| Governor Granholm has always been a forward thinker, and has developed her economic plan around transforming Michigan into a knowledge based economy. According to the 2007 State New Economy Index, Michigan now ranks 19th out of the 50 states, which is up from 22 in 2002. The index is based on the following:
- Globalization
- Knowledge Jobs
- Economic dynamism
- Transformation to a digital economy
- Technological innovation capacity
There are a number of factors in each ... for example, Michigan was 6th in immigration of knowledge workers, and 17th in the number of knowledge jobs in the economy. This improved the 'knowledge jobs' indicator.
According to the report, states with a higher score can "expect to sustain greater per capita income growth for the foreseeable future."
Photo by Wizardkitten
If you check out the Governor's Jobs Plan and the 21st Century Jobs Fund, you'll see that the Governor's economic strategies are positioning Michigan to be a leader in the new economy. Google, the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance, Hemlock Semiconductor, and United Solar Ovonic, are examples of how her strategies are paying off.
If you read through the entire State New Economy Index, you may notice some other things that sound familiar ... Cool Cities, for example, is a Granholm initiative designed to attract the "creative class" to Michigan. The Governor's success in streamlining processes and creating Michigan's "e-government" is one of the reasons that Michigan was named one of the best managed states by Governing magazine in 2005.
All of the Governor's efforts are taking place in a context that is hostile to her and the new economy. The Bush administration has been defunding or otherwise preventing scientific research since he took office. The Republican controlled state legislature is opposed to investing in education and innovations, preferring instead to cut funding to such programs. The right belittles the Governor's efforts to make our cities attractive to a new generation of workers. The left is busy doing ... whatever it is the left is doing. I can't tell.
Neither the commercial media nor the blogs have reported on Governor Granholm's successful track record on technology and innovation -- most have done nothing but blame her for whatever is on their minds* at the moment. The fact that Michigan continues to become a better place to work, live, and study, is ignored.
Despite the Granholm bashing you get on the right and the left, she has been doing the right thing. The seeds of economic and cultural transformation are growing.
You can listen to or download the Governor's podcast on innovation here. (mp3)
Listen to all the Gov's weekly podcasts here.
*I use the term loosely |
