March 2014 

Accelerating Job Growth via Investments in Higher Ed

How do we keep our recent job growth success going?  One way is by giving more kids a chance to earn technical or college degrees.  All the data says we'll need more workers with an education beyond high school in the years ahead and that they will make and work more over their careers than those with just a high school degree.

But in Michigan, we've made it harder for kids to get the education they need.  We went from being a Top Ten to a Bottom Ten state for college affordability over the past decade due to a dramatic decline in state support.  The result was a cost shift to students and parents at a time when they could least afford it. 

The state began modestly reinvesting in college education the past two years.  This year, Governor Snyder proposed a 6% increase that would keep tuition at or below the rate of inflation.  BLM strongly supports the Governor's proposal and urges you to call your legislator and ask them to do the same.  Nothing could better help us fill the jobs of the future.

Business Leaders Forecast: MI and U.S. Economies Expected to Grow in Short and Long Term

The state's largest employers add jobs and invest in Michigan in 2013

Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM), the state's business roundtable, expects the Michigan and U.S. economies to both grow in the next 6 and 18 months and expects Michigan's economy to continue to grow faster than the U.S. economy.

"The state's largest job providers continue to believe Michigan will out-perform the national economy over the next year and a half," said Doug Rothwell, President & CEO.  "Optimism about the economy rose sharply in the last quarter due partly to the resolution of federal budget and debt ceiling negotiations and strong year-end financial reports from major Michigan employers." Read more. . .

Our view: Michigan's competitive position is improving significantly but still falls short when compared to "Top Ten" states. Michigan must address all six steps of the Michigan Turnaround Plan to meet global competition. 

Make Michigan Competitive by Reforming the PPT

Reforming MI's personal property tax (PPT) is an important way to strengthen MI's economic future and support MI business investment while reinvesting in our communities.

No other state taxes business equipment the way MI does and most states don't tax it at all, which makes MI uncompetitive when it comes to job creation and business investment.  Michigan's PPT has not only hindered business attraction efforts but it also discourages business investment from MI companies. Further, many local communities rely on this tax to support essential services like police, fire, ambulances, schools and jails. Because of the inconsistent economic conditions, it creates uncertainty for communities. The new PPT proposal will not only make MI more competitive, it will encourage MI business investment and provide stable and reliable funding for our communities.

BLM strongly supports the Michigan Personal Property Tax Reform and Local Revenue Stabilization legislation that is currently moving through the Legislature.  The legislation will revise PPT legislation passed last year and is supported by the business and local government communities. To be fully enacted, the changes require a vote of the people in the Aug. 5, 2014 primary.

Recent coverage about the PPT issue:

Michigan personal property tax reform plan hailed as 'win-win' for businesses, local governments

Legislation aiming to kill anti-business tax introduced with broad support

Our view: Michigan's higher education system is one of our state's most significant assets to drive economic growth. BLM supports boosting investments in higher education to make college more affordable and grow the state's talent pipeline; and leveraging the innovative strengths of MI's higher education system.

Awareness of the Need to Invest in Higher Education Continues to Grow

As recognition of the importance of MI's higher education system continues to grow, numerous business and education groups are championing the need for more state funding for higher education. You can get involved too by sharing this Facebook page - Make Opportunity Affordable: Support Higher Education with your colleagues, friends and family.

Recent coverage about higher education:

What Gov. Snyder's FY 2015 budget proposal could mean for higher education in Michigan

Michigan universities cheer Gov. Snyder's proposed 6.1% funding increase

Coleman stresses value of state investment in public universities

Simon talks accessibility in subcommittee testimony

President Wilson testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education

Ferris President Eisler: Snyder's higher ed funding proposal 'reverses decade of decline in funding'  

Ann Arbor Chamber Support

Grand Rapids Chamber Support

Lansing Regional Chamber Support

Allendale Area Chamber Support

Earnings Gap Between Those With & Without College Degrees Grows

A study by the Pew Research Center shows that the median annual earnings of today's young workers are similar to what earlier generations made at the same age. But underneath those figures, the disparity between young workers with and without bachelor's degrees has grown. Read more. . .

Toughest Places To Recruit Tech Talent: We're Not Alone

The Dice Report reports that most regions are having problems recruiting tech workers these days, including places like Chicago, San Francisco and New York. Read more. . .

2014 Job Outlook: Michigan #27

The Pew Charitable Trusts reports, based on Moody's Analytics data, that Michigan will rank 27th in job creation in 2014.  Pre-recession trends are beginning to reassert themselves with the strongest growth projected in the southeast and Great Plains. Read more. . .

Michigan Population: A Look Behind The Headlines

MI gained population from 2012-2013 for the first time in about a decade.  That's the good news.  But a look behind the headline shows we are still losing the battle to attract enough people to make up for those that leave the state.  Governing reports, using Census data, we gained 17,000 immigrants from overseas, but had 28,000 fewer domestic residents move in than moved out. Our population gain primarily came from in-state births exceeding in-state deaths. States achieving the highest domestic in-migration are Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Colorado and South Carolina in that order. 

Further evidence of our population challenge is reported by The Atlantic, using Census data, showing detailed migration patterns by county from 2007 to 2011.  Trends during that time amplified what was already happening, out-migration in nearly two-thirds of MI counties, led by heavy out-migration along the I-75 corridor.

Steelcase donating its pyramid-shaped building as education hub

Detroit News | February 26, 2014 

Office furniture maker Steelcase Inc. is donating its massive pyramid-shaped former research facility in western Michigan to a nonprofit foundation for use as an education hub that's focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Grand Rapids Press reports the education hub would cater to students in preschool through graduate school. Steelcase spokeswoman Laura VanSlyke says the company is excited to see the building take on a different life. Read more. . . 

Translational Imaging Center to Speed Drug Development, Lower Costs

First-of-its-Kind Facility to Begin Operations in Early Spring

MPI Research, inviCRO, and 3D Imaging today formally announced the name of their new advanced imaging center being built at the MPI Research headquarters in Mattawan, Mich. A joint partnership by the three organizations, the Translational Imaging Center is the first resource for the drug development community to combine molecular imaging, autoradiography, and animal modeling with an onsite cyclotron, vivarium, and advanced image analytics.

When completed in early spring, the Center will have the unique ability to efficiently translate preclinical data to clinical data, yielding critical insights capable of accelerating decisions, discoveries and innovation. As a result, drug developers will have access to imaging, radiochemistry, and informatics solutions to position their teams to make faster, better informed decisions regarding a drug candidate's potential.  Read more. . .

Masco Gives More Than $1 Million In Support of Military Veterans

ABC 7 | February 6, 2014

Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS), one of the world's leading manufacturers of home improvement and building products, and its Foundation have partnered - through a combination of products and cash grants - to award over $1 million in support of its veteran initiative:  "America's Heroes: A Million Thanks". More than 50 veteran-focused organizations, individually nominated by Masco's U.S. business units, will receive much-needed funding to support active military personnel and reservists, post-9/11 veterans, as well as their families. Read more. . .

Obama unveils Michigan manufacturing partnership

Detroit News | February 25, 2014

President Barack Obama unveiled plans for a $148 million manufacturing institute in Canton Township on Tuesday, joking that the Defense Department-funded institute could help create the next "Iron Man." At a White House ceremony attended by key Michigan Democrats, Obama officially introduced the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute, which will open this spring. Its purpose is to speed development of lightweight materials across a number of industries. "We've got to focus on advanced manufacturing here in the United States," Obama said. Read more. . .

We're No. 50! Report makes clear Michigan's failure to invest in roads

Holland Sentinel | February 20, 2014

We promised ourselves a while back we wouldn't write anything more about our state's embarrassing failure to maintain its roads and highways. We've written about how substandard roads cost drivers hundreds of dollars a year in repairs, how revenue from the state's 19-cent gas tax is steadily declining, how a national survey rated 31 percent of Michigan's roads as poor and 12 percent of its bridges as structurally deficient, and how years of neglect have added billions of dollars to the cost of bringing our state's highways up to standard. But despite all the evidence, state legislators have been unable to muster the will to deal with the woeful underfunding of our infrastructure. We keep thinking it's all been said, but then more bad news comes along.  Read more. . .