We are all in this together.
January 28, 2013 at 1:00 am
Michigan could win many jobs in 2013
By Rob Fowler
Greater economic growth in Michigan is at the top of the business community's wish list and should be for job-seekers as well. The potential for job creation here is great, judging from the surge in entrepreneurial activity in recent years. Our challenge will be to keep that momentum going and reshaping Michigan's investment image.
The attacks on the improvements in our business environment in the 2012 elections illustrate that economic backsliding is still possible. We are concerned about maintaining the pro-innovation progress of the past few years. Making Michigan more entrepreneur-friendly is different from making it "business-friendly."
We applaud Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative leaders for the most pro-growth reforms by a governor and Legislature in the past 50 years. We appreciate their embracing of SBAM's concept of "economic gardening" — an economic development philosophy focused on cultivating and nourishing our own homegrown business operations. Economic gardening depends not just on business-friendly rules and regulations, but on a whole range of cultural and educational attributes as well.
States that have successfully improved their economies don't depend on any one "magic bullet." Instead, they support education, infrastructure improvement, protection of natural resources and they foster a culture of risk-taking and innovation.
Our future lies in building on the accomplishments of the past two years and strengthening our entrepreneurial foundation. I welcome a conversation with our unions to explore their role in promoting entrepreneurship and job growth. We need to enhance collaborative opportunities among state/local governments, our educational institutions and our rapidly-growing investment community.
Rob Fowler, President, Small Business Association of Michigan
The attacks on the improvements in our business environment in the 2012 elections illustrate that economic backsliding is still possible. We are concerned about maintaining the pro-innovation progress of the past few years. Making Michigan more entrepreneur-friendly is different from making it "business-friendly."
We applaud Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative leaders for the most pro-growth reforms by a governor and Legislature in the past 50 years. We appreciate their embracing of SBAM's concept of "economic gardening" — an economic development philosophy focused on cultivating and nourishing our own homegrown business operations. Economic gardening depends not just on business-friendly rules and regulations, but on a whole range of cultural and educational attributes as well.
States that have successfully improved their economies don't depend on any one "magic bullet." Instead, they support education, infrastructure improvement, protection of natural resources and they foster a culture of risk-taking and innovation.
Our future lies in building on the accomplishments of the past two years and strengthening our entrepreneurial foundation. I welcome a conversation with our unions to explore their role in promoting entrepreneurship and job growth. We need to enhance collaborative opportunities among state/local governments, our educational institutions and our rapidly-growing investment community.
Rob Fowler, President, Small Business Association of Michigan
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130128/OPINION01/301280312#ixzz2JHkKrVwo
No comments:
Post a Comment