Michigan Republicans are demanding accountability from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. following reports that taxpayers footed the bill for an $11,000 flight to Budapest and a $4,500 coffee maker.
Fay Beydoun, a businesswoman from Metro Detroit and a member of the MEDC executive committee, has been awarded a substantial $20 million grant for her company Global Link International. The grant aims to attract international business and support the company’s growth.
According to The Detroit News, funds were used to cover expenses for a trip to a conference in Budapest and the purchase of a Jura coffee maker.
The report lacked details about the recipient of the coffeemaker, whether it was for personal or business use, and other relevant information. In order to obtain further spending details, The Center Square has submitted a records request.
Beydoun held positions as the executive director of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and the CEO of TEJARA, an organization dedicated to advancing economic relations between the United States and the Arab world.
According to the report, she used $100,000 of taxpayer funds to support an event organized by a Michigan business founders group, as well as an additional $130,000 for legal and consulting fees related to her businesses.
According to records requests, Beydoun reportedly allocated $408,000 towards salary payments for both herself and another individual.
Rep. Jay DeBoyer, a Republican from Clay Township, expressed his concerns regarding the grant project and urged MEDC Chief Executive Quentin L. Messer Jr. to promptly halt the project and conduct a thorough examination.
In a letter, DeBoyer emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency in state government and its departments. He highlighted that maintaining the public’s trust is crucial, and when questionable practices or failures are observed, it erodes respect for our institutions and elected leaders.
The grant condition mandates an audit only after half of the funds have been utilized.
According to DeBoyer, taxpayers in our state who contributed to the funding of this questionable project should not have to wait until $10 million is wasted before a review takes place. Instead, accountability should be established immediately.
The MEDC has been requested for a comment by The Center Square.
In 2018, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Beydoun to the executive committee of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), which is responsible for funding business projects across the state.
The MEDC has covered the expenses of $44,117 for Whitmer’s trip to Davos, where she delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum. Additionally, the MEDC has also provided funding for her undisclosed travel expenses during her business trip to Taiwan.