Public Transit. Vibrant downtowns. Mixed-use developments where people can live, work, and shop. Thriving arts and cultural attractions. Reverence for green spaces. That’s what a prosperous Michigan future looks like, according to a “Prosperity Agenda” published this month by the Michigan Municipal League.
If you are interested in working on those issues, head to the Michigan Prosperity Summit in April.
MML CEO Dan Gilmartin presented the Prosperity Agenda to legislators this month. We hope they’re listening, because the state budget proposed by the governor significantly disinvests in the Prosperity Agenda.
State spending on tourism marketing, which is known to return more in sales tax revenues than it costs, is cut in the governor’s budget. And arts and culture funding — which peaked at some $50 million more than a decade ago — is zeroed out in the governor’s budget. ArtServe President Jennifer Goulet explains this week in the Freep…
In 2009, Michigan invested $7.9 million in arts and cultural funding that was distributed to 290 organizations across the state — organizations that contribute to the estimated 70,000 jobs in arts and cultural organizations statewide. The projects directly supported by these funds created nearly 2,500 new jobs. In its 2007 Arts & Economic Prosperity III study, Americans for the Arts reported that the nonprofit arts industry contributed $166.2 billion in economic activity by organizations and audiences in 2005, and contributed 5.7 million jobs. And the industry generated total tax revenues of $29.6 billion — providing significant return on investment at local, state and federal levels. In Michigan and across our nation, arts and culture contribute to our economic vitality.
Sadly, progress is stalling on another key element of a prosperity agenda, an Aerotropolis in Southeast Michigan, Phil Power writes this week…
Granted, the world of today’s financial crisis wouldn’t seem to be a great climate for a big new development like the Aerotropolis. But greatness lies in the ability to see around corners and not do what’s expected. With two enormous, distinctive competitive advantages right under its nose – Detroit Metro and Delta Air Lines – Michigan needs to wake up and smell the coffee. And then get its economic development priorities right.
One Comment
Michigan needs to break away from the Federal Reserve fiasco. The Federal reserve Act is not constitutional and Michigan is not bound by it.
Michigan could revitalize its economy by monetizing future tax obligations as tax coupon scrip.
For more see Raftshol for Governor 2010