[BacktoMichi]

Here is a brief blurb from a story posted today about the results of a great deal of work completed by Michigan's Community Leadership Forum -- 100 business and civic leaders, educators, healthcare workers (a bipartisan group).
Their goal was to assess the condition of Michigan’s economy and state budget, and look for solutions.

Please don't roll your eyes that this is another study. Read the full article. Post a comment.

My personal comment, I think they've got it exactly right. EVERYTHING COMES DOWN TO QUALITY OF LIFE. The places in this state and country that are desirable places to live and do business have quality of life. I wish in one fell swoop we could replace the full legislature with a new group who "gets it", and has the political courage to do the right thing.

Here's a clip and link to the full article.

Forum Tells Michigan: Cuts Won’t Cut It
To compete, state must spend more on quality of life

DEARBORN—Mark P. Haas, Michigan's chief deputy treasurer, has thousands of statistics recounting this state’s woeful economic condition. But the one that best describes the current dilemma turns out to be personal: Mr. Haas has two 20-something daughters, and both have left the state.

Mr. Haas shared that fact with this reporter last Friday, after a meeting that brought him and more than 100 business and civic leaders, educators, healthcare workers, and elected officials together for what was dubbed the Community Leadership Forum. The half-day conference at the University of Michigan-Dearborn was intended to assess the condition of Michigan’s economy and state budget, and look for solutions.

But the forum evolved into something more than that. Many who attended insisted that reducing taxes and cutting the state budget—the preferred solution to the state’s fiscal emergency offered by Republican and some Democratic state lawmakers—is damaging Michigan’s economy, reputation, and quality of life. What’s needed, they said, is a new strategy that attracts and holds onto young workers and tells national and international markets that Michigan is adept, strong, and ready to compete in the global race for new jobs. The key, they said, is state investments that make Michigan a great place to live and work.

Those views mesh neatly with the conclusions of a number of recent in-depth economic studies of Michigan’s damaged economy. For instance, The Search for the Silver Bullet, part four of a 2007 report by the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, found that, as it gets easier for businesses to set up shop anywhere, it’s unrealistic for the state to compete to be the cheapest place to do business. There will always be countries with lower wages or more tax concessions to large businesses.
Complete article: http://mlui.org/growthmanagement/ful...p?fileid=17148

[magellan]

No rolling eyes here MichBlue2. Thanks for posting, I agree.

[Schaumburger]

Thank you Jesus! Someone is getting it. Let us hope that this makes its way to the right people -- I can hope, right?

[M TYPE X]

I personally find the anecdote hilarious: policymakers find out that failed policies mean that their family suffers!

News at Eleven!

[Schaumburger]

It just shows that it took an act of personal circumstance to understand the situation Michigan is in. I don't know what that says about the officials leading the state and their real concern for the public welfare.

[Bhaalspawn]

I'm rolling my eyes.

What the state needs is a better business climate. If businesses believe that they will earn greater profits by locating in Michigan then they will locate in Michigan. Businesses and good job and career opportunities retain young graduates. (In this very forum, people have inquired about moving to Michigan because of job opportunities, which helps to demonstrate that if the jobs are available, people will come.)

As far as quality of life in the state goes, Michigan is still doing pretty good compared to, say, economic heavyweights New York City or Boston or the overpopulated Washington D.C. area. A good argument can even be made that the Chicago area is too congested and overpopulated and Michigan certainly beats out California in that area.

It's not the roads. It's not the parks. It's not the museums. It's not the supply of college graduates (which is just fine). It's the business climate. The state's reputation of being an economically and socially backwards union state controlled by liberal Democrats and religious Republicans doesn't help matters much, either.

[GAisGreat]

Originally Posted by Bhaalspawn

It's not the roads. It's not the parks. It's not the museums. It's not the supply of college graduates (which is just fine). It's the business climate. The state's reputation of being an economically and socially backwards union state controlled by liberal Democrats and religious Republicans doesn't help matters much, either.

Do you mean it's not because we don't be getting enough education? Or because our taxes are higher than Alabamas? Or because every kid in the state doesn't have an iPod???

WOW...in that one little paragraph you've shown that you know at least twice as much as Granholm, Levin, Dingleberry, Rogers, Camp, DeVos, etc. combined...

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by InGA

Do you mean it's not because we don't be getting enough education? Or because our taxes are higher than Alabamas? Or because every kid in the state doesn't have an iPod???

WOW...in that one little paragraph you've shown that you know at least twice as much as Granholm, Levin, Dingleberry, Rogers, Camp, DeVos, etc. combined...

LOL I thought I was the one who coined "Dingleberry."

[Chelle D]

I agree that many problems might be solved by focusing on Michigan cities. I live in Grand Rapids and have pride in Michigan, but I can relate to the article when it talks about younger people leaving for college. My sister went to Chicago because the program she wanted was there, but also for the better public transportation and ease of walking to various places.

I am excited about the many changes Grand Rapids is going through. Many different public transportation fixes are being proposed and there seems to be a fresh interest in downtown again after so many years of neglect. I really hope to see an uplifted city here in 10 years. The new colleges, hospitals, and downtown condos will hopefully bring some interest in boosting the city here with public transportation, downtown shopping and businesses.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by Bhaalspawn

I'm rolling my eyes.

What the state needs is a better business climate. If businesses believe that they will earn greater profits by locating in Michigan then they will locate in Michigan. Businesses and good job and career opportunities retain young graduates. (In this very forum, people have inquired about moving to Michigan because of job opportunities, which helps to demonstrate that if the jobs are available, people will come.)

As far as quality of life in the state goes, Michigan is still doing pretty good compared to, say, economic heavyweights New York City or Boston or the overpopulated Washington D.C. area. A good argument can even be made that the Chicago area is too congested and overpopulated and Michigan certainly beats out California in that area.

It's not the roads. It's not the parks. It's not the museums. It's not the supply of college graduates (which is just fine). It's the business climate. The state's reputation of being an economically and socially backwards union state controlled by liberal Democrats and religious Republicans doesn't help matters much, either.

Plus removing the SBT hurts more than most think. Uncertainty in your tax policy doesn't help business, which rely on consistent policy.

What do you think plays a role in business climate, especially for 21st Century jobs? A business that involves itself at attracting a workforce is going to make its digs where they can attract this talent.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation even studied this issue and came to the conclusion that it's the ability to attract talent that should be heavily concentrated on. It's really easy to attract business, just lower your taxes (apparently, Michigan has done this 50 times in the last 17 years) -- but with human bodies its not that easy.