State officials believe they have a new plan that will help keep Michigan at the center of the global automotive industry for years to come. The 30-year “State of Michigan Automotive Strategic Plan” focuses on key enablers of what automotive companies are looking for when looking to build new facilities.
DETROIT, MI- State officials believe they have a new plan that will help keep Michigan at the center of the global automotive industry for years to come.
The 30-year “State of Michigan Automotive Strategic Plan” focuses on key enablers of what automotive companies are searching for when wanting to build new facilities.
The report found that there are three fundamental enablers that Michigan should concentrate on to attract new automotive companies: Technology, talent and capital.
“They’re the foundation of the automotive industry in the State of Michigan,” said Nigel Francis, Automotive Office Michigan Economic Development Corp. senior vice president, during a speech Tuesday at the Society of Automotive Engineers’ 2014 World Congress at Cobo Center in Detroit.
Francis, who recently got back from a trade mission to Europe with Gov. Rick Snyder, said the number one thing is talent – particularly bringing a younger generation of workers into the auto industry, which is widely regarded as losing its sexiness for recent generations.
Exact details of the overall plan, according to Francis, will not be released until they’ve already been implemented. The point of the 15-page Automotive Strategic Plan document is to be an overview of the direction the state wants to go with the plan, which was first presented to the legislator in January.
Nigel Francis, Automotive Office Michigan Economic Development Corp. senior vice president, speaks April 8 during the 2014 SAE World Congress at Cobo Center in Detroit.“The state is in a competitive situation, we’re competing with other states and other companies – it’s a global industry,” Francis told reporters after his speech. “We’re trying to be careful not to put too much out there. It’s not in our interest.”
Within the three main missions, Francis says are “fundamental enablers” to ensure the plan’s success. They are: Marketing and branding; talent development and attraction; strategic collaboration; networks and infrastructure; capital attraction and deployment; policy and legislation; and business development.
Francis said a lot of the plan’s success hinges on collaboration with other economic development resources – from the Detroit Regional Chamber’s MICHAuto to Michigan Works and other workforce development agencies.
Francis said his office, which was created in September, is in the end stages of the planning phase of its overall plan. Right now, his office is focusing on making sure auto-related companies know the changes Snyder has made in the state to promote business.
“We sell the future not the past,” said Francis. “Look at what the governor’s done. What he’s done is completely changed the fundamental business structure in the state of Michigan.”
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder speaks April 8 at the 2014 Society of Automotive Engineers' 2014 World Congress at Cobo Center in Detroit.That change has included a controversial Right-to-Work law, which could impact the United Auto Workers membership starting after 2015 contract negotiations with the Detroit automakers. Francis didn't directly mention the law.
During a speech to start the World Congress on Tuesday, Snyder touted the state’s comeback and efforts to address the automotive industry’s current employment gap.
“Michigan is coming back right with the auto industry,” said the first-term Republican governor. “We are the comeback state in the United States. We have recovered more than any other state during the Great Recession.”
More than 10,000 engineers from around the world annually attend the World Congress, which is expected to have over 170 exhibitors at Cobo Center. This year’s conference theme is “creating new possibilities.”
Click here to follow MLive's coverage of the annual conference, including the keynote presenters.
Michael Wayland covers the automotive industry for MLive. Email him at MWayland@mlive.com & follow him on Twitter @MikeWayland or Google+.