Established in 2009, Business Leaders for Michigan united Southeast Michigan's CEO-led Detroit Renaissance's 40-year legacy and the unique voice and perspective of other CEOs across the state.

Detroit Renaissance was formed in 1970 by the chief executives of the region's most significant employers to focus on the re-development of Detroit. The organization created a series of programs that have helped support virtually every major redevelopment project in the city.

Over the past decade, the organization evolved and began to expand its focus on regional issues while continuing its traditional support for Detroit's redevelopment, by drafting the region's first economic growth strategy called the Road to Renaissance.

The formation of Business Leaders for Michigan extends the organization’s impact to state issues as the Board recognized those as being most important to transforming the region's economy.  The first product of this expanded focus is the Michigan Turnaround Plan to get Michigan back on track creating good jobs.