News
Statewide business organizations share statement on budget negotiations
June 20, 2019
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Business Leaders for Michigan, the Detroit Regional Chamber, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the Lansing Regional Chamber, Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Realtors Association, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the Midland Business Alliance made the following statement regarding ongoing road funding negotiations: “As...
Continuing Michigan’s momentum into the summer
June 11, 2019
We predicted it would be a productive May for Michigan, and it truly was. Within the first 6 months of a “divided” state government in Lansing, our state policymakers worked together to solve one of our state’s longest-standing problems – the highest automobile insurance rates in the nation. The solution involved tough negotiations and give...
Statement on auto no-fault insurance reform
May 24, 2019
Statement from Doug Rothwell, President & CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan: “Business Leaders for Michigan applauds Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, and Speaker Lee Chatfield for showing tremendous leadership in coming to agreement on reforming the state’s auto no-fault insurance law. Sky-high costs for auto insurance have been a detriment to...
5 things to know this month
May 14, 2019
May is set to be a significant month in shaping public policies that affect all of Michigan: 1. The House and Senate are both moving auto no-fault insurance reform bills aimed at reducing costs for all motorists. 2. The Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, set for May 17 in Lansing, brings together the State Budget Office and the...
Business Leaders for Michigan applauds MSF approval of Jobs Ready Michigan
April 23, 2019
LANSING, Mich. – Recognizing growing talent needs, Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) engaged Public Sector Consultants to research and analyze the job training programs of other states who lead on talent attraction and retention. The result was a report that identified best practices and recommendations to boost Michigan’s profile in supporting global businesses in search...
BLM 1Q 2019 economic forecast: Majority of MI Business Leaders optimistic about state, U.S. economic strength
April 10, 2019
DETROIT— Optimism remains strong among Michigan’s business community, with most leaders anticipating continuing growth during the remainder of 2019. “Michigan’s business leaders remain bullish on their ability to grow jobs and investment, and are anticipating plenty of opportunities on the horizon,” said BLM president & CEO Doug Rothwell. “Any uncertainty expressed by the state’s senior...
If you build it, they will come.
April 9, 2019
If you build it, they will come. The start of baseball season is upon us, and so is a fresh two-year legislative session offering many opportunities to address our biggest challenges. In the past several years, Michigan has rebuilt our economic structure: lower taxes, robust growth, and hundreds of thousands more job opportunities for Michiganders....
Statewide business organizations announce partnership with Governor Whitmer aimed at shaping and approving “Michigan Reconnect” and “MI Opportunity Scholarship”
March 28, 2019
LANSING, March 28, 2019 – Today, four major business organizations announced key support for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s goal of increasing the percentage of Michigan’s workforce with a post high school degree or high-value certificate to 60 percent by the year 2030. Business Leaders for Michigan, the Detroit Regional Chamber, the Grand Rapids Chamber and the...
Business Leaders for Michigan applauds Gov. Whitmer for bold budget proposal
March 5, 2019
Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) applauds Governor Whitmer for focusing on infrastructure and talent development in her first budget address – two of the most important ways we can make Michigan a Top Ten state. We support the Governor’s leadership in proposing a bold solution to fix Michigan’s longstanding problem of deteriorating roads and bridges....
Business Leaders for Michigan issue infrastructure call to action at Lansing event, release new report outlining transportation funding solutions
March 4, 2019
Transportation investment urgently needed to keep MI competitive LANSING—Michigan’s aging roads and bridges pose a growing threat to our state’s economic vitality, according to a report issued by top business leaders today. Speaking before state policy leaders, executives from Business Leaders for Michigan detailed how decades of underinvestment have created a costly set of challenges...
Building momentum on a consensus
February 20, 2019
Roads – we drive on them, ride on them and pay to maintain them. We’ve tried numerous plans over the past several years to get them in better shape, and still come up short. In the meantime, the poor condition of our highways and local roads has continued to decline. Everyone agrees we need a...
2019 Goal: Finding Common Ground
January 15, 2019
2018 was a great year for Michigan, as we hit record lows in our unemployment rate, our population ticked up slightly and construction began on the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project. With a new year comes endless possibilities for change. We have a new governor and new leadership in the state House and Senate. Washington...
Crystal Ball 2019 Outlook Q&A: Doug Rothwell, Business Leaders for Michigan
January 4, 2019
Infrastructure and education remain at the top of the policy agenda for 2019 for Business Leaders for Michigan, a statewide roundtable of top business and higher education executives. Led by President and CEO Doug Rothwell, the group this year created a broad coalition of business, labor, philanthropy and civic leaders across the state that in...
One More Item On Our 2018 To-Do List
December 12, 2018
Leading What’s Next… As we come to the end of another calendar year, it’s great to reflect on all that has been accomplished. We’ve made new strides in connecting business with education to develop skilled trades talent, and the state has been a great partner in investing in apprenticeship and training programs. Our unemployment rate...
BLM 4Q 2018 Economic Forecast: Majority of Business Leaders Predict Stable or Growing Jobs and Investment in MI
December 8, 2018
DETROIT— More than 80 percent of Michigan’s largest companies forecast their employment and investment in Michigan will stay the same or increase in the next 6 to 12 months. Their positive outlook notwithstanding, 90 percent of these same leaders believe the state and U.S. economies will stay the same or worsen during that time. “The...