Rick Snyder: I believe that win-win outcomes are possible but only when everyone is willing to give a little. For too long, Michigan has been consumed by gridlock and finger-pointing. It's time to put parochial interests aside and start thinking in terms of "we" rather than "me." Human nature, of course, is to focus on how change impacts us personally. That's understandable. However, we need to consider what's best for our state as a whole. That's the underlying premise of the budget and tax reform plans that Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and I have proposed. Each of us must accept some short-term sacrifice so that we can all share in the long-term gains. When our proposals are viewed in their entirety, rather than in a piecemeal approach, the logic is clear. Creating a more stable, economically vibrant state requires that we bring our budget into structural balance without accounting gimmicks, and overhaul our messy tax system into one that is simple, fair and efficient.

 

Make no mistake – these proposals involved very difficult decisions. We are not losing sight of the fact that these decisions have real impacts on real people. But Michigan has taken the easy way out for too long, and we're paying the price. Our job is to make sure we don't pass that cost on to our children and their children. When we all give a little, we help return Michigan to fiscal solvency and create an economic climate that benefits us all.

 

 

RS: It is the entrepreneur who built Michigan and it will be the entrepreneur who drives Michigan well into the 21st century. Government needs to pave the way for entrepreneurs to thrive and we're addressing that in several strategic ways. First and foremost, we're creating a state in which people want live, play, work and invest. That starts with getting Michigan back on a sound financial footing, which is the focal point of our proposed state budget. We're also helping entrepreneurs and all job providers directly by eliminating the job-killing Michigan Business Tax and replacing it with a flat 6 percent Corporate Income Tax.

 

The steps we're taking will make our state attractive to investors and entrepreneurs globally, and we want the world to know that Michigan is open for business. We will hang a "welcome" sign that encourages immigrants with advanced college degrees to live and work in Michigan. Our Department of Civil Rights will work with the MEDC to develop this initiative. The evidence is clear that immigrants with advanced college degrees can make a tremendous difference in creating positive economic activity. For example, about one-half of all startups in Silicon Valley have a foreign national as one of the founders. We're accelerating Michigan's reinvention by making our state a hallmark of opportunity for all people of exceptional talent and motivation. Of course, businesses need access to markets. That's why we're working with our Canadian neighbors on an agreement that will result in the construction of the New International Trade Crossing from Detroit to Windsor. Expanding access to global markets will send a strong message that Michigan is where you want to do business.

 

 

RS: Economic "gardening" means working to cultivate businesses that are already in our state, as opposed to "hunting" across the nation and world for businesses to locate here. There is value in recruiting businesses from out of state and we will continue to do so. But the state's efforts have been unfairly tilted toward economic hunting at the expense of those job providers who have stayed in Michigan and want to continue calling it home. It's time to change that. We are refocusing the Michigan Economic Development Corp. so that it puts more emphasis on helping existing job providers. For startups and young businesses, we will improve our entrepreneurial networking. Business acceleration services, incubators, pre-seed funds and entrepreneurial education will be priorities. One of our goals is to create a statewide network of talent coordinators that is focused on connecting entrepreneurs, innovators, talent managers and job seekers with established employers. The companies that post on our talent portal will help us identify economic gardening opportunities. By scaling this to the entire state, we will offer job-posting services to every company that starts, expands or locates a business in Michigan.

 

RS: There absolutely are opportunities and we ignore them at our own peril. In fact, we fully expect Michigan's University Research Corridor to continue its leadership role in driving economic opportunities that benefit our entire state. For example, the research partnership between URC's institutions and Procter & Gamble shows the benefits of collaboration. This project speeds innovative ideas to the marketplace by simplifying the legal process that companies and universities use to research projects. This not only helps Michigan students gain firsthand exposure to major companies, but puts top innovative talent and future employees on a company's radar screen as well. By bringing together the brightest, most ambitious minds of academia, business, government and technology, the URC is positioning Michigan for a prosperous future.