August 2015

"A sure bet."  We've all heard that line before.  But when it comes to Michigan, the auto industry remains the surest bet we can make.  Our largest industry has not only led Michigan's comeback, it also has the ability to produce tens of thousands of new, high-paying jobs if we play our cards right. 

Technology is transforming automobiles into mobile devices that allow us to work, get informed and be entertained while we safely transport ourselves.  Michigan has an unique opportunity to diversify and grow our economy by attracting businesses that are fueling this transformation and have never considered locating here before. You may remember that BLM identified this opportunity to become the "Global Center of Mobility" in its New Michigan growth strategy.

The good news is that Michigan took a big step toward realizing its future automotive opportunities with the opening of Mcity on the University of Michigan's North Campus.  Mcity is the world's first full-service research facility specifically designed to test the potential of connected and automated vehicle technologies.  BLM is now working with a team of partners to develop additional testing centers, attract federal research, convene mobility conferences and expand education programs. 

And this is only the beginning. Michigan is ready to rev the engines of its auto sector and continue its industry leadership.  It is the surest bet that we can make for the people of our state.

Business Leaders Economic Forecast: In Short- and Long-Term, Job Leaders Think the MI and U.S. Economies Will Stay Flat

 According to a survey conducted by Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM), the majority of Michigan's largest employers project that the Michigan and U.S. economies will remain flat in the next 6 to 18 months. Read more. . .

BLM Issues Recommendations for Boosting Michigan's Natural Resources Economy

To further Business Leaders for Michigan's strategy for building a New Michigan, it released The Michigan Natural Resources Business Plan: Leveraging Our Assets to Make Michigan a Top Ten State, which details recommendations for how Michigan could better leverage its strengths in natural resources, from tourism to agriculture and beyond. Currently, Michigan's natural resource industries provide over 7 percent of all Michigan jobs, create over $32 billion in GDP, and account for over $400 billion in sales, according to the report. Exports of natural resource industry products from Michigan account for over $61 billion annually. Read more. . .

Michigan Takes Big Step Toward Becoming Global Center Of Mobility

The University of Michigan, with support from many industry and government partners, recently opened Mcity - the nation's largest connected and autonomous vehicle testing facility on a 32 acre site that looks like a Hollywood backstage lot.  The kick-off event was attended by hundreds in Ann Arbor.  The facility fills a critical plank of BLM's New Michigan plan to establish Michigan as the Global Center of Mobility. Congratulations to the University for leading this project!

Read recent articles:

Michigan News: U-M opens Mcity test environment for connected and driverless vehicles

MLive.com: U-M opens 32-acre Mcity site to test autonomous, connected vehicles

WSJ: Firms Back $10 Million Testing Ground for Self-Driving Vehicles 

Detroit News: Driverless car testing site Mcity opens in Ann Arbor

Detroit Free Press: U-M opens $10M test city for driverless vehicle research

Michigan: 2nd Best State for Aerospace Manufacturing Location

PWC ranked Michigan as the second best state to locate aerospace manufacturing facilities in based on the density of manufacturing operations in the state and a Top Ten tax climate ranking.  Read more. . . 

Michigan: 22nd Best Business Climate

Using a complicated scoring system that weighted a state's ranking based on how they promote themselves to prospective businesses, CNBC rated Michigan the 22nd best state to do business versus 25th last year.  In essence, the ranking gave a state more credit if how they were promoting themselves aligned with their actual strengths according to the data CNBC used to evaluate those factors.  Michigan scored highest for base of innovation, access to capital and low cost of living.  Other rankings were in the middle of the pack except for low scores on quality of life and business friendliness.  Read more. . . 

MI: 4th Worst Urban Roads

The Washington Post reports that Michigan has the fourth worst condition of urban roads in the nation - worse than all our Great Lakes state peers.  Read more. . .

Michigan: 6th Best State to Make a Living

Michigan ranked as one of the best states to make a living when evaluating wage rates against a state's cost of living and unemployment rates according to personal finance advisor Money-Rates.

Read more. . .

It's 1985 here in Michigan!

Time prepared this map identifying how each state's current demographics compare to what was or will be the national average by year.  For example, Michigan's current demographic mix looks like the nation did in 1985, while Texas currently looks like the nation will in 2060.  It's another way of showing how the North Central and Midwestern states are aging more and diversifying less than most states.

Read more. . .

'Micro-loans' for small businesses get $5M pledge from Huntington Bank

MLive.com | July 28, 2015

Small businesses and startups in outstate Michigan will soon have access to "micro-loans" ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 through a non-profit lending group that will get a $5 million line of credit from Huntington Bank over the next five years.  Read more. . .

MSU Grand Rapids Research Center construction to add 728 jobs; $96M to economy

MLive.com | July 14, 2015

The construction project to build Michigan State University's Grand Rapids Research Center will create 728 new jobs, $55 million in wages and an economic impact of $95.6 million, the university announced on Tuesday, July 14. Read more. . .

Dow's new building at corporate center a commitment to Midland

Midland Daily News | July 17, 2015

A new building, right at home. The Dow Chemical Co. announced today that it will construct a new building on the campus of its headquarters in Midland to replace the current 2020 Willard H. Dow Center, which is being demolished. The project, which begins this summer, will include a six-story, open-plan building with space for about 600 employees and contractors when it opens by the end of 2017. Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris said the new building is part of Dow's commitment to Midland, and commitment to the core values of the 118-year-old company. Read more. . .

Back from Bankruptcy

Detroit emerges full of promise, though recovery will take years.

The Weekly Standard | August 3, 2015

For close to a century the Forest Arms apartments was one of the most prestigious addresses on Detroit's Near Westside. But by the start of this

 decade, the city's declining population, municipal mismanagement, and foundering economy had left the building reminiscent of postwar Berlin. Read more. . .

Strength of auto industry boosts Michigan Economic Activity Index

MiBiz.com | July 29, 2015

Comerica Bank's Michigan Economic Activity Index improved in May at its best rate in more than a decade. The index reached 124.8 for the month, up from 121.5 in April and well above the 117.4-point average for all of 2014. Seven out of eight criteria used for the monthly economic Index increased in May, including labor market and housing-related indicators. Read more. . .

Last Stop on the L Train: Detroit

New York Times | July 13, 2015

"Detroit, Just West of Bushwick," read the first billboard that popped up in Bushwick, Brooklyn, this spring, with a working class scene from one of Diego Rivera's "Detroit Industry" murals. "Detroit, Be Left Alone," a second one preached soon after, again in Bushwick. And then a third sign appeared, in two locations in Brooklyn and two in Manhattan - "Detroit: Now Hiring."  Read more. . .