News
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...
BLM 4Q 2018 Economic Forecast: Majority of Business Leaders Predict Stable or Growing Jobs and Investment in MI
December 18, 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...
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 releases 2018 statewide economic benchmarking data
November 12, 2018
DETROIT, Mich.—Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM), the state’s business roundtable, released a major report on the state’s economic performance Monday, highlighting the impact of key policy and investment decisions across Michigan. The annual report, which measures both statewide and regional performance against dozens of indicators, showed Michigan’s economic growth outpacing most other states during 2017....
2018 CEO Summit highlights statewide growth strategies
November 5, 2018
DETROIT — With election day approaching, top leaders from across Michigan came together in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 1 to focus on tools for business growth, as well as a set of shared strategies for boosting the state’s prosperity over the long term. More than 400 business executives, nonprofit and community leaders, philanthropists, and policymakers...
BLM 3Q 2018 Economic Forecast: Business leaders signal slower growth
October 16, 2018
DETROIT, Mich. – Michigan’s business leaders predict slower growth during the next six to 18 months, according to the latest quarterly survey of Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) members. While 95 percent of survey respondents expect their companies’ capital investment in Michigan to increase or at least remain the same during the next six months, a...
Business Leaders for Michigan announces new Vice President of Marketing and Communications
September 17, 2018
Anna Heaton, currently Governor Rick Snyder’s Press Secretary, will join Business Leaders for Michigan in early October, the organization announced today. Heaton will serve as Vice President of Marketing and Communications, helping to increase awareness and build support for BLM’s Plan for a Stronger Michigan and key priorities such as education reform, infrastructure and workforce...
Open letter regarding civility in public discourse
July 20, 2018
There are more than 220 individuals and groups who have signed on to this letter, spearheaded by Gov. Rick Snyder. We, the undersigned, representing a diverse group of citizens dedicated to the principles that made this country great, do hereby commit to standing up for civility in public debate and discussions of policy. The United...
Historic alliance of diverse organizations comes together to improve Michigan’s K-12 education outcomes; focus on student needs, future
June 20, 2018
A strong, thriving public education system is the cornerstone for helping Michigan’s children succeed in school, careers and life as well as building robust communities and an economy that works for everyone. It also must be a top state priority, today said “Launch Michigan,” a diverse, never-before assembled group of business, education, labor, philanthropic, and state and community leaders.
Read More2Q 2018 Economic Forecast: Federal Tax Reform Will Continue to Advance U.S. Economy
May 23, 2018
Michigan’s business leaders continue to forecast stronger growth for both the U.S. and state economies specifically citing the continuing effects of federal tax reform, according to the latest quarterly survey of BLM members.
Read MoreBLM Releases Report and Principles on K–12 Education in Michigan
March 20, 2018
BLM issued its review of best practices in K–12 education and a set of principles that can lead to better student performance, with the goal of making Michigan one of the nation’s top 10 states for student learning and talent development.
Read MoreBusiness Leaders for Michigan Rolls Out 2018 Economic, Policy Agenda
March 8, 2018
Michigan has come far, but has much more to do to become even stronger and a “Top Ten” state for jobs, personal income and a healthy economy.
Read More1Q 2018 Economic Forecast: Federal Tax Reform Will Boost U.S. and Michigan Economies
March 2, 2018
Michigan’s business leaders forecast stronger growth for both the U.S. and state economies due to federal tax reform, according to the latest quarterly survey of BLM members.
Read MoreIt’s Time to Get Down to Business
January 20, 2018
The Amazon decision should rally us to work harder, much harder, to produce the talent we need to create good jobs.
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