Governor Whitmer Header




Dear Friend,

It was good to be back at the Mackinac Policy Conference last week. Two years ago, I spoke about our need to come together to solve problems. Last year, I spoke about how we must act now to set up future generations for success. This year, it's all about growing Michigan together.

Let's make Michigan a top state for talented workers; competitive in research and development, clean tech, and manufacturing; full of vibrant communities where people want to live, work, and grow; and the best place for entrepreneurs and young companies to grow. We are building something special in Michigan, and we want everybody to be a part of it. We believe in Michigan and understand our challenges and our extraordinary potential. Let’s work together to build a brighter future.

Sincerely, 

Governor Whitmer

Gretchen Whitmer
Governor

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Make it in Michigan

Every person, business, and community should be able to ”make it in Michigan.” I am excited to share our vision to grow our state’s economy and build a brighter future. Make it in Michigan [ [link removed] ] builds on so much of the great work we have been doing and outlines three priorities:


* Compete for projects to bring good-paying jobs and supply chains home.
* Invest in people from pre-K through postsecondary education so they can pursue their potential with the personal freedoms they deserve.
* Revitalize places by funding housing and community development so we can make every region a more attractive place to live, work, and invest. 

Projects, people, and places. These 3 Ps are critical to helping anyone “Make it in Michigan.” 

Michigan has built a reputation as a beacon of opportunity for anyone seeking a good job and a path to the middle class. More money in your pocket, a better quality of life, and hope for your future. We must build on that reputation. 

make it in mi

 

If we invest in the 3 Ps, we can: 


* Make Michigan a top state for talent, increase our labor force participation rate, and improve talent attraction. 
* Make Michigan more competitive in key advanced manufacturing sectors to ensure long-term economic strength. 
* Make Michigan a place where entrepreneurs and young companies have opportunities and resources to grow and expand; and 
* Make Michigan a state full of vibrant communities by delivering on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to people’s lives. 

Projects: Bringing Manufacturing Jobs, Advanced Facilities, and Supply Chains Home

In December 2021, I brought Republicans and Democrats and public and private sector leaders together to establish powerful new bipartisan economic development tools that would help Michigan compete for transformational projects. Since then, we have won over $16 billion of projects and more than 16,000 good-paying jobs building electric vehicles, batteries, semiconductor chips, and clean energy—all industries of the future.

To keep this momentum going, here’s what we are proposing:

The Make it in Michigan Transformational Brownfield Fund

Site selection is a critical factor for expanding businesses. In Michigan, we have a lot of properties that need a little TLC to be ready for their second wind. Let’s convert brownfields and other abandoned property into productive space ready for investment.

The Make it in Michigan Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Tech Competitiveness Fund

Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, billions in federal resources are on the table to help us make more stuff in America. That includes semiconductors and clean energy, two sectors that we have a lot of natural strengths in. Let’s set up this fund so we can bring home and make the most of federal resources from the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

My legislative friends and I will have a lot more to share on people and places in the weeks ahead. Let’s keep our foot on the accelerator and deliver on each one of these interlocking priorities. Let’s compete for projects, invest in people, and revitalize places. Together, we can build a brighter future for every Michigander.

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Growing Michigan Together Council

The best thing about Michigan are the people who call it home. Last week, I signed an executive order establishing the Growing Michigan Together Council [ [link removed] ].

The Growing Michigan Together Council’s focus is clear from its name – growing Michigan together. And we aren’t just talking about one-dimensional growth. We must grow our population while growing our economy and defining our future. 

growing mi

Here are some issues the Council will address in the report that it will prepare:

Jobs, Talent, and People

The Council will identify a specific population goal for 2050 rooted in a comprehensive economic development strategy that aims to build safe, vibrant, and more equitable communities that reflect the state’s growth in communities of color. They will build a model for growth that targets upward mobility for every Michigander, leverages the state’s natural resources and expected climate migration from other states, and builds up housing options for people in every income category. The Council will also focus on how we can attract and retain a skilled workforce by removing barriers to advancement, alleviating current and future workforce shortages, and measuring our performance against other states. 

Education

Educating Michiganders is one of the most important investments we can make in our future. The Council will develop recommendations to track and improve student outcomes at every level and measure our progress against other top states. We must be a place where everyone can pursue their full potential by ensuring every kid gets a great start and has the resources to get in-demand skills training or higher education at low or no-cost. 

Infrastructure and Places 

We have fixed over 16,000 lane miles of road and 1,200 bridges since 2019. In October 2020, we launched the MI Clean Water Plan, improving drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater facilities across the state, supporting 30,000 jobs. The Council will develop long-term funding solutions for water and transportation infrastructure and harness the influx of federal resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support our growing population. 

growing mi 2

We know that where someone chooses to live is the ultimate vote of confidence. In Michigan we have a lot of natural strengths and assets. We have the Great Lakes and four seasons, economic opportunities for folks with certificates, diplomas, or doctorates, affordable housing and a low cost of living. The Growing Michigan Together Council will build on those strengths and help us continue delivering on the kitchen-table issues that impact people’s decisions about where to live: education, infrastructure, and opportunity. 








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