At the Detroit Auto Show, Governor Whitmer announced the release of the state’s first-ever Michigan Economic Transition Strategy, which is aimed at building a stronger, more resilient future.
Background:
-
- In 2023, the Community and Worker Economic Transition Office was created and tasked with helping the state anticipate and navigate economic transitions, particularly in the auto and energy sectors.
- One of the office’s core responsibilities was developing and publishing a statewide economic transition strategy that aligned efforts across government, industry, labor, and communities.
The Michigan Economic Transition Strategy:
-
- The strategy was developed over the past year and a half with extensive stakeholder input.
- An advisory committee of 75 members representing more than 60 organizations in 40 counties contributed insight to shape the approach.
- The strategy itself connects three priorities under one unified vision: industry growth and diversification, community resilience, and employee engagement and empowerment.
- It outlines programs and recommendations that help Michigan prepare for economic change and take the next step.
Industry growth and diversification
-
- Michigan’s Economic Transition Strategy aims to bridge the gap between our economic future and our industrial legacy and heritage.
- It serves both as a tool to help small and medium-sized manufacturers adapt to economic change, and as a strategic comparative advantage to attract new investment from companies seeking dependable supply chains built for what’s coming next.
Community resilience
-
- Throughout the office’s engagement activities, it has been clear that most communities have a sense of what their future could be. They have an asset like a college or historic downtown, a resource like access to public lands or fresh water or a key employer or sector that could catalyze broader economic growth.
- What these communities often lack is the data, information, or mechanisms for collaboration to turn that vision into an actionable, implementable plan. Rather than prescribing top-down solutions, the state is leaning into its role as a provider of information and as a capacity enhancer, supporting communities to chart their own paths for the future.
Employee engagement and empowerment
-
- The Community & Worker Economic Transition Office is leading a proactive effort to help workers prepare for and succeed in this changing economy.
- By filling gaps in existing services and coordinating resources across the state, the Transition Office ensures that workers, especially those at risk of being left behind, can participate in, benefit from, and help shape Michigan’s economic future.
Please click here to read the full strategy.
