Urban Strategies Report

Michigan Metros Well Positioned For Next Economy: Federal And State Action Could Accelerate Growth 

Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM), the state’s business roundtable, has released a strategy for accelerating the economic growth of Michigan’s cities and regions.  The report, Michigan’s Metropolitan and Urban Strategy, was prepared by Public Sector Consultants and the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program.

Highlighting the inter-dependence of city, region and state economies the report recommends the following:   

• Reorienting the state’s 21^st Century Jobs Fund to increase investment in manufacturing-innovation infrastructure by increasing funding for programs that expand research partnerships between large manufacturers and universities, training manufacturing-oriented researchers and engineers, and better supporting small manufacturers to take advantage of new ideas and new technologies.
• Demanding changes in federal workforce laws to allow more flexibility to better align programs to meet actual job skill requirements.
• Helping highly educated immigrants gain Michigan professional certifications to increase exports and entrepreneurial activity. (from 1996-2007, nearly 16 percent of all new businesses created in Michigan were immigrant-founded)
• Leveraging distinct assets in urban and metro areas by supporting a small number of industry or innovation cluster growth strategies. (such as life sciences, advanced manufacturing and alternative energy)
• Leveraging innovation-generating anchor institutions in cities by designating 1-3 “urban innovation districts” that connect anchor institutions with infrastructure, housing and amenities.
• Continuing to help cities and metro areas with their efforts to “fix the basics” of providing services, financial management, business retention, elementary and secondary education. 

Other recommendations can be found in the report.

Download the full report