One of the most important issues related to the current state of Michigan's economy is the devastating impact that the loss of manufacturing jobs has had on all of us.
It is no secret that Macomb County's economy is inextricably tied to the fortunes of the manufacturing industry. The transition of this county from primarily agricultural to a thriving industrial environment was built on the needs of the "Big Three."
Today, each manufacturer counts him or her-self lucky to be a survivor.
It is painfully clear that in order to help get our economy back on track, government must work with the business community. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that economic development activities are designed not only to help existing companies keep their doors open but also to reach out and attract new businesses to our region.
To be successful, government must be proactive in communicating the services it can provide. It must also respond in a prompt, comprehensive and effective manner. The Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development is doing just that through its monthly meeting of "Hot Prospects."
All economic development organizations are in touch with a network of service providers that can be tapped to provide needed assistance to business. Macomb County brings this network together on a monthly basis in a face-to-face manner. This group includes
Macomb Community College,
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation,
Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center,
Michigan Works,
U.S. Export Assistance Center and DTE Energy.
The efforts of the team are definitely paying off. The business community is gaining greater confidence in the economic development activities of the county and, perhaps most importantly, valuable staff time for all team members is used in an extremely effective manner. In fact, over the last three years the collaborative efforts of "Hot Prospects" has resulted in investments of nearly $500,000,000 and have helped to create or retain more than 4,000 jobs.
For more information, click Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development
