Rob Fowler - President, Small Business Association of Michigan

1/24/2012

“The Small Business Association of Michigan has long championed building and supporting a strong entrepreneurial culture as essential to reinventing our state.  We commend Business Leaders for Michigan for identifying the need for a strong base in entrepreneurism as a foundation for growing Michigan’s economy today and in the future.”

Chuck Hadden - President and CEO, Michigan Manufacturers Association

1/24/2012

“While Michigan continues to diversify its economy, manufacturing still continues to power the majority of our state’s economy.  Business Leaders for Michigan rightly recognizes this value and the role of manufacturing in strengthening our economy and contributing to Michigan’s long-term prosperity.  We appreciate its efforts to create a climate where Michigan manufacturers can successfully compete in the national and international marketplace.”

Michael A. Finney - President and CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

1/24/2012

"The major themes of the Michigan Turnaround Plan's 10-plus year vision for growing Michigan's economy align with the MEDC's work to support business within our state through our economic gardening program, Pure Michigan Business Connect.  It's important to provide an environment that attracts investment with the best prospects for job and economic growth -- for growing industries including agriculture, engineering, and manufacturing. Leveraging key areas where Michigan has strength such as our automotive expertise, higher education system and engineering talent will not only position the state well for growth but also for competition in the global market."

 

Darlene Trudell, CAE - Executive Vice President, The Engineering Society of Detroit

1/24/2012

“On behalf of the 60,000 engineering and technical professionals we reach at The Engineering Society of Detroit, we welcome the initiative of Business Leaders of Michigan in identifying and fostering engineers as Michigan’s strategic asset. Strengthening our state’s engineering base will grow the diverse industries to design, manufacture and export the products and systems needed today and tomorrow.”

 

Bryce Kelley - Interim Administrator, Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corporation

1/24/2012

“The Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corporation partners and stakeholders are very pleased with the support and added-value Business Leaders for Michigan generously makes available to the ADC.  Our overarching goal of transforming our state into a gateway to the Midwest is vital to our people and our businesses throughout all of Michigan.  The ADC very much looks forward to a productive and lasting partnership with BLM on this important initiative for our state.”

 

Mary Sue Coleman - President, University of Michigan

1/24/2012

"Higher education in Michigan provides a full spectrum of resources for students in the state and for employers in the state - from our technical colleges and community colleges to our baccalaureate institutions and universities that prepare people for post-baccalaureate work.  Almost in every field that you can think about, there’s an institution in the state of Michigan helping to prepare young people, and helping to create that kind of environment where new business can thrive.  Through higher education in our state, we have enormous resources to help drive the 21st Century economy."

Wayne Wood - President, Michigan Farm Bureau

1/24/2012

"As the state's largest general farm organization, Michigan Farm Bureau is pleased that the Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) recognizes the current and future economic impact of our state's $71.3 billion agriculture industry.  Significant capital investments in the production agriculture arena over the last decade set the stage for tremendous opportunities in food processing. Economic analysis from Michigan State University shows tremendous economic growth opportunities for our $25 billion food processing sector.  We look forward to working with BLM in the months and years ahead as they develop and implement policies to promote Michigan’s Natural Resources Economy."

George Zimmermann - Vice President, Travel Michigan
Michigan Economic Development Corporation

1/24/2012

"We're thrilled to see tourism development play a prominent role in this thoughtful plan," said George Zimmermann, Vice President for Travel Michigan, a business unit of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  "We know that increasing the number of leisure visitors to Michigan from around the country and around the world means more jobs for Michiganders, more income for Michigan businesses and more revenues for state and local governments."

Jay Baron - President and Director, Manufacturing Systems Center for Automotive Research

1/24/2012

"We are pleased that Business Leaders for Michigan recognizes that the way forward in Michigan has to include the auto industry. We support the mobility initiative, and other efforts that contribute to the state’s growth and prosperity."

 

Stephen Rapundalo, PhD - President and CEO, MICHBIO

1/24/2012

"We're very pleased that Business Leaders for Michigan recognizes the importance of our state's biosciences assets and supports the future growth of our bio-industry as a key economic driver for Michigan.  We look forward to working with them closely on this strategic priority."

 

Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich

The people of Michigan need to have an honest conversation about whether they are serious about real change or whether they will continue to decay. There is no middle ground. It will take large, not small, solutions to meet the size of the problem and create a better future for the state. I'm optimistic that Michigan's future will be competitive with China and India because of the many bold solutions proposed by groups like Business Leaders for Michigan.

Speaker of the House Andy Dillon (on Frank Beckman show)

12/15/2009

I think the Turnaround Plan that they put together is a very good start…we need to start building on what the Business Leaders for Michigan are putting together…As a package it’s the right thing to do for the state.

John Phipps – Grand Rapids Press:

11/17/2009

Fixing what appears to be broken requires a political process that begins to act on what is in the best interests of the state as a whole…The new 70-CEO organization, Business Leaders for Michigan,…laid out some core principles that should guide those changes and challenge the respective ideologies of Democrats and Republicans.

JacksonCitizen Patriot Editorial:

11/17/2009

A strong voice in this burgeoning reform effort is…Business Leaders for Michigan. If lawmakers and candidates in the 2010 election are looking for ideas, they would do well to put this group on speed dial.

Midland Daily News Editorial:

11/12/2009

This year, lawmakers must act, and act boldly, to solve Michigan’s economic crisis. The plan put forth by Business Leaders for Michigan offers them a solid starting point.

Delivered by Bob Sliva - V.P. & General Manager WXYZ:

9/25/2009

It’s a bold move but one that could benefit our region and the State of Michigan. …Given the state’s economic woes and record unemployment, help from these powerful corporate leaders could not have come at a more crucial time; their suggestions should be welcomed, debated and given serious consideration. Business Leaders for Michigan has a voice worth hearing and could be an important catalyst for improving Michigan’s future.

Business Review West Michigan:

9/24/2009

Business Leaders for Michigan on right track - Business Leaders for Michigan has set itself a tough mission — righting a ship that has gone way off course. Thank goodness someone is willing to jump in these waters and start pushing.

Robert Ficano - Wayne County Executive:

9/14/2009

Executive Ficano congratulates Detroit Renaissance on new name, new plan: Detroit Renaissance has done a tremendous job representing the vision of the region’s top executive leaders. It takes visionaries and true leaders to make tough decisions and needed changes that reflect current situations and garner success in the future. I am sure there will not be 100% agreement on all proposals, but it is vital we work together to bring a better business climate to Michigan.

Nancy Crawley - Grand Rapids Press Columnist:

9/13/2009

Business leaders step up to the plate amid state budget crisis - The most important thing is that someone -- the state's major employers in this case -- is jumping in where Michigan's political leaders have left a leadership void. Someone finally is saying, "Do you see how bad unemployment is. Do you see how dire the situation is for businesses and communities? Do you see the iceberg straight ahead?"…The Business Leaders group offered a more comprehensive "Michigan Turnaround Plan" ….

Detroit News Editorial:

9/13/2009

Expanded business group offers the right plan for fixing what ails Michigan..It’s a common-sense plan and one the Legislature and governor should embrace.

Ron Weiser - Michigan Republican Party Chairman:

9/11/2009

The Michigan Republic Party congratulates members of the new Business Leaders for Michigan who are taking bold steps to help Michigan…They have proposed innovative ideas that will put Michigan residents back to work. Many of these ideas have been Republican proposals in years past.

Like all things, this agenda needs careful review, but on the surface, it looks to address the structural change needed in our state while protecting hard-working families from an additional tax burden. I hope Lansing won’t be quick to judge this plan but will take time to carefully consider the various ideas, keeping their focus on what is in the best interest of the people of this state and not political gain.

Glenn Gilbert – The Oakland Press Executive Editor:

9/10/2009

A high-powered group of Michigan business leaders has coalesced around a five-step “Michigan Turnaround Plan” that should prompt the state legislature to borrow a response from Nike’s playbook. “Just Do It!”

Free Press Editorial:

9/10/2009

…we're encouraged to note that Business Leaders for Michigan, the geographically supersized version of Detroit Renaissance, has proposed similarly fundamental changes in the way Lansing sets spending priorities for the entire state.
We're not prepared to embrace all of the initiatives proposed in BLM's detailed turnaround plan for Michigan, but BLM's arguments for the adoption of two-year budgets, massive service sharing among local governments, and the consolidation of school districts, state universities and other redundant political entities is unassailable. These are precisely the sort of structural reforms Michigan lawmakers should have been discussing in earnest long before the latest budget debate came down to the wire.

Edward Deeb – Michigan Business & Professional Association/Michigan Food & Beverage Association President & CEO

9/6/2009

On behalf of our 3,400 members of the Michigan Food and Beverage Association, and the 21,000 members of the Michigan Business and Professional Association, mostly small and medium-sized businesses, we congratulate you on the formation of the Business leaders for Michigan organization. The Michigan Turnaround Plan is an outstanding blueprint which not only unites business organizations statewide, but will assure that the business community is represented in Lansing and Washington.

Since our basic objectives have been so similar to yours we at this time would like to endorse the program goals and action steps to help revitalize the State of Michigan. We, too, would like to see Michigan become a “top ten state” once again. This will help attract the kind of talent that we need to successfully assure the new growth and development of our communities. As the largest business association in Michigan we would like very much to become a player in your plans. We have been fighting for the rights and opportunities of small businesses for more than 47 years. Count on us.