Implementing the region’s Economic Development Strategy

Partnering for Prosperity provides a comprehensive and holistic approach to grow Southeast Michigan’s economy and jobs. It recognizes that no one individual, or organization is in charge of the economy. This strategy from SEMCOG and its partner organization the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) encompasses three broad interrelated themes for the region: Community Assets; Business Climate; and Talent and Innovation.

Our work in economic development helps advance SEMCOG’s Vision:

All people of Southeast Michigan benefit from a connected, thriving region of small towns, dynamic urban centers, active waterfronts, diverse neighborhoods, premier educational institutions, and abundant agricultural, recreational, and natural areas.

These key economic indicators show how far that our region has come:

• Gross Domestic Product;
• Per Capita Income;
• Nonresidential Development; and
• Unemployment and Labor Utilization Rates.

Community Assets

Efforts by SEMCOG, its member local governments, and partners to market the region’s Community Assets is vital for economic growth. Access to water and recreational opportunities is an integral part of this growth. One example is the Huron River, where each year an estimated $53 million is spent on recreation. SEMCOG’s Trail Explorer tool helps market the region’s recreational assets by highlighting 1,000 miles of water and biking trails through 360-degree virtual imagery.

Trail Explorer provides 360-degree trail imagery

Strengthening Quality of Place is another major focus for promoting Community Assets. One way communities are creating quality places is through redeveloping corridors and underutilized land, transforming them into active and walkable places for commercial and residential activity. SEMCOG provides both technical assistance and funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program to enhance streetscapes and the safety and comfort for people walking or biking.

Business Climate

Increasing the ease and speed of conducting business and creating a business-friendly environment for attraction, retention, and expansion is a key recommendation.

SEMCOG has developed several interactive maps to help address this need:

• The Employment Density map shows hot spots for areas of high concentration of employment. Filter by location and industry sector to explore data for your own community to understand the strength of the local economy.
• The Forecast Explorer map shows the long-range forecast of population, households, and jobs at the regional, county, community, and small-area levels.

Other tools to assist local communities include MEDC’s Redevelopment Ready Communities Certification, designed to promote effective redevelopment strategies. SEMCOG will once again partner with MEDC to provide training and data assistance to local communities.

Talent and Innovation

The third major theme of the strategy provides critical components for growing the economy and creating well-paying jobs. The region’s Smart Zones are leading in advancing innovation and technology and bolstering entrepreneurial opportunities in this area.

SEMCOG’s forthcoming 2045 Regional Transportation Plan highlights the importance of emerging technology and future mobility. State, county, and local road agencies are increasingly using intelligent transportation systems to enable safer and more efficient travel, including equipment that is able to communicate with new “connected” vehicles.

Ensuring that the workforce is both educated and connected to jobs is important to the region’s economy. SEMCOG and the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition have been leaders in this area through initiatives such as the Future Skills Task Force and Education Reform recommendations.

The Next Strategy

We are beginning to lay the groundwork for our next economic development strategy, which will need to reflect the changes to our economy and demographics. We will continue work on Investing in Critical Infrastructure, Advancing Innovation and Technology, and Creating and Marketing Quality Places.

While we’re seeing greater interest in businesses locating here, there is a lack of available space for corporate headquarters and industrial facilities. Conversely, the changing face of retail with the rise of Internet sales and services has impacted local retail markets. We need to develop steps that help anticipate demands for future land use. Developing talent that matches our workforce with career opportunities is another ongoing need, as is the impact of changing demographics.

One such trend is the forecasted change in the relationship between jobs and population. The issues that we faced in the past are very different from those facing us in the future. In the last 15 years or so, the issue was about creating jobs, because we had more people needing to work than available jobs.

Now it’s about where the workers will come from, as the economy continues to recover, unemployment remains low, and the population ages. There will be fewer prime-working-age people than jobs after 2030. As such, it is very important to develop our workforce, particularly maintaining, training, and attracting workers with the skills needed for the future economy.

As child population continues to decline and senior population increases, there will be more seniors than children in 2026 for the first time in our region’s history. In addition to tapping into underutilized segments of our existing labor force, we’ll need to attract talent from the rest of the world to support our future economy and prosperity.

To gain input into the priorities and future economic development issues facing the region, we’ll also be conducting surveys and meeting with stakeholders. We’ll also launch a series of topic-specific forums this summer with the goal of convening an Economic Development Task Force early next year.