Rethinking

Now here comes Michigan's most trusted and well respected business publications, Crains, talking about the need to rethink what will drive our state's economy moving in to the future. The auto industry will remain in some form with us for years to come but the fact of the matter is that there are other industries that we'll have to build in order for our state to recover. While the Crains article notes that industries like computers and tourism hold promise so do others such life sciences and biotech. The one thing these have in common is young professionals, something our state is lacking in and something we certainly need to work on attracting. One of the ways we can attract young professionals is by making sure we have places they want to live in. And young professionals these days crave the vibe found in vibrant cities...communities with walkable downtowns, and amenities such as cultural centers, green spaces, restaurants and clubs to gather and network. One organization striving to make the case for investing in cities is the Michigan Municipal League. The League understands that the key to attracting young professionals and growing our economy is by working to create the kinds of communities these people are looking for.