Michigan Business Beat | Mackinac Policy Conference 2026 - Stephanie Beckhorn, Michigan LEO - #MPC26

Chris Holman speaks with Stephanie Beckhorn, from Media Row, at the Grand Hotel, while at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference. Stephanie Beckhorn of Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity joined host Chris Holman at the Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss the impact of federal SNAP and Medicaid work requirements on Michigan's workforce. She emphasized that food and healthcare access are directly tied to workforce participation, and that hundreds of thousands of Michiganders will need to meet work requirements to maintain their benefits — making it critical to connect them with resources like Michigan Works agencies to help remove barriers and secure full-time employment. Beckhorn noted that interconnected challenges, including childcare, transportation, and affordable housing all factor into workforce stability, and that LEO's structure intentionally brings together agencies like MSHDA to address these issues in a coordinated way. On the budget front, she noted the governor proposed $30 million to support work requirement implementation, with the House and Senate each including roughly half that amount, and expressed optimism that ongoing negotiations would result in meaningful investment with strong long-term returns. » Visit MBN website: http://www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Watch MBN’s YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: http://www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: http://twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/