2016 Mackinac Policy Conference To-Do List

2016 Mackinac Policy Conference To-Do Report

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(From left) 2016 Mackinac Policy Conference Chair Dennis Archer Jr., Gov. Rick Snyder and Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Sandy Baruah announce the 2016 To-Do List on Michigan’s Center Stage.

Letter from 2016 Conference

Chair and Chamber CEO

It seems as though it was only yesterday that we were on Michigan’s Center Stage during last year’s Mackinac Policy Conference.

With 13 national speakers and more than 1,700 statewide leaders, the record-breaking Conference once again provided a statewide platform for critical conversations centered around the Conference pillars: entrepreneurship, urban education and investing in the future.

The Detroit Regional Chamber, with input from Gov. Snyder, takes those conversations and turns them into a tangible To-Do List. The list contains specific items that challenge us throughout the year to put action to our words. The Chamber started this tradition in 2010 to provide accountability behind the conversations on the island, and last year was no exception.

It has been a very busy and productive year. We are pleased to report the Chamber has accomplished all four items.

Dennis Archer Jr. President, Archer Corporate Services; CEO, Ignition Media Group; Chair, Detroit Regional Chamber Board of Directors

Sandy K. Baruah President and CEO Detroit Regional Chamber

2016 Mackinac Policy Conference To-Do List

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Support the establishment of the American Center for Mobility at Willow Run. Help the state of Michigan develop and execute a strategy to protect and grow our valuable defense assets.

Advocate for robust infrastructure investment in our basic utilities and assets.

Continue to support an economically inclusive Detroit by promoting education access, options and attainment, as well as to continue to promote financial literacy.

2016 Mackinac Policy Conference To-Do Report

Gov. Rick Snyder, key legislators and economic development partners break ground on the new American Center for Mobility, located on 335 acres at the existing Willow Run site in Ypsilanti.

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Support the establishment of the American Center for Mobility at Willow Run.

The Chamber’s MICHauto team worked tirelessly to support and keep the American Center for Mobility (ACM) at Willow Run a focus for the state. This past November, Gov. Rick Snyder; U.S. Sens.

Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI); U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, (D-MI); John Maddox, president and CEO of ACM; and Steve Arwood, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

(MEDC), as well as the state’s top automotive technology leaders, were on hand to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the $80 million project in Ypsilanti Township.

The Center is a joint initiative with the State of Michigan, founded in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation, the MEDC, the University of Michigan, Business Leaders for Michigan and Ann Arbor SPARK. Located on 335 acres at the historic Willow Run manufacturing site, the ACM is designed to test new and emerging technologies and

will play an integral role in positioning Michigan to lead in the race for connected and automated vehicle development. Construction is underway, with the Center being open for business by December.

In January, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that ACM was selected as one of 10 facilities to be designated as a federal proving ground for driverless vehicle testing and development.

Support for ACM will continue to be a key priority for the Chamber.

We couldn’t be more proud and excited, and are ready to lead the safe deployment of automated technologies and vehicles onto our roads.

John Maddox

President and CEO, American Center for Mobility Crain’s Detroit Business, January 19, 2017

November 21, 2016

American Center for Mobility Breaks Ground at Iconic Willow Run Plant 3

The Battle Creek Air National Guard Base will be one of four new sites for a Cyber Operations squadron.

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(From left) Paul Rogers, director of the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), and Steve Arwood, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., sign a cooperative research and development agreement at last year’s Mackinac Policy Conference. The agreement was the first step in implementing the state’s Protect and Grow strategic plan.

TARDEC’s Vehicle Characterization Laboratory

Help the state of Michigan develop and execute a strategy to protect and grow our valuable defense assets.

The Chamber is directly involved or supporting the implementation of the 17 recommendations in the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s (MEDC) “Protect and Grow” strategic plan, released at last year’s Mackinac Policy Conference. The Chamber’s chief operating officer, Tammy Carnrike, sits on the governance board for Protect and Grow and provides a key business voice in the plan’s adoption.

opportunities between the defense and automotive industries as it relates to next-generation mobility.

To maximize the Michigan congressional delegation’s influence, the Chamber will convene a series of meetings among our members of Congress, state officials, economic development leaders and corporate leaders to advance coordination of Michigan’s critical defense assets.

To connect veteran talent to Michigan business, the Chamber continues to take part in the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s “Hiring Our Heroes” event. The Chamber has been instrumental in recruiting businesses and workforce agencies that provide jobs and career planning.

The Chamber is an active participant on the U.S. Army’s TankAutomotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Advisory Council, providing input on community awareness opportunities to promote the economic impact and job creation of the U.S. Army’s TACOM Life Cycle Management Command and the innovative research and development of the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC).

It has never been more important to foster innovation in Michigan. This strategic plan is the first step to protecting our current assets, missions and jobs, and will be regularly updated as we move forward.

In its effort to strengthen and promote a link between defense and the domestic auto industry, the Chamber hosted a meeting last October to introduce the Michigan Defense Center’s TARDEC leadership to the MICHauto team to discuss future collaboration

The Chamber is supporting efforts, led by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, to bring the F-35 Lightning II, a fifthgeneration fighter, to Selfridge Air National Guard Base and partnered with Selfridge ANG and KPMG to host 30 senior automotive executives for an Air Base tour and flight.

Steve Arwood CEO, Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Governor’s press release, June 2, 2016

August 18, 2016

Lt. Gov. Calley Showcases Plan to Protect and Grow State’s Defense Industry 4

2016 Mackinac Policy Conference To-Do Report

Construction workers pave Woodward Avenue.

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Advocate for robust infrastructure investment in our basic utilities and assets.

Our state’s infrastructure challenges are serious and wide-ranging, and we need to act with urgency to improve our infrastructure systems and make Michigan an even better place to live.

Our state is poised to be a global leader in emerging technologies as we move forward in the 21st century, so it is essential that we have the infrastructure to match our goals.

With the Chamber’s support, in December 2016 Congress passed a reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act. The Act also contained federal aid for the city of Flint in response to the city’s water crisis. A comprehensive energy package supported by the Chamber also passed in the Michigan Legislature.

Gov. Rick Snyder

Gov. Snyder’s 21st Century Infrastructure Commission’s report was released in December 2016.

The report includes more than 100 recommendations for all types of infrastructure, including transportation, water and storm water, wastewater treatment and drainage, energy and communications infrastructure. The Chamber will analyze the report and work to develop a plan to advocate for bipartisan solutions on implementation. Chamber President and CEO Sandy Baruah chaired the Governor’s 21st Century Economy Commission, which will release its report at the 2017 Mackinac Policy Conference. The Commission will expand on recommendations made by the Infrastructure Commission.

Governor’s press release, December 5, 2016

In March, the Chamber, along with members of the Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition, met with members of Congress during a two-day legislative fly-in to Washington, D.C. A comprehensive list of needed infrastructure investments in the Midwest was provided in anticipation of legislation authorizing a federal infrastructure program. More than 50 meetings were held with key members, including U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI), House Ways and Means Committee member; U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), chairman of the House Small Business Committee; U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; and U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI).

In April, the Chamber hosted a press conference around the release of a national report by TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based national transportation advocacy organization. The report projected 46 percent of state roads will be in poor condition by 2020 and that currently one in 10 bridges in Michigan are structurally deficient. In an effort to highlight Michigan’s infrastructure needs, the Chamber is supporting the Fix MI State education campaign initiated by the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association.

December 6, 2016

Congress Strikes Deal on Water Bill with Flint Aid 5

(From left) W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Joe Scantlebury, Detroit Regional Chamber’s Sandy Baruah, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Oakland Community College’s Jonathan Land and Ashley Robinson, and Gov. Rick Snyder announce Kellogg’s $3.5 million grant in support of the Detroit Promise.

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Continue to support an economically inclusive Detroit by promoting education access, options and attainment, as well as to continue to promote financial literacy.

This May, the Chamber joined with Gov. Rick Snyder and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to announce a $3.5 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in support of the Detroit Promise.

A collaborative effort by the State of Michigan and the City of Detroit, the Detroit Promise, administered by the Chamber, ensures that any Detroit-resident student graduating from a high school in the city of Detroit will have a tuition-free path to college at any one of five participating community colleges or 17 four-year universities.

Since its inception in 2013, nearly 2,000 Detroit high school graduates have had the opportunity to attend college, tuition-free.

In 2016-2017, more than 700 students are attending two-year or four-year colleges through “last-dollar” scholarships, which cover tuition and other mandatory fees not covered by federal or state grants.

The Kellogg grant will ensure that the scholarship and supportive programs are fully developed and available to Detroit youth as public

funding becomes available in the future under the Detroit Promise Zone, a tax capture program initiated by the Mayor in March 2016.

The Kellogg announcement came on the heels of the November 2016 announcement of the expansion of the Detroit Promise college scholarship program to include free tuition for eligible students at four-year educational institutions.

This past fall, the program replicated a national best practice for improving community college outcomes for low-income, firstgeneration students. Randomly selected Detroit Promise incoming freshmen at all five participating community colleges in Southeast Michigan were paired with a Student Success Coach. Coaches met with students twice a month to counsel and advise them on issues and help connect them to resources. The results from the program will be studied and compared with a control group of Detroit Promise students who did not receive a coach. Comprehensive data is not yet available; however, early indications show the program is having a positive impact on students.

November 28, 2016

Free Tuition For Detroiters to Add 4-Year Universities 6

2016 Mackinac Policy Conference To-Do Report Detroit Promise students talk with community college representatives during the annual summer ceremony information night.

The Detroit Promise is changing lives. This program is one of the most significant ways we are removing barriers to opportunity for young Detroiters so they can realize their full potential in life without the burden of student debt.

Mayor Mike Duggan Mayor’s press release, November 28, 2016

May 1, 2017

Kellogg Foundation Donates $3.5 Million to Detroit Promise Scholarship Program

Regional Collaboration on Financial Literacy The Chamber continues to partner and promote various financial literacy and money management workshops throughout the region.

After meeting at the Mackinac Policy Conference last year, American Jewelry Loan, Junior Achievement, Operation HOPE and Greenpath Financial Wellness collaborated and developed a partnership that offers workshops on improving credit scores and other financial wellness tips.

HOPE Inside locations, a financial empowerment program of Operation HOPE, are open in TechTown and Detroit Medical Center, with future locations in development.

Through the Chamber’s effort and connections, Detroit has become one of the highest performing cities for Operation HOPE in terms of individuals served and community impact.

Operation HOPE founder John Hope Bryant cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of the TechTown Operation: HOPE Center in Midtown Detroit.

Last September, the Chamber joined business leaders to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Quicken Loans JA Finance Park. The Junior Achievement program empowers young people with economic independence through education on key issues such as salaries and taxes, investing and budgets.

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BACK COVER: Logos/call to action

Issued: June 1, 2017 For all media inquiries, contact Tiffany Jones at 313.596.0489 or tjones@detroitchamber.com.

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