an event led by a Michigan business founders group, and another $130,000 on her businesses’ legal and consulting fees.
Beydoun spent $408,000 on salary for herself and someone else, the outlet said citing records requests.
Rep. Jay DeBoyer, R-Clay Township, said MEDC Chief Executive Quentin L. Messer Jr. should immediately halt and examine the grant project.
“Accountability and transparency in state government and its departments are pivotal in maintaining the public’s trust,” DeBoyer wrote in the letter. “When people see questionable practices or outright failures in these areas on our end, they fail to respect our institutions and their elected leaders in greater numbers.”
The grant condition doesn’t require an audit until half of the money is spent.
“Taxpayers across our state who helped foot the bill for this apparent boondoggle shouldn’t have to wait until $10 million is gone for this to be reviewed,” DeBoyer said. “That accountability should be delivered now.”
The Center Square has asked the MEDC for a comment.
The MEDC funds business projects statewide. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Beydoun in 2018 to the MEDC executive committee.
The MEDC has also paid $44,117 for Whitmer to travel to Davos to speak at the World Economic Forum and an undisclosed amount to travel to Taiwan for a business trip.