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Whether you lead a business operating in a brutally competitive global marketplace or a community confronting many needs, issues and causes -consistently focusing on a handful of priorities, especially those that leverage what makes a business or community unique, is critical to accelerating growth.
Michigan historically has had trouble focusing. Regional, political, social and other divisions have gotten in the way of our state aligning behind a common set of priorities. As a wealthy state we didn't need to do as much. But now that we are a smaller, leaner state, it is critical.
Michigan is fortunate to have many unique assets that we can use to grow the economy. Based on our research, there are six that stand out for their potential to create new jobs and grow incomes over the next decade: Our engineering talent, higher education system, natural resources, automotive industry, geographic location, and health and medical expertise. Together, they have the potential to create over 500,000 new jobs and boost personal income by $18,000 per worker... which would make Michigan a Top Ten state.
But our ability to achieve these outcomes will be based on our ability to focus. What can you do? Ask your organizations to align more of their work behind these six opportunities. Talk to your government leaders and let them know you support focusing resources, programs and policies on growing these opportunities. Finally, share with others how fortunate Michigan is to have such a bright future based on what makes us unique.
Focus. It's hard to do, but it will unlock the future to a vibrant New Michigan.
(Learn more about BLM's vision of a New Michigan and the state's six distinctive assets at www.BusinessLeadersforMichigan.com) |
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Majority of Michigan Residents in Cities with Emergency Managers are Optimistic About Future
According to a survey commissioned by Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) in May, the majority of Michigan voters in cities with Emergency Managers (EM) do not like the idea of having an EM but many acknowledge improvements in the services of their municipality. Many don't like having an EM but believe their city would be worse off without one and overwhelmingly prefer EM over bankruptcy court. Click here for BLM's press release and survey results
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BLM Social Networks |
Business Leaders for Michigan 600 Renaissance Center, Suite 1760, Detroit, MI, 48243-1802
Phone: 313.259.5400
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Muskegon chamber asked to create a 'new Michigan' built on a half dozen state assets
MLive.com | June 22, 2012
Doug Rothwell's message Friday morning to Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce members was one of exploitation.
The President of Business Leaders for Michigan updated local business leaders with the business roundtable's Michigan Turnaround Plan and offered a vision of a New Michigan. Read more. . . |
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Growing a Higher Education Marketplace: Michigan Universities Receive First Appropriations Increase in Ten Years
Higher education has a prominent place in our 2012 Michigan Turnaround Plan (MTP) because of its value in growing our economy. Step 4 of the MTP calls for Michigan to prioritize state investments in areas that will most promote economic growth, including higher education. Step 6 identifies higher education as one of Michigan's six distinctive assets that can drive future economic growth.
To that end, BLM worked hard to support increased funding for higher education based on performance and accountability. Fortunately after
several years of budget cuts, state lawmakers in Michigan gave higher education a 3-percent increase for the next fiscal year. While the increase in higher-education spending was a step in the right direction, BLM continues to support investing additional dollars based on university performance as Michigan's recovery continues and additional revenues become available.
There is no doubt that Michigan has some of the finest colleges and universities in the world, and that they are a major driver of our economy. Not only do our universities produce talent but Michigan graduates a higher percentage of students than the national average in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines.
These numbers can grow if we invest in our universities and grow their ability to attract more research dollars, increase innovation and create more businesses. To realize this potential, we need a long-term, shared commitment to higher education from both the state AND our public higher education institutions. Read more. . .
Below you'll find additional articles on the importance of higher education:
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| Gateway to the Midwest: The New International Trade Crossing Agreement Signed
On June 15, Governor Snyder and the Canadian government signed an agreement to build the New International Trade Crossing in Detroit. Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) has been a supporter and advocate for the new bridge. BLM believes this new bridge will play a huge role in the success of making Michigan the Gateway to the Midwest.
In Step 4 of 2012 Michigan Turnaround Plan (MTP), BLM calls for Michigan to prioritize state investments in those areas that will most promote economic growth, including transportation infrastructure. Step 6, BLM's New Michigan Strategy, identifies our geographic location as one of Michigan's six distinctive assets that can drive future economic growth.
Read more. . .
Below you'll find additional articles on the importance of higher education:
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Michigan Ambassador Program
This month BLM hosted its second Michigan Ambassador Program event - this time in Chicago. BLM's Michigan Ambassador Program champion William Clay Ford, Jr. and BLM's chair, James B. Nicholson, were joined by Governor Rick Snyder and nearly 20 expatriate Michigan executives now residing in the Chicago area. The group discussed progress made on Michigan's turnaround and options for getting re-engaged with Michigan.
The objective of the Michigan Ambassador Program is to engage business leaders who formerly lived, worked or graduated from school in Michigan, and now are executives in companies that span the nation and globe - to help with Michigan's recovery efforts. The Program will include hosting an annual CEO alumni reunion in Michigan, convening alumni "chapter" meetings in cities with substantial numbers of Michigan alumni such as Chicago and New York, and publishing a semi-annual alumni newsletter. |
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Joint venture Detroit Manufacturing Systems names top executives, including Andra Rush as CEO
Crain's Detroit Business | June 26, 2012
Detroit Manufacturing Systems Ltd. LLC today announced its top executives as the auto supplier prepares to begin manufacturing this year.
DMS, a joint venture between Wayne-based Rush Group Lt d. and the North American subsidiary of French component supplier Faurecia SA, officially named Rush Group CEO Andra Rush its president and CEO.
Rush also founded Wayne-based Rush Trucking Inc. and Holt-based Dakkota Integrated Systems LLC, an auto interiors supplier. Read more. . . |
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Immigration: An Old Solution for the New
Economy
Metromode | June 28, 2012
Many believe that the key to the new economy is the classic immigrant story: education, work, more education, more work. Yousif Ghafari is one.
Born in Lebanon, he emigrated to the United States in 1970, attained three masters degrees, and established an engineering company that grew worldwide in less than 25 years.
Ghafari is one of Southeast Michigan's most prominent Arab American professionals and philanthropists. As he looks out on Michigan Avenue from his modern office in Dearborn, he sees the future not so much in the young talent graduating from the area's universities -- who, he believes need considerably more knowledge in mathematics and technological sciences -- but in hungry immigrants who are well-educated, skilled, and willing to take risks and out-work their competition. Read more. . . |
Top 25 Living Legends of Insurance: #18 Alan Jay Kaufman - Growing Family
Property Casualty 360| June 25, 2012
Many sons and daughters assume the mantle of the family business when a parent retires-but few reinvent the business as aggressively as Alan Jay Kaufman.
As chairman, president and CEO of H.W. Kaufman Financial Group, headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., Kaufman oversees a third-generation insurance brokerage founded in 1969 by his late father, Herbert W. Kaufman. Read more. . . |
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DATA SUPPORTING THE TURNAROUND PLAN |
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Michigan Budget Reserves 15th Strongest
Based on FY13 budgets being adopted by states, Michigan has the 15th highest level of Rainy Day Fund reserve balances according to the National Assoc iation of State Budget Officers. While slightly below the national average of 5.7%, Michigan's 4.2% Rainy Day Fund reserve is a strong turnaround from a few years ago.
Click here to read the National Association of State Budget Officers: The Fiscal Survey of States, Spring 2012
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Michigan GDP Grows 6th Fastest in 2011
New data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows Michigan's economy grew like a Top Ten state last year and nearly double that of other Great Lakes states.
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U.S. Chamber's Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW):
Leaders and Laggards: Report Examines Postsecondary Education
The nation's colleges and universities must do a better job of closing the growing divide between the education and skills of the American workforce and the needs of employers, according to a new U.S. Chamber report, Leaders & Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Public Postsecondary Education.
Projections of labor market demand show that two-thirds of all jobs will require some postsecondary education by 2018; however, given today's disappointing levels of higher education productivity, labor economists estimate that the United States will fall 7 million degrees short. The nation's youngest workers rank a disappointing 15th out of 34 industrialized countries in the percentage with a college diploma. Read more. . . |
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Budget Turnarounds: Some states socking cash away
U.S. News & World Report| June 19, 2012
States starting to turn the corner on their Great Recession budget woes are taking the cautious approach, socking away millions of dollars in rainy day funds rather than restoring spending for education, health care and social services.
At least 21 states, including Arizona, Michigan and Ohio, are putting parts of their surpluses into reserves, an approach championed mostly by Republican governors and lawmakers who say the return of revenues to pre-recession levels doesn't mean it's time to spend. Read more...  |
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About Us
Business Leaders for Michigan, the state's business roundtable, is dedicated to making Michigan a "Top Ten" state for job, economic and personal income growth. The organization is composed exclusively of the chairpersons, chief executive officers or most senior executives of Michigan's largest companies and universities, which contribute nearly 25% of the state's economy and provide over 320,000 jobs in Michigan, generate over $1 Trillion in annual revenue and serve over 135,000 students.
Find out more at: www.businessleadersformichigan.com
Business Leaders for Michigan
600 Renaissance Center, Suite 1760, Detroit, MI 48243-1802
Phone: 313.259.5400
E-Mail Address: info@businessleadersformichigan.com |
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