Governor Granholm yesterday presented her final State of the State. She highlighted many economic development successes of Michigan and the MEDC, and also proposed a few new legislative solutions to aide economic development. While it is disappointing that she did not specifically discuss working with local communities statewide to reinvent Michigan to attract the new knowledge/creative class, she did talk about a variety of issues that will help communities and our residents and businesses.
Foreclosure - In her speech, the Governor said, “Cities have borne the brunt of a decade of job-loss. Our cities, large and small, confront similar problems. One of the most important is the growing number of abandoned homes and businesses that scar the urban landscape. As both jobs and people have moved out, thousands of these empty structures remain. Many of these eyesores are dangerous; all of them stand in the way of effective re-development and job-creation.” She went on to talk about the partnership that MSHDA has forged with 12 cities, and mentioned the $223 million grant that Michigan received from HUD to demolish properties and improve quality of life.
Entrepreneurship - Granholm said that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will make a nationally recognized training program available to 1,000 prospective entrepreneurs in 12 small business assistance centers across the state.
She also called for the Legislature to create more opportunities for entrepreneurs by creating a new tax credit for investors who make venture capital available to the Michigan businesses that need it to expand and create new jobs. This goes along with the League’s call for new entrepreneurship opportunities to revitalize our communities and Michigan. Another priority she laid out is funding for Project Phoenix, a program the to help abandoned auto factories rise from the ashes as new centers of economic activity. She said she will urge the federal government to fund this as part of our fair share of federal funding. She also called for investments in Pure Michigan, using tourism to boost jobs. But she did not suggest how to pay for it.
The rest of her speech focused on the many jobs created and the programs creating these jobs. She called out many communities, and the businesses that the state has assisted in creating jobs.
All-in-all, it was a speech with a positive message…we are part of a New Michigan and we can overcome the challenges we have as we transform this state. Read it for yourself here.
Andy Schor is the Assistant Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. Contact him at (517) 908-0300 or by email at aschor@mml.org.
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