LANSING – Though the Michigan Economic Development Corporation has seen some big successes in job creation, exports and tourism, the state could still stand to grow foreign direct development and talent, MEDC President and CEO Michael Finney said in a recent interview with Gongwer News Service.

Finney said Michigan is targeting eight countries and regions, including China, and parts of Europe, like Germany and Italy, to develop partnerships. In the future, that may also include India, he said, as it has the world’s second-highest population and could be a good place to grow upon the successes the state has developed in exports and foreign investment.

“The first couple of years, it was real important for us to focus on existing businesses through our economic gardening efforts. We’ve done a lot of things there … but in addition to the existing companies and helping them grow, we’ve also now begun a very aggressive effort in terms of international business development,” Finney said.

Finney will depart his post at the MEDC in February when he moves to a job in Governor Rick Snyder’s executive office.

Reflecting on the progress the MEDC has made since Snyder and his administration first took office, Mr. Finney noted the state topped $200 million this year in facilitated export activity – more than double that of the previous year (between $80 million and $90 million). Three years ago, he said, Michigan had no export strategy at all.

“We are on a wonderful growth curve for helping small- and medium-sized companies with export,” he said. “We see that number over the next four years or so growing to be in excess of $500 million, and we don’t see any reason why we can’t accomplish that.”

Places like China, Europe and India are expected to be involved in that export strategy for small- and medium-sized businesses as companies try to find ways to support manufacturing in Michigan, he said.

And the investment trips that Snyder and Finney have led are a significant reason why the state has increased its exports so much, Finney said. He said he has been to Asia four times, Europe three times and across the nation “many times” to promote the state.

“One company that we land with a couple hundred jobs more than justifies the level of activity that we’ve had,” he said. “The fact that we’ve had many, I think, is just a clear indication that these outbound trips are having a significant impact.”

Intertwined with foreign investment is promoting the state’s tourism brand, Pure Michigan.

“With all the travel that I do … I frequently wear some paraphernalia that says Pure Michigan. And the people that I talk to almost always default to great experiences they’ve had here in Michigan … They talk about these great experiences that they have, and I think we just hit on something that resonates with not just the people of the state of Michigan but people across the world.”

Finney said the state continues to be recognized as one of the leading tourism brands in all of the United States and the numbers reflect that as tourism activity continues to be “well-above” the previous year. He said the state’s hotel-motel occupancy rate – a leading indicator of tourist visits to the state – continues to increase and is actually above historical norms.

“I’m not a marketing expert, and I’m not a branding expert, but I do know what I like when I see it and when I hear it. Pure Michigan, for me, it sets our state apart because we have all these wonderful assets that are purely Michigan,” he said. “The creative that’s been developed around that, it’s very touching, it’s very engaging, and when people hear that and see it, it sticks to them. Having it stick is a big part of making Pure Michigan the success that it is.”

GROWING TALENT: It’s those unique assets that Finney said will eventually aid in diversifying the state’s economy, but one piece of the puzzle that will need to be developed is growing Michigan’s existing talent base, whether through young people or mid-to-late career professionals.

Snyder has already taken a major step in this direction, and Finney is expected to be a big part of it. In mid-December, Snyder signed an executive order to create a new department focused on the topic and move two major agencies into the new department. In doing so, Finney will become the senior adviser to Snyder on economic growth.

The state already has several programs aimed at attracting and developing talent in Michigan, including Community Ventures for the structurally unemployed; the Michigan Advanced Technician Training Program for developing vocational, technical and skilled tradespeople; and a new pilot program that partners certain community colleges with area businesses to get students into jobs faster.

“We’re going to work with our community colleges to connect directly with companies that have immediate employment needs and then they will work with those companies to train for those employment needs,” he said. “Then the resources we’re providing will be used to help them buy equipment, tooling, develop curriculum, bring on faculty on board and so on and so forth, so they can respond in ways they haven’t been able to historically for the needs of the private sector.”

And there are great opportunities for universities to follow suit, Finney said.

“We’d love to see something similar to that with our four-year schools, primarily focused on difficult-to-fill occupations like engineers, and a lot of different engineers, IT and software professionals, certain health care professionals – those are some where a four-year degree would typically be required,” he said.

He said down the line, the program with community colleges could be expanded and the K-12 system could similarly focus on those skilled trades-type professions, primarily through more exposure to such occupations as tool and die, specialty machining and welding.

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