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VIEWPOINT


July 2015

Let's Fund Roads the Right Way

 

We've been here before. Last year, our state leaders couldn't agree on how to fix our roads, so they crafted Proposal 1 and asked the voters to decide. We all know how that turned out. Now, we have a second chance. The House and Senate have again passed different plans for fixing our roads. This time we can't afford to fail.

 

But it's critical as our leaders work toward a common plan that they not fix one problem by creating others. Both plans rely on redirecting at least $700 million of income tax revenue from the General Fund to transportation - that's about 7% of the current General Fund budget. Permanently shifting that much General Fund revenue to roads will no doubt have a negative impact in other areas that are critical to Michigan's growth - areas like job training and higher education - areas that are critical to developing the talent Michigan employers need to compete.

 

BLM's position: Our polling shows that voters are ready to support a simple, dedicated road funding stream, built to go the distance and backed by common sense. We encourage the Legislature to find a solution that fixes our roads the right way with a long-term solution that generates enough money to fix them every year and doesn't shortchange other key priorities.

BLM EVENTS


Thursday, November 12, 2015
Westin Book Cadillac Detroit
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cost to attend $125
Full agenda coming soon!
Want to take your business to the next level? Don't miss Tom Kelley - one of the world's most respected experts on harnessing innovation and design. As General Manager of IDEO, the award-winning global design firm - Tom takes a human-centered, design-based approach to helping private and public organizations with innovation and growth. Under his watch, IDEO has won more admiration and awards than any other design firm in the last decade.

Tom's newest book, Creative Confidence, is among the best-selling business books on leadership and problem-solving in the country. Tom's earlier works include The Art of Innovation, which focuses on brainstorming and teamwork as invaluable tools in product development; and The Ten Faces of Innovation, which details ten unique strategies for ensuring that your good ideas make it to market.
Click here to learn more.
Tom Kelley, General Manager of IDEO

 ADVANCING THE MICHIGAN TURNAROUND PLAN & THE NEW MICHIGAN STRATEGY



The Michigan Turnaround Plan reflects the significant progress that has been made in making Michigan more competitive.  It identifies areas where we can compete, invest and grow in order to make our state stronger for generations to come.

 

INVEST: Globally Connect Infrastruture


Our view: A globally connected infrastructure is needed to move our people and products around the world to better serve global customers.

VantagePort announces new 134-acre industrial park development in Huron Township

The News-Herald | June 20, 2015

 

 A new industrial park will be developed in Huron Township, bringing hundreds of jobs in the next four years. Headed by the Pauls Real Estate Investment group out of Denver, the site will be a 16-parcel, 134-acre industrial park, representing a multi-million dollar capital investment. The site will be developed on land near I-275 and Sibley Road for mixed use. The announcement was made by VantagePort, formerly the Detroit Region Aerotropolis, of which Huron Township is a charter member.  Read more. . .

DATA SUPPORTING THE TURNAROUND PLAN


Map Shows State Size Based on Size of Economy

 

Business Insider shares a map of the nation showing the size (area) of each state relative to GDP production, based on an analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis data.  Michigan's relatively low GDP production (over $7,000 per capita or 15% below average) means our state's economic footprint is actually smaller than our geographic one.   Read more. . .

Manufacturing Still Largest Employer in Most Of Michigan

 

The Pew Charitable Trusts issued an analysis showing which sector of the economy accounts for the most jobs by county throughout America.  The results show that manufacturing remains the dominant employer in most of Michigan, while health care has become the number one industry in most of the nation. Read more. . . 

 

Michigan: #20 GDP Growth

 

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that Michigan's GDP grew by 1.9% in 2014 - below our growth rate of 2.8% last year and the national average of 2.2% this year.  Michigan had the 20th best growth rate for 2014.  Read more. . . 

Michigan: #41 for Start-Up Activity

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The Kauffman Foundation's latest entrepreneurial rankings put Michigan at or below the national average on four key metrics: start-up activity, rate of new entrepreneurs entering the market, opportunity share of new entrepreneurs (measures those not previously unemployed) and start-up density. Read more. . .

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR MEMBERS


Quicken Loans opens new Detroit tech center 

MLive.com | June 24, 2015

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Quicken Loans announced a new 66,000-square-foot technology center will open in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. The Quicken Loans Technology Center is the second built from the ground up by Quicken founder Dan Gilbert. The massive glass facade structure has two 10,000-square-foot server rooms, as well as new offices and support space. The new tech center will boast 1.4 megawatts of available power, a state-of the-art air conditioning system to cool its server rooms and a comprehensive security system, the company has said.  Read more. . .

 

GM to Invest $245 Million, Add 300 Jobs in MI

Wall Street Journal | June 22, 2015

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General Motors Co. said it would invest $245 million and add 300 jobs at its Orion Township, Mich., plant that was saved during the 2009 government bailout of the company, with the money coming to outfit the factory for the production of an undisclosed vehicle.  Read more. . .

MSU: $88.1M research site to boost Grand Rapids economy

Detroit News | June 18, 2015

 

Michigan State University says its new $88.1 million biomedical research center in Grand Rapids will help strengthen the area's economic future.  The East Lansing school's Grand Rapids Research Center will be a six-story, 162,800-square-foot facility will include workspaces and five core labs that will benefit researchers and MSU College of Human Medicine scientists.  Read more. . .

A $10 billion promise could be boon for Michigan businesses

MLive.com | June 18, 2015

 

Consumers Energy and DTE Energy have promised to spend $5 billion each with Michigan companies over the next five years through the state's Pure Michigan Business Connect program.  Pure Michigan Business Connect is a program that

 connects big purchasers, like the utility companies, with Michigan businesses. It contains more than 50,000 Michigan companies that buyers can tap into through working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation or going online.  Read more. . .

La-Z-Boy makes itself at home in new Monroe headquarters

The Blade | June 7, 2015

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If La-Z-Boy Inc. chief Kurt Darrow had doubts that the furniture maker's new $60 million, international headquarters was state-of-the-art, they were erased by Google - not the Internet search engine, but the actual company.  Executives from Google Inc.'s Ann Arbor operations recently visited La-Z-Boy's gleaming new offices in Monroe to talk business and tour the three-story building that workers began occupying in mid-March. Read more. . .

IN THE NEWS


Grand Rapids joins big leagues: Ranks 3rd in nation for economic growth

MLive.com | June 23, 2015  MLive Logo

 

Even Birgit Klohs was surprised the Greater Grand Rapids region has one of the best economies in the nation. Usually when the region is ranked, it's compared to similar size regions. For the first time, the Grand Rapids-Wyoming qualified in the top category alongside metropolitan heavyweights such as Chicago, Boston and Seattle.  Read more. . .

Branson, Gilbert offer advice to Detroit entrepreneurs

Detroit News | June 12, 2015

 

Sir Richard Branson, president and founder of the Virgin Group, offered tips for young entrepreneurs in Detroit Friday, telling them to be prepared to adapt and delegate to find success. "You've got to be willing to change course based on circumstances," he said. "Delegation fairly early on in business is really important. People are terrified of delegating, but then you can start getting a lot more things done."   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 jobs, personal income and a healthy economy. 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 32% of the state's economy, provide nearly 375,000 direct 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