Detroit Regional Chamber > Education & Talent > Opinion: Michigan is Quietly Building a Competitive Edge

Opinion: Michigan is Quietly Building a Competitive Edge

February 18, 2025

The Detroit News
Feb. 17, 2025
Doug Ross and Richard Cole

Six years ago, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer assumed office, The Detroit News published a column in which we described what we thought she could do to make Michigan a leading state. We encouraged her to double down on two campaign promises to secure the state’s future:

First, rebuilding the state’s crumbling physical infrastructure of roads, bridges and water systems under her banner of “fix the damn roads.”

Second, building a nation-best talent infrastructure to provide the state with the workforce needed to attract investment in well-paying jobs.

The good news is this infrastructure has quietly been assembled by the governor in bipartisan partnership with the business, labor, and education communities over the past six years.

We believe that with the addition of three system elements in 2025, Michigan’s national leadership in the development of a talent infrastructure can be secured.