LANSING, Mich.— More than three-quarters of all Michigan residents back the proposed Good Jobs for Michigan (GJFM) proposal, according to survey data released by coalition leaders this morning.
The survey showed 77 percent of all state residents backing the GJFM plan, with 36 percent saying they “strongly support” it. Only 9 percent of survey respondents said they opposed such a measure. Republican, Independent and Democratic voters all strongly supported the proposal.
“Whether the Great Lakes Bay region, the Upper Peninsula and everywhere in between, Michiganders know what our state needs to create more jobs, higher incomes and a stronger competitive position,” said the package’s lead bill sponsor Sen. Jim Stamas(R-Midland). “Given this level of widespread public support from communities across both peninsulas – and the number of important new business projects jeopardized each day we delay action – it is essential for state policy leaders to act quickly. There is simply too much at stake.”
The GJFM legislation – Senate Bills 242-244 – would use a transparent, performance-based incentive to fill a critical gap in Michigan’s business attraction toolkit and enable the Great Lakes State to compete on a national level for large, game-changing projects that will create hundreds of new and good-paying jobs each.
“Michigan is one of only two U.S. states to levy a corporate income tax without an accompanying tax credit for job providers,” said Oakland County Deputy Executive Matt Gibb. “If we fail to correct this situation and offer fair, responsible and sensible opportunities for economic growth, we are going to continue to lose jobs to our neighbors in Indiana and Ohio or other states.”
“It’s simple. This is about good jobs and opportunities for the citizens of Grand Rapids and across our state,” said Birgit Klohs, president & CEO of The Right Place, a key economic development organization working on the west side of the state. “This proposal will allow us to compete and win more and better jobs, bolstering communities statewide and ensuring a strong quality of life for all.”
Gibb and Klohs represent two of the diverse 60+ organizations working as part of the Good Jobs for Michigan coalition.
The survey was conducted by Marketing Resource Group between May 8–11, 2017. Approximately 600 active voters were polled, with a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
Voters wishing to share their support with the Legislature should visit www.goodjobsformichigan.com/new-jobs-michigans-number-one-priority/.
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Good Jobs for Michigan
Good Jobs for Michigan is a coalition of more than 60 leading business and economic development, community and labor organizations working together to ensure Michigan has the economic development and incentive tools it needs to compete and attract large-scale projects and hundreds of good-paying jobs. For more information about the Good Jobs for Michigan legislation and full list of coalition partners, visit:www.goodjobsformichigan.com.