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In this issue:
Effectively & Efficiently Provide Public Services
BLM Launches Performance Tracker
New Michigan - Higher Education Marketplace
New Michigan - Natural Resources Economy
Investing in Higher Education
Data Supporting the MTP
BLM Member Stories

LeadingWhatsNext - orange

VIEWPOINT


March 2013

 

Building a New Michigan

 

Led by a strong recovery in manufacturing and supported by policymakers' actions to responsibly manage our finances, balance the budget and improve the business climate, Michigan's economy is starting to turnaround. During the past two years, Michigan's job, economic and personal income growth was in the Top Ten. But to really become a Top Ten state, not just grow like one, we need to create a lot more high-paying jobs.  We recognize that creating a better place to grow jobs is important, but not enough to become an economic leader.  We must do more of what we do best - and do it far better than other places...to reach our Top Ten goal.

 

That's why we released our New Michigan strategy last year. It identified six Michigan assets that, if better leveraged, can create enough jobs over the decade to reach our Top Ten goal.  They include our engineering talent, automotive industry, natural resources, health & medical expertise, higher education system and geographic location.

 

This month, we'll hold our first annual New Michigan Summit to update stakeholder groups on the progress our state is making to leverage these assets and issue a report to help policymakers and the public understand where we stand and how much work remains.  A prosperous, thriving New Michigan is within our sights if we take better advantage of what makes our state so special.

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Business Leaders
for Michigan 
600 Renaissance Center, Suite 1760, Detroit, MI, 48243-1802

Phone: 313.259.5400

ADVANCING THE MICHIGAN TURNAROUND PLAN & THE NEW MICHIGAN STRATEGY


 


MTP chart simple 6 steps
   

Step 2: Effectively & Efficiently Provide Public Services


Our view:  While significant progress has been made, BLM supports further efforts to reduce costs and increase the productivity & efficiency of state and local government to improve the delivery of services and the state's competitiveness. 

How Emergency Financial Managers Changed Governing Logo Michigan

Governing Magazine | February 25, 2013

 

As Detroiters brace for the possible appointment of an emergency financial manager, they can look at half a dozen cities around Michigan to see how life has changed under these state-appointed financial bosses.

 

Emergency financial managers have been on the job for years in Benton Harbor, Ecorse and Flint. Early last year, a manager was appointed for the Highland Park public schools, and in October, one was appointed for Allen Park. Read more. . . 


Step 4: Invest for Growth 


Our view: BLM supports making strategic investments in areas that promote future growth such as higher education and infrastructure. BLM believes a comprehensive transportation funding strategy is essential to creating the infrastructure MI needs to leverage our geographic location and connect us to the global economy. BLM supports boosting investments in higher education to make college more affordable, grow the state's talent pipeline and harness the innovation of MI's higher education system.

BLM Launches Performance Tracker for Michigan Performance Tracker Image Public Universities

 

BLM recently launched an on-line dashboard, called the BLM Performance Tracker, that compares approximately 30 performance metrics for Michigan universities against their national peers.  The dashboard makes it easier for policy makers, job providers and families to see exactly how Michigan's 15 public universities spend their dollars, as well as the return on investment for those dollars. Read more. . .

DATA SUPPORTING THE TURNAROUND PLAN


Brookings logo

Ann Arbor and Detroit Rank High in Patents Granted

 

According to a recent Brookings report, Patenting Prosperity: Invention and Economic Performance in the United States and its Metropolitan Areas, that looked at patenting trends on a regional level from 1980 to 2012 - Ann Arbor has the seventh highest rate of patents per capita in America and Detroit companies were awarded the 10th most patents overallRead more. . .

Michigan Ranks #10 For Life Sciences JonesLangLaSalle Logo

 

Jones Lang LaSalle computed each state's intellectual capacity, fiscal resources and innovation output in the life sciences to identify a national ranking.  Michigan scored the 10th best state for life sciences based heavily on the number of our science and engineering graduates, high amount of life sciences R&D being performed and concentration of NIH research at URC universities. Read more. . . 

How Do MI
Higher Education Graduation Rates Compare
Chronicle HE Logo

 

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Michigan's four-year public universities score above and two-year community colleges below the national average graduating students. Read more. . .

Higher Ed Chart
Community College Map

MI is Top Ten for Reducing Size of GovernmentPewCenterLogo

 

We may not be a Top Ten state yet for economic growth, but we've been one for reducing the size of our government workforce over the last five years according to the Pew Center for the States.  Read more. . .

 

Pew Center chart
  

Michigan #15 For Venture Capital

 

This year's ranking by PricewaterhouseCoopers and National Venture Capital Association of venture capital investment by state shows Michigan ranking #15 by dollars invested and #15 by deal flow.  That's tremendous progress as a decade ago, Michigan ranked in the bottom quartile on both factors.  We're getting closer to performing at our research intensity throw-weight. Read more. . .

Michigan Fund Balance Above Average  NGA logo

 

A new NGA study shows Michigan in the second quartile nationally for positive state fiscal balances - a result of prudent fiscal management the past two years. Read more. . .

 

 

NGA Fund Balance Chart

SPOTLIGHT ON BLM MEMBERS


Two Men and a Truck expansion to create 125 jobs Two Men Logo2 in Lansing area over five years

Lansing State Journal | February 27, 2013

 

A local moving company plans a major expansion of its business in the next five years, creating 125 new jobs in the Lansing area and building a 25,000-square-foot addition to its Delhi Township headquarters.

 

Two Men and a Truck International Inc. today will announce its expansion plans at a news conference that is expected to include Gov. Rick Snyder, company executives and regional economic leaders. The family-owned company intends to push into roughly 300 new U.S. markets with franchised operations that will grow its nationwide presence to roughly 500 sites. Read more. . .

Steelcase learns lessons in global corporate Steelcase logo sustainability

From product materials to cafeteria food, everything is scrutinized.

GRBJ.com | February 22, 2013

 

With 100 years behind it, Steelcase has entered 2013 thinking about how to ensure it will be around for another century.

 

"The 100th anniversary gave us a chance to go back and look at the things that have always been core to what we believe in," said Nancy Hickey, senior vice president and chief administrative officer at Steelcase. "Being a sustainable business in the broadest sense - not just the environmental piece, but social consciousness, etc. - was something we really looked back on and thought about: where we are today and how we want to continue to develop that way." Read more. . .

Patrick Doyle: How Domino's Pizza used social media to change its reputation Dominos pizza logo

Ann Arbor.com | February 21, 2013

 

Patrick Doyle has a lesson for business leaders: Honesty, transparency, consistency and customer engagement are the keys to running a successful company.  That's the message the chief executive officer of Domino's Pizza delivered at a Washtenaw Economic Club luncheon Thursday afternoon.

 

Doyle said a critical turning point for the Ann Arbor Township-based company was in 2009 when Domino's told the world its old pizzas were subpar, introduced a completely new recipe, and then asked its customers for feedback via social media. Read more. . .

IN THE NEWS


Michigan ranks 4th nationwide in major 
corporate facilities and expansionsMLive Logo

MLIVE.com | March 5, 2013

 

 

Michigan ranked 4th in the country for the number of new major corporate facilities and expansions last year, according to Site Selection magazine's annual Governor's Cup. The report tallies the number of "new corporate facility projects with significant impact." Site Selection is a global publication that's distributed to business executives responsible for location and facility planning.  Read more. . .

Recovery for this region will be built on GRBJ Logo manufacturing

GRBJ.com | February 15, 2013

 

President Barack Obama last week re-emphasized his administration's desire to continue to seed the industry sectors it believes will help power full Great Recession recovery and economic growth. Meanwhile, in the real world, business owners continue to build and invest their own money in that economic future even while jumping the hurdles of increased costs mandated by the federal government.

 

The Business Journal Focus section this week gives analysis to some significant new milestones that bode well for 2013 and beyond. Still, recovery for this region will be built on manufacturing, though development efforts for a decade have focused on diversifying the region's job sources. Business owners, however, are the likely sources of such diversification, and that, too, is evident here.  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.  Our members drive over 25% of the state's economy, provide over 325,000 direct and 820,000 indirect jobs in Michigan, generate over $1 Trillion in annual revenue and serve nearly one half of all Michigan public university 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: [email protected]