Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined state, local, and industry officials during the Mackinac Policy Conference to celebrate the selection of Michigan as the home for the World Economic Forum‘s new U.S. Centre for Advanced Manufacturing. The World Economic Forum is partnering with the MEDC, Oakland County, and nonprofit Industry 4.0 knowledge center Automation Alley on the U.S. Centre, which will be housed within Automation Alley in Troy.

Join our host Ed Clemente for a special Michigan Opportunity Podcast live from Mackinac Policy Conference, hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber, and hear from five interesting guests, ranging from higher education and economic development organizations to healthcare, talent, and workforce development entities. Guests include Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, President of Oakland University; Lucius Vassar, Corporate Counsel and Executive Vice President of Cinnaire, Michelle Johnson Tidjani, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Henry Ford Health; Cindy Pasky, Founder, President and CEO, Strategic Staffing Solutions; and a special guest, former U.S. Lithuanian Ambassador, Zygimantas Pavilionis.

According to Opportunity Insight’s Track the Recovery, January 2022 saw small business revenue in Michigan increase by 24 percent compared to January 2020, while the nation experienced a 6.9 percent increase over the same period. Michigan also ranks tenth in the nation for small business revenue growth over the last two years. This latest data closely follows the recent announcement that Michigan had the fastest small business job growth in 23 years and that 59 percent more small business applications were filed in 2021 than in 2019.

Did you know that Michigan is a hot spot for government contracts? Learn how your business can capitalize on this by working with the Michigan Small Business Development Center. The SBDC will guide you through the basics of government contracting and specialized certifications, including women-owned, veteran-owned, and HUBZone designations. There will be time for audience questions and engagement along the way.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation helps to connect businesses to new resources, meet new partners and access the additional capital they need from the start. If your business needs support to reach its new potential, the MEDC is available to help. Visit michiganbusiness.org/pure-partnership to find customized business assistance.

MEDC continues to support businesses and communities across the state. Learn more about our economic and recovery resources currently available or read more about the impact our programs are having and our COVID-19 response.