Economic development organizations jump into bed with state's public universities

The University of Michigan and Ann Arbor SPARK have tightened their relationship with each other. The collaboration isn't meant to be exclusive to Ann Arbor but to be a model for other universities to hook up with economic development organizations. After all, "Economic development is a team sport."

Excerpt:

"We really are one Michigan," said Ron Kitchens, CEO of Southwest Michigan First. "We can talk about regions, and regions are important - they're part of who our culture is. But our problems are endemic to the entire state."

Jeff Mason, a former MEDC official and new executive director of the University Research Corridor, said Michigan's universities are the lynchpin to the state's success. But he suggested that the URC - a coalition among U-M, Michigan State University and Wayne State University - would have to collaborate with other organizations to jolt the economy.

"Economic development is a team sport. It's a collaboration amongst universities, government and the private sector," Mason said.

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