The Niles Star

Economic gardening

Dear editor:

In a rural, agricultural area like southwest Michigan, we already understand the concept of gardening: plant, nurture, be patient, reap reward.

Earlier this week, when I heard Gov. Rick Snyder promise that Michigan would focus more energy toward economic gardening, I celebrated with a loud “yes!” This is the kind of economic development that stands the test of time and we can prove it.

I heard most of the new governor’s first state of the state address on the car radio while I was driving home from a public hearing at one of our southwest Michigan municipalities. At the exact moment that Snyder was beginning his speech in Lansing, this township council (miles away) was voting unanimously to grant a tax abatement to a local manufacturer who committed to staying in Michigan (even during the roughest recession in years) and is now in the process of expanding their production capacity. We were living the economic gardening model just as the state’s leadership was recognizing how very important it is!

Economic gardening is what it’s all about. A community/company partnership — you stick by us and we’ll stick by you.

In this corner of southwest Michigan, no locally owned companies cut and ran to other states when the going got tough these last two years. Some companies were forced to close due to the collapsing auto industry but we did not have any move away to perceived greener pastures. The same could not be said for companies whose headquarters are located in other states or in other countries.

Economic gardening might not work for every state but it will certainly work for Michigan. We have what it takes. According to the “Joint Labor Business Task Force” report published by the Detroit Regional Chamber, in 2009 Michigan ranked seventh in the nation for the total number of patents with 3,516. Let me repeat, that was in 2009, not a great year for the world economy, and yet Michigan was busy innovating, creating, and moving ahead into the 21st century. To capitalize on the metaphor, we have good soil to do our gardening in.

We also have great seeds to work with. Michigan has the highest concentration of engineers in the United States; nearly 350,000 professionals are employed in information technology occupations in Michigan and more than 240,000 professionals work in more than 3,000 businesses in advanced manufacturing in our great state.* Our rich history of producing gifted industrial leaders continues.

Recognizing the important part of nurturing provided by our educators and educational system explains how Michigan managed to rank second in the number of degrees completed per capita in the emerging logistics field while also outpacing the national average in degrees awarded in medical services. We ranked third in science and engineering degrees too, an important component of green design and manufacturing and one that builds on our historic strength of producing engineering talent.*

Thank you Gov. Snyder for recognizing the importance of what we already have in our own backyard. We have talented people starting businesses, growing companies and investing in Michigan. Thank you to our municipal leaders who have understood the concept of economic gardening before the phrase was ever invented — you’ve stood by your local companies and helped them be successful.

And finally, as a state we must say thank you to our homegrown risk takers, the innovators, the business owners, those determined souls who have already said yes to Michigan — we’re glad you’re here and we’re thrilled to see you get the recognition you so richly deserve.

*From the Joint Labor Business Task Force Report published by the Detroit Regional Chamber and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, Nov. 9, 2010.

Shelley Klug

Executive Director

Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance