Advocacy News – Dec. 7, 2023
The governor-appointed Growing Michigan Together Council (GMTC) — focused on fixing Michigan’s decreasing population — has released draft recommendations, although a final report is not likely to be released until Dec. 15. The draft report focuses on 10 recommendations in key areas where the state is struggling compared to others: education, people and jobs, and infrastructure.
Recap on the Council: In response to Michigan’s decreasing and aging population, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a new council earlier this year, The Growing Michigan Together Council (GMTC). The Council is comprised of four workgroups focused on:
- Attracting and retaining talent;
- Preparing Michigan’s prek-14 students for college and career;
- Higher education efforts;
- The state’s deteriorating infrastructure.
Why it matters: The workgroups met throughout the past several months to provide recommendations for change. The draft recommendations highlighted 10 next steps they believe the state should take towards increasing population, and outlines tactics and measurables to fulfill each. However, glaring pitfalls of the report include funding mechanisms as many of the recommendations would be costly for the state. Although not mentioned in the report, these recommendations would likely result in tax increases. Michigan cannot afford major policy changes that make the Great Lake State a less desirable place to work, live and play.
What are the draft recommendations?
Education
- Redesign the Michigan P-12 education system so that all students have a broad set of future ready skills and competencies to thrive in work and life, and guarantee up to a 13th year to ensure all students achieve this standard.
- Provide all students opportunities to gain up to two years of publicly funded college credits or postsecondary training once they are prepared to succeed.
- Align secondary, postsecondary, higher education, and skills training to create a seamless system of continuous learning so that all Michiganders can be prepared for and adapt to a changing workplace.
Jobs, Talent and People:
- Establish Michigan as the innovation hub of the Midwest, growing and scaling businesses in high-tech, high-wage industries.
- Implement novel programs and incentives to retain higher-education graduation, growing the talent pipeline for critical knowledge-based jobs.
- Expand programs and resources to ensure all Michiganders have the training and support services needed to participate in the workforce.
- Make Michigan the most attractive and inclusive state for international talent in the Midwest.
Infrastructure:
- Make Michigan’s cities magnets for young talent through the investment and prioritization of public transit and community amenities that improve the quality of life.
- Develop and revitalize housing stock to meet Michigan’s housing demands.
- Future proof our infrastructure to ensure Michigan has reliable, resilient and well-maintained infrastructure that serves as an asset to the economy.
What’s next: Be on the lookout for the full MI Chamber analysis when the Council’s final recommendations are put forth Dec. 15. For questions or more information, please contact Leah Robinson at lrobinson@michamber.com.