Paula Gardner, Bridge Michigan

After several attempts to obtain a state subsidy, the company succeeded on Tuesday when the Strategic Fund awarded the company $45 million toward an estimated $129 million in site readiness costs. It awarded another $5 million to the Gogebic County Road Commission to make road updates in Wakefield Township.

All told, 49 of 83 Michigan counties — including many that are losing population and posting lower incomes in the struggling state — receive less business development funding than their share of the population.