Right-Wing Center Takes Shot at Michigan ED Effort

The conservative Mackinac Center inMichigan took another shot at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's (MEDC's) efforts in an artcle that says:

"Consider the following trends, which are drawn from the most recent available data, and which Lansing’s programs had the chance to influence:

* Between December 1995 and December 2003, Michigan finished 51st among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in employment growth, with a total of just 1.4 percent new jobs created.

* Between 1995 and 2001, Michigan dropped from 23rd to 30th among the 50 states in per-capita gross state product.

* Between 1995 and 2003, Michigan finished 49th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in per-capita income growth."

While I think the Mackinac Center tends to miss the point that economic development requires both public and private sector assistance and leadership, the Center is pointing to an important issue that all ED groups need to pay attention to: we need to look honestly at where our economies are headed and how much ED efforts can really impact our real economic conditions.

I have been saying for a long time that ED efforts work on the margins and not in the mainstream. In the future, we need to increase our impact on mainstream economic trends and issues through more powerful strategies that use strategic collaboration and joint investment. We need to set our sights higher.

More here.