Thank you Mr. Powers first of all for establishing the Center for Michigan and inviting me to offer comments on hope and vision for our Great State. I mean that passionately. I believe there is hope coming from the pockets of good news that we hear occasionally. Let’s not use the recent budget cuts to darken the perception of Michigan even more.

Both my wife and I were born in Michigan. Since I can remember, Michigan has been a infinite source of enjoyment for our family and friends. Abundant lakes and Natural resources a plenty. Going North has been a staple and currently is in-grained in our family’s rituals. We go to Houghton lake every year to my folks cottage and camp on west side of the state with family and friends. ( I have attached some pictures) My wife & I honeymooned 20 years ago touring the UP in my Dad’s corvette. (What a blast!!) No other state is bordered by such awesome beauty that our lakes, beaches, resorts, wineries, rivers and historical locations offer. Michigan has beautiful beaches, mountainous terrains, thrilling rivers and hiking. Where else can you go 100 Miles in any direction from the metropolitan area and be completely engulfed with Michigan’s natural resources. Many people in other states leave their state to get away. We leave our home and stay in the state and get away

It sadden’s me to see so many people giving up and leaving the state in hopes of finding a better life. The better life is here. We just need to believe and re-adjust our thinking by re-fueling our passion for greatness that Michigan offers. We need to get back to the vision and forward thinking of Henry Ford . The birth place of Automotive, Michigan. What do we really learn from Greenfield Village? Another great example of some of the early entrepreneurship that fueled our states growth.

True, manufacturing has seen a dramatic reduction with job’s lost and communities shaken by the devastation. All the finger pointing towards the current Government is not in my mind the entire fault to the decline in the states economy. Here are a few bullet points in my mind what went wrong with brief recommendations on what needs to be done on a go-forward basis:

Things gone wrong:
Dependance on regional (Mid-west USA) Manufacturing for the Automotive Big 3.
Automotive enjoyed the golden years of market share and high volumes / with no long-term strategic plan?
Housing Overcapacity / Who’s watching this?
Long overdue attraction agency of the Michigan government to attract out-of state technology & new business.
State Promotion for Tourism in other states:
We see vacations advised In Michigan for Virginia, Ohio and Nevada on local television? Does Mich. Do the same in other states?

Things Needed:
Solid business plan to attract companies and new-entrepreneurs to Michigan that can leverage the Human and Plant Capacity that’s available at competitive rates:

Defense Industry
Security
Medical
Health
Recreation
Entertainment (Horse racing, NASCAR etc.)

Small Business - an overhaul of current taxation and economic incentives are needed.
Education - Make sure that our states Educational Structure from K-12 and throughout college are training our students on cutting-edge innovative technology’s and vocations to make Michigan a sought out after state for talent that Corporations are after.

I am very passionate about the state and the importance of working together with State of Michigan to put into a place a vision that enables our state to attract business and family. I cannot imagine working, living and raising a family anywhere else than this state. Let’s capitalize on the good news, attract new business through solid-economic planning. Let’s save our state together