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September 2015
Consistency Will Build a New Michigan Ask any business leader what they value most in a location and they'll tell you a healthy business climate is key. And they're right. Thriving communities, a talented workforce, favorable tax and regulatory environments and strong infrastructure do matter-a lot. But there's more to the story. If the business climate is cyclical or prone to change, it becomes very difficult for a business to make any lasting headway. Therefore, smart business leaders will add a caveat to their answer, telling you they want a consistently healthy business climate. Businesses typically make investments that take years to recoup. Economic, political or structural volatility prevents companies from delivering predictable results for shareholders and investors. While MI has made great progress the past five years rebuilding our economy, there are warning signs that we're forgetting this first axiom of business success. Consider this: we've cut support for business development just as the economy is recovering. Policymakers are talking about slashing or even eliminating the state's economic development programs. There is also talk about trying to double the corporate income tax. While no state is perfect, these recent developments bring back memories of MI's habit of changing economic policies with every election cycle. The best performing states, our competitors, realize they need to consistently improve their business costs and maintain strong economic development programs. They are, in a word, consistent. MI has recovered from being the worst performing state in the U.S., and is now nearly back to the national average on most metrics. Five years of consistent policy and accomplishments have helped make this happen. We now have a shot at becoming a Top Ten state. Let's build on the foundation that we've worked so hard to put in place and say no to policies that will erode it. |
New Higher Ed Council Begins Work to Meet State Talent Needs
A unique panel of business, government and college/university leaders met recently, launching a voluntary partnership aimed at boosting the economic contributions of MI's higher education sector. The Michigan Higher Education Partnership Council was created in response to a growing demand for educated, skilled workers in MI and the need to fully leverage the potential of higher education to meet that demand and drive economic growth. Read more. . .
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How Internet of Things could drive MI's economy
Detroit Free Press | August 3, 2015
Jay Adelson was born in Detroit, raised in Southfield, high school at Cranbrook, college at Boston University, became a serial Internet entrepreneur, CEO of Digg, and at age 37, appeared on Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people. Recently, Adelson, now 44, was back in Detroit, scouting the local tech scene as cofounder of a year-old venture capital fund called Center Electric, focused on the Internet of Things. He and partner Andy Smith are now raising $70 million to $100 million to invest in early-stage companies - and expect to deploy more than half of it in MI. Read more. . .
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Event Agenda
Word on the Street: A Frank Conversation about Michigan's Progress
Michigan is making progress, but is anyone noticing? Get an eye-opening view of the steps other states are taking to be competitive and what outsiders and rivals say about our state.
Barry Broome, President & CEO, Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council
Albert Berriz, Chief Executive Officer, McKinley, Inc.
Moderator: Christy McDonald, Anchor, MiWeek
The Hard Facts about Michigan's Competitiveness
Review data on how Michigan stacks up to its competitors on an array of key performance measures.
Doug Rothwell, President & CEO, Business Leaders for Michigan
Getting Real: How New and Seasoned Entrepreneurs Survive and Thrive
Get an insider's look at the obstacles, opportunities and available support for entrepreneurs in Michigan.
Abir Ali, Creative Director, Designer & Co-Owner, Ali Sandifer Studio
Chip George, Chief Executive Officer, Comfort Research
Carl Winans, Co-Founder, Mega Tiny Corporation
Moderator: M. Roy Wilson, President, Wayne State University
Staying in the Game: Keeping a Competitive Edge in a Rapidly-Changing World
Learn how three CEOs have evolved their products and business strategies to keep pace with the times.
Evan Lyall, Chief Executive Officer, Roush Enterprises, Inc.
Dennis Mannion, President & CEO, Palace Sports & Entertainment
Brian Walker, President & CEO, Herman Miller, Inc.
Moderator: Nancy Kaffer, Columnist, Detroit Free Press
Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Innovation for Growth
Hear from a global innovation expert on how to foster the innovation necessary to continually reinvent your products so your company remains relevant in a constantly changing marketplace.
Tom Kelley, General Manager, IDEO Moderator: Nolan Finley, Editorial Page Editor, The Detroit News
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ADVANCING THE MICHIGAN TURNAROUND PLAN & THE NEW MICHIGAN STRATEGY
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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.
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COMPETE: Sound Fiscal Management
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Our view: As there are an unlimited number of places where businesses can locate, MI has to be as good or better on most business climate factors compared to competitor locations. BLM supports actions to improve in all areas of competitiveness.
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Report on Fiscal Notes: Legislative process doesn't fully account for costs of proposed laws
MiBiz | August 16, 2015 
Business advocates and public-policy researchers say there is a major hole in Michigan's legislative process that leaves businesses, individuals and local units of government unsure of the costs that might come with new laws. That's the main conclusion of an 18-page report issued last month by Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a Lansing-based policy research group that studies ways in which government can operate more efficiently. Read more. . .
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INVEST: Michigan's Talent Pipeline
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Our view: To fill the jobs of today and tomorrow, Michigan needs to fill its pipeline with an educated and skilled workforce. BLM supports actions that ensure Michigan is a Top Ten state for talent.
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Tapping Wages for Training
Inside Higher Ed | August 13, 2015 
Companies teaming up with local colleges and universities to develop employee training programs isn't new. But a program in Michigan has found success with an unusual way to fund these programs. The Michigan New Jobs Training Program works as a two-way pipeline between the state's community colleges and local industries. Businesses looking for a well-trained workforce contract with the colleges to provide training for their newly hired employees. The colleges are then paid by diverting state income tax withholdings from the employees into a fund that reimburses the institutions. Read more. . .
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GROW: New Michigan - Global Center of Mobility
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Our view: As MI is the home to the world's largest automotive cluster and the most automotive production/research facilities, the automotive industry is one of our state's six most significant economic assets. BLM supports actions that grow MI's market share of this growing industry sector and positions our state as the Global Center of Mobility.
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Detroit meets Silicon Valley: Boundaries blur as cars and computers converge
Associated Press | August 27, 2015 
The office has all the trappings of a high-tech startup. There's a giant beanbag in the foyer and erasable, white board walls for brainstorming. Someone's pet dog lounges happily on the sunny balcony. Welcome to the Palo Alto home of the Ford Motor Co., 6 miles from the headquarters of Google. Meanwhile, in a squat, industrial building in suburban Detroit, a short drive from Ford's headquarters, workers are busy building a small fleet of driverless cars. The company behind them? Google. The convergence of cars and computers is blurring the traditional geographical boundaries of both industries. Silicon Valley is dotted with research labs opened by automakers and suppliers, who are racing to develop high-tech infotainment systems and autonomous cars. Tech companies - looking to grow and sensing an industry that's ripe for disruption - are heading to Detroit to better understand the auto industry and get their software embedded into cars. Read more. . .
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DATA SUPPORTING THE TURNAROUND PLAN
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MI's Economic Growth is Best in Midwest
The Chicago Federal Reserve's recent report of the Midwest Economy Index shows MI's economy on top. The monthly index is designed to measure growth in nonfarm business activity in the Seventh Federal Reserve District. While the region as a whole was down -.12 according to the report released July 31, Illinois (-.07), Iowa (-.04) and Wisconsin (-.14) saw economic losses while Indiana (+.05) saw a small gain. MI gained +.19, and that's the best in the Midwest, based on those states that comprise the Seventh Federal Reserve District. Read more. . .
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Millennials Flock To Inner-Ring Suburbs
The Pew Trusts analyzed census data which reinforces other reports we've shared with you that show millennials are primarily moving to less-dense cities and inner-ring suburbs around more dense urban cores, particularly as they begin forming families. In MI, most counties are losing millennials due to the aging of our population. But the counties that saw an increase over the last fifteen years were places like Grand Traverse, Kent and Marquette - low to moderate density cities. In SE Michigan, Macomb and Oakland counties (with many inner-ring suburbs) retained millennials to a greater degree than Wayne County with a traditionally-dense urban core. Read more. . .
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MI 4th Fastest-Growing State For Tech Jobs In 2015
Which states are adding technology jobs at the greatest rate? If you think the top of the list should be California, New York and Washington, you guessed wrong. The top states, according to a new list of fastest-growing states for tech jobs: Minnesota, Utah and Nebraska. Michigan ranks 4th with an annual growth in tech jobs of 4.47%. Read more. . .
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Dow Chemical Co. Plans New Headquarters at Midland Campus
DBusiness.com | August 14, 2015 
Midland-based Dow Chemical Co. plans to build a new headquarters on its Midland campus. The six-story building will include a visitor reception area and outdoor patio space and is set to open by the end of 2017. Read more. . .
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Billionaire businessman Dan Gilbert just getting started with his long-term investment in Detroit
Detroit Free Press | August 15, 2015 
This month marks the five-year anniversary of Gilbert's move of his Quicken Loans company to downtown from the suburbs, a stunning development at the time and a major boost for a downtown real estate scene dealing with fallout from the Great Recession and the managed bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler. At the time, Quicken Loans moved 1,700 employees into downtown buildings. Read more. . .
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GM to invest $877M in Flint truck plant
Detroit Free Press | August 4, 2015
General Motors Co. will invest $877 million in its Flint Assembly Plant to build a new body shop, located closer to the Flint Metal Center, the supplier of sheet metal and parts used in vehicle production at the plant. The Detroit automaker said the investment completes the $5.4 billion in U.S. facility announcements it has made since late April. GM said the investments over the next three years at U.S. plants will create 650 new jobs, primarily at two other Michigan facilities. Read more. . .
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New law, government collaboration can help close
MI skills gap
Andra Rush, Special to the Detroit Free Press | August 4, 2015
It was great news when last year, for the first time in more than 15 years, Congress passed legislation to modernize the public workforce system. Though the law's principal aim is to ensure job seekers and workers acquire the skills and credentials that employers need, some Michigan manufacturers are unaware of this law that delivers a key benefit: increased funding for skills training. Read more. . .
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110 Mich companies on Inc.'s ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America
Inc. Magazine | August 2015 
Each year, Inc. ranks the fastest-growing private companies in America. See who made the list. Read more. . .
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MSU Supply Chain Ranked First In The Nation
MSU is No. 1 on the list of top 10 U.S. Supply Chain Schools of 2015. The list was completed by SCM World. The research organization surveys hundreds of supply chain executives every year to find out which universities they consider the best at producing graduates with practical approaches to supply chain management. 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.
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