To address the declining number of residents in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a new council. Named, the “Growing Michigan Together Council,” members are tasked with advising the governor on specific policies to grow Michigan’s population. This includes identifying a population goal for 2050.
Key Points:
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- The council will look at ways to prepare the state’s workforce for in-demand jobs and emerging industries.
- They will propose initiatives to improve preK-12 education outcomes and long-term funding solutions for higher education.
- The council will develop long-term, sustainable transportation, and water infrastructure funding solutions.
Members:
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- 28 members, of which 21 will be voting and 7 will be non-voting.
- Bipartisan co-chairs will lead the Council.
- Two members of the House and two from the Senate.
- The director of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth or their designee.
- Gubernatorial appointments who represent the interests of the private sector, labor, workforce development and talent, infrastructure, non-profit or philanthropy, and education. One of those appointees will be under 25 years old.
- Non-voting members include the state budget director, state treasurer, the director of the Department of Transportation, the chief executive and economic competitiveness officer of the MEDC, the executive director of the Office of Global Michigan, or their designees.
To read the full executive order creating the Council, please click here.
