Michigan is blessed with abundant and diverse natural resources, which are a significant part of the state’s culture, history, identity, and economy. Our natural resources attract visitors, residents, and businesses to the state. Natural resources are grown, extracted, and used raw in the development of secondary products that are processed here and exported to other states and globally. We use natural resources, particularly water, as part of the process for many of our other critical industries, including Michigan’s manufacturing and energy sectors. Water is also key to our tourism and recreation economies.
In both the academic and business research and development sectors, Michigan has a strong base of intellectual resources that fuel innovation and contribute to the state’s potential to capitalize on its natural resource economy.
Public Sector Consultants (PSC), in partnership with Sustainable Water Works (SWW), was engaged by Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM) to develop a business plan for the natural resource economy—
one of six asset areas identified by BLM in its Michigan Turnaround Plan to make Michigan a Top Ten state for jobs, personal income, and a healthy economy.