The Michigan Economic Development Corp. has announced the creation of Michigan’s Growth Office, which is tasked with implementing the Growing Michigan Together Council’s blueprint for growth, passed 19-1 in December 2023.
Michigan’s Growth Office will lead the state’s population growth work to retain current and attract future Michiganders.
The office, led by Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe, will build on the council’s recommendations by engaging Michiganders in the effort, launching pilots and programs to spark growth as well as leading storytelling, research and policy initiatives, all functioning together to grow the state’s population.
In June, the Michigan Legislature passed a balanced and bipartisan budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 that includes investments to advance the strategies outlined by the Council.
Approximately $45.5 million will support talent and growth efforts at the MEDC and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. This funding will support Michigan’s population growth efforts as well as current and future workforce needs, including strategic talent retention and customized solutions to fill identified talent gaps.
“We know that in order to retain current residents and attract young talent, we need great places, great opportunities, and welcoming communities,” says Doe. “Michigan has all three. Strategic investments in the priorities from Michigan’s blueprint for growth ensure we continue to build momentum statewide and across the country.”
The three pillars of the blueprint for growth and examples of corresponding budget items that represent progress towards those goals, include:
1. Establishing Michigan as the Innovation Hub of the Midwest and America’s Scale-Up State while tackling barriers to labor force participation.
- $60 million to establish an Innovation Fund to invest in scalable startups and help launch hundreds of new Michigan-based companies, creating thousands of jobs.
- $24 million to support new technology and mobility projects, including drone infrastructure projects, e-bike incentives and an inductive charging pilot project.
2. Building a lifelong learning system focused on future-ready skills and competencies to ensure all Michiganders have access to 21st-century opportunities.
- $30 million investment to increase funding for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, the state’s flagship scholarship program, providing a pathway to community college, tuition guaranteed.
- Scholarships ensure every Michigan high school graduate can receive an associate degree or skilled certificate tuition-free at a community college, saving more than 18,000 students up to $4,820 on tuition each year.
- $181 million to help students reach their full academic potential, including continuation of payments for literacy grants and literacy coaches.
3. Creating thriving communities that are magnets for young talent, including places that are climate-resilient, transit-rich and housing-accessible.
- $100 million to construct more affordable housing, building on the historic $1.4 billion investment to build or rehabilitate almost 10,000 homes and the unprecedented $50 million set aside for housing.
- $75 million of additional funding to support transit, including local transit operating expenses, federal transit capital grants, marine passenger services, rail operations and transit capital matching funds.
For more information, visit MichiganBusiness.org.
