Growing Michigan Together Council Report

December 14, 2023

Guiding Michigan's Growing Michigan Together Council

Executive Summary

When Governor Whitmer established the 27-member Growing Michigan Together Council in June 2023, PSC was tapped to staff the effort from start to finish. Our team conducted research, developed briefing materials, and facilitated 31 workgroup meetings across four topic areas, building a shared vision for how Michigan can attract and retain talent, strengthen education, and modernize its infrastructure. PSC directly managed the Jobs, Talent, and People and Infrastructure and Places workgroups, engaging stakeholders from across the state’s economic development and industry sectors to shape actionable, consensus-driven recommendations. The council’s final report, delivered to the governor and legislature in December 2023, has since informed the creation of the Michigan Innovation Fund, talent attraction programs through the Growth Office, and implementation of the Michigan Education Guarantee.

Download Full Analysis

Download Monitor – Gravity Forms Error: Download is not Gravity Form locked!

Key Takeaways

PSC’s role went beyond staffing the council. From conducting original research to facilitating 31 workgroup meetings across four topic areas, PSC helped translate the priorities of dozens of stakeholders into a unified, actionable set of recommendations for the state’s future.

Michigan’s population growth has stalled for decades. Since 1980, the state has grown just 8.8% compared to 46.3% nationally, and without action Michigan is projected to begin losing population altogether by 2040.
Built on the vision that by 2050 Michigan will be a top-10 state for population growth, the 27-member council spent six months studying the state’s economic, infrastructure, and education challenges.
Three strategies, ten recommendations. The council’s final report outlines a path built around establishing Michigan as an innovation and business scale-up hub, building a lifelong learning system anchored by the Michigan Education Guarantee, and creating thriving communities that attract and retain young talent

The recommendations were broadly supported and are already driving change. Approved by the council in a 19-1 vote and delivered to the governor and legislature in December 2023, the report has already shaped major state investments, including the Michigan Innovation Fund, new talent attraction programs through the Growth Office, and a $1.4 billion housing investment from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.