As seen in Crain’s Detroit Business

February 10, 2025

We at Crain’s wanted to use the occasion of our 40th anniversary to look at some of what has changed in the past 40 years, but also to look forward to the next 40. 

To that end, we asked an array of prominent business leaders for their view on the next four decades — their predictions, hopes and wisdom about what the future of Detroit and Michigan might look like, in their areas of specialization and beyond.

Jeff Donofrio, president and CEO, Business Leaders For Michigan

The Michigan we envision in 2065 is a beacon of opportunity where businesses thrive, communities flourish, and every Michigander has a pathway to prosperity. Our residents lead in innovation, driving job growth and rising incomes. Breakthroughs at our universities, startups, and legacy companies transform medicine, mobility, agriculture, manufacturing and design.

Booming cities, seamlessly connected by autonomous vehicles designed and built in Michigan, fuel progress and are magnets for talent. Our natural beauty and resources offer recreation, stability, and opportunity — attracting people from around the world to call Michigan home.

Reaching this vision of Michigan by 2065 demands bold leadership, clear goals, strategic investments and persistence. Amid global disruptions, political divides, natural disasters, and growing inequities, Michigan has the potential to not just endure but thrive if we come together to find solutions to these challenges.

To achieve this, we can’t just patch the same old roof. We must reinvent education systems at all levels to break from the past and prioritize long-term success for students and our state. We need to empower strong regions, employers and entrepreneurs, making it easier and less costly to create good-paying jobs and advance careers. Michigan’s new era of prosperity is within reach — let’s embark on this journey together.