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Let's Not Turn Back the Clock
Thanks in part to the difficult decisions made by our state leaders the last two years, Michigan is starting to turn around. Employment is up, personal incomes are on the rise, and our economy is growing again. We have adopted balanced budgets, lowered taxes on job providers and started to reinvest in our higher education institutions - a primary source for the talent Michigan employers need.
This November, voters will be asked to vote on one referendum and five proposed amendments to the Michigan Constitution that have the potential to undo all the progress we've made.
Proposal 1 is a referendum on whether or not Michigan should retain Public Act 4 of 2011, which helps Michigan communities in financial emergencies regain fiscal stability. In cases where communities are unable to meet payroll, pay vendors, or are operating under continuous deficits, the law allows the state to appoint an emergency manager to help address these problems. BLM SUPPORTS PROPOSAL 1.
Proposals 2-6 attempt to use our Constitution to re-write legislation passed by our elected leaders or bypass Michigan's legislative process. The Michigan Constitution sets forth our basic rights and freedoms. It should not be used to undo legislative action because a group doesn't like it. BLM DOES NOT SUPPORT PROPOSALS 2-6.
Michigan is just starting to turn around. We can't afford to turn back.
Click here to read more about the proposals. |
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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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Guest commentary: Biomedical industry key to  Michigan's turnaround
Detroit Free Press | August 24, 2012
Business Leaders for Michigan recently unveiled its "New Michigan" strategy, an ambitious blueprint for the creation of 500,000 new jobs and personal income gains of $18,000 per resident by 2020.
The group identified six Michigan assets that can figure prominently in an economic turnaround for the Great Lakes State. Michigan has great engineers, a superb higher education system, abundant natural resources, and sits at the gateway to the Midwest. The auto industry is on the march again. But the sixth asset the group identifies may have the most untapped potential of all. "New Michigan" proposes heavy investments to cultivate a hub for the biopharmaceutical industry. Read more. . .
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Best bang for the buck? Five Michigan colleges  rank in top 100, according to Washington Monthly
MLive.com | August 28, 2012
Students and parents shopping for a good college at a good value have plenty of options in Michigan, according to new rankings released Monday by Washington Monthly.
The magazine, which now considers cost-effectiveness while continuing to de-emphasize prestige, ranked five Michigan universities amongst the nation's top 100 colleges.
The University of Michigan (13), Michigan State University (34), Michigan Tech (63), Western Michigan (90) and Wayne State (95) each made the list.
Read more. . .
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Founder's son ready to take Axle reins 
Detroit News | August 30, 2012
Probably not since ol' Henry Ford handed the presidency of the Blue Oval to his son, Edsel, in 1918 has the Detroit auto industry seen the kind of dynastic succession occurring at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.
Come Sept. 1, David C. Dauch will become CEO of the company co-founded 18 years ago by his father, Richard E. Dauch, the pioneering auto exec whose entrepreneurial chops in an era of high-priced managers are evident in the trials American Axle survived and the technically advanced, global supplier it has become. Read more. . .
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Jackson's new multi-million dollar  information-technology center gets national media attention
MLive.com | August 31, 2012
Jackson's new information-technology center that is expected to bring an initial 300 jobs was highlighted in a national online magazine this week.
The multi-million partnership between Consumers Energy and India-based company HCL Technologies was featured in an InformationWeek article, which talked about how companies are being creative while adding flexibility and specialized skills by outsourcing IT services. Read more. . .
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In decade of challenges and triumphs, Mary  Sue Coleman transforms University of Michigan
Detroit Free Press | September 4, 2012
Standing behind a podium, dressed in her formal academic gown, University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman broke into a smile last week as her speech in front of entering freshmen deviated a bit from a stock welcome-to-campus-you're-going-to-do-great-things pep talk.
She told the students to drop by her house. Read more. . .
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Detroit Manufacturing Systems celebrates  grand opening, 500 new jobs
Detroit Free Press | August 29, 2012
Hundreds gathered at an auto plant in Detroit today to mark the grand opening of Detroit Manufacturing Systems, which will employ hundreds of workers making auto parts, starting with instrument panels for the Ford Mustang.
The plant in the Gateway Industrial Center in Detroit has plans to create about 500 jobs over the next three years. Read more. . .
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DATA SUPPORTING THE TURNAROUND PLAN |
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A report by New Geography shows that the Detroit region ranks 49th out of the top 50 metros and nearly half the national growth rate in college graduates between 2000 and 2010. Another reason why BLM's higher education initiative to make college more affordable is so important to improving this status. The Las Vegas, Riverside and Raleigh regions ranked #1, 2 and 3 respectively. Read more. . .
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Michigan Lags in Entrepreneurism 
A study by the Kauffman Foundation shows that Michigan is one of the ten worst states for the amount of entrepreneurial activity. This is a decline of 10% from last year and a decline from the 1990's. The index measures the amount of the workforce that starts, works for or spins off new businesses. As a special note, high school graduates have the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity driven by the construction and retail services sectors. Read more. . .
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Ad battles begin for Nov. 6 ballot proposals 
Detroit Free Press | August 14, 2012
The war of the airwaves leading up to the Nov. 6 election escalated today as groups launched TV ads for and against voter initiatives that are expected to appear on the Michigan ballot.
Protect Our Jobs, the union-backed group that wants to amend Michigan's constitution to guarantee collective bargaining rights began airing its first TV ad, featuring a 5th-Grade teacher from Warren and a classroom full of children.
And a business-backed group that opposes the Protect Our Jobs initiative and other proposed initiatives began airing an ad attacking "special interest groups" that "want to rewrite ... your constitution." Read more. . .
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Carol Cain: Start Garden venture capital fund in Grand Rapids inspires ideas for businesses
Detroit Free Press | August 26, 2012
Rick DeVos has been inspiring a pilgrimage of entrepreneurs to Grand Rapids on the third Thursday of each month with folks heading there in hopes of gaining investments from Start Garden, the $15-million venture capital fund DeVos launched in April.
Since then, folks like Mike Miller have been diving in with ideas for attention and capital.
Miller's big idea -- a foam insole for athletic shoes for adolescents -- came about after seeing his 11-year-old son suffer foot pain from playing soccer. Miller and his team of three created the insole and company -- NxtMile Sports Insole. It just landed a $60,000 investment and mentoring from Start Garden. 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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