An Agenda for Lansing

Michigan is in desperate need of economic transformation. For too long, our state has depended on the strength of the automotive industry and other heavy manufacturing for our economic prosperity. As our economy endures a prolonged recession, and as our cities, counties, and regions compete with one another to attract and retain jobs, we do so at the expense of our common economic well-being. Globalization has shown that we live in an interdependent world where events thousands of miles away can change the economy of an entire nation. 

We must be able to compete on a global level, and we must also take advantage of our state’s unique assets and our strategic position in the global market. We must adopt the mentality that economic progress in any part of the state is good for the entire state, and that we must work together as cities, counties, and regions if we are to prosper again.

A vote in favor of the Next Michigan Development Act, currently awaiting introduction in the Michigan Senate, reflects an investment in the future of Michigan. This package of bills will act to encourage regional cooperation between cities and counties and make regional entities more self-sufficient in business attraction efforts. Most importantly, the Act will make the State of Michigan more competitive in attracting businesses on a national and international level, and it will help to change perceptions about Michigan as a high-cost state to do business.

The Detroit Region Aerotropolis is a perfect example of an initiative that will be strengthened through the adoption of the Next Michigan Development Act. The Aerotropolis partnership — made up of four cities, three townships, two counties, Wayne County’s airport authority, and private partners — is an unprecedented example of a creative regional collaboration that was put together to address the shared economic development goals of its members. Recognizing this achievement, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) awarded Wayne County with its 2010 Award for Regionalism & Cross-Border Promotion for its leadership role in building this collaboration.

Since 2007, almost 6,000 jobs and $1 billion in capital investment have been created by projects that sought the advantages of being in the Aerotropolis. But we have not unlocked the true potential of the Aerotropolis yet. Studies have shown that the Aerotropolis has the potential to create more than 60,000 jobs and $10 billion in annual economic impact for Michigan. These investments will also create a diversified industrial base that will stabilize the value of personal and commercial investment assets in Southeast Michigan.

One would hope that our elected leaders in Lansing would also join the charge to diversify Michigan’s economy and bring much-needed jobs and investment to the state. And yet, the NMDA continues to sit stagnant on the desks of our elected leaders in Lansing. Instead of encouraging regional cooperation and giving us the tools to create a stronger environment for business development, Lansing has chosen to do … nothing.

Collectively, this state has lost over 750,000 jobs in the past few years, and we simply cannot allow the bleeding of our economy to continue while our families struggle to make ends meet and our college graduates depart the state. The passage of the NMDA will allow the business attraction efforts of the Aerotropolis and other economic development initiatives to be taken to an entirely new level. The sky is truly the limit, and the time is now for Michigan and Lansing to act on defining our future economy. 

We need jobs for our citizens, now. Not next month. Not next year. Not next term. I encourage you to contact your State Senators and encourage them to take up the Next Michigan Development Act during this legislative session.