According to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau there are approximately 175,000 businesses in Michigan. And this does not include the estimated 680,000 nonemployee firms. A full 3,000 of these firms have more than 500 employees, making up just 2% of the companies in Michigan but representing almost 50% of Michigan employees. These large firms play a critical role in Michigan’s economic success, employing over 1.5 million people.
By the same token, though, small businesses in Michigan play an equally important role. Over 85% of employer businesses in Michigan have 20 or fewer employees, representing roughly 20% of all employees in Michigan. Access to capital for these small businesses and new startup businesses is critical for helping these companies pursue new growth opportunities.
To understand the current business loan environment for banks and credit unions, we spoke with three Ann Arbor area experts. Read more…
Re:NEW Michigan with Larry Eiler of Eiler Communications
1290 WLBY & Streamed at www.1290WLBY.com
March 5, 2013: Re:New Michigan: Michigan Economic Survey – Larry Eiler, CEO, Eiler Communications; David Baker, CEO, Baker Strategy Group – A new publication highlighting the first Michigan Economic Survey conducted by Ann Arbor-based Baker Strategy Group is now published. Learn where Michigan is headed and what it’s going to take to get there.
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Ann Arbor marketing and PR leader and CEO of Eiler Communications, Larry Eiler, teams up with Lucy Ann Lance for a weekly Tuesday morning radio segment focusing on Michigan’s entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and others who are helping to propel Michigan forward. Re:NEW Michigan (formerly known as Tech Tuesday) airs live on Business Talk 1290 WLBY at 8:40 a.m. and repeats at 10:40 a.m.
About Eiler Communications Founded in 1987, Eiler Communications deals with companies that need to build awareness with customers, business audiences, media, market analysts or the financial community. Eiler specializes in social media marketing and services for established and emerging companies. The firm provides the expertise and know-how to develop and implement creative, effective communications and PR campaigns. For 25 years, Eiler has helped clients build identities in their industries, the media and the community. For more information visit www.eilerpr.com
David speaks in Marquette at the Lake Superior Community Partnership Quarterly Economic Lunch
David Baker and Don Hart of MOVE Communications (www.movecommunications.com) had the chance to visit Marquette for the Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP) Quarterly Economic Lunch. David presented the results of the first annual Michigan 2013 Economic Outlook Survey (www.michigan2013.com). This well-attended event included business, nonprofit, and public leaders throughout the region, including State Senator Tom Casperson representing the 38th District in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
David speaks to the Detroit Economic Club on the Michigan 2013 Economic Outlook Survey results.
On January 8, the Detroit Economic Club held the Michigan 2013 Economic Outlook lunch. The session was moderated by Tom Walsh, business columnist for the Detroit Free Press, with a 2-member panel: Dr. Charles Ballard, Professor of Economics at Michigan State University, and Michael Finney, President and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
To kick off the lunch, David Baker announced the results of the first annual Michigan 2013 Economic Outlook Survey.
Carol Cain talks to David Baker on Michigan Matters about the Michigan 2013 Economic Outlook Survey
I had the great opportunity to talk with CBS 62 Carol Cain on her show Michigan Matters. Carol often has high-profile guests on her show to discuss issues related to Michigan, so I was honored to have a chance to speak about our Michigan 2013 Economic Outlook Survey.
We discussed the highly collaborative nature of the program, which involved 3,000 responses from 70 associations throughout the state of Michigan. We also talked about the surprising finding that the business, nonprofit, and public sectors are in general agreement that Michigan’s economic has room for improvement, as indicated by the average score of 62 out of 100 for satisfaction with Michigan as a place to grow a business.
David will present Michigan 2013 Economic Outlook Survey results in Marquette, Michigan
David will be speaking on Friday, February 8th at the Quarterly Luncheon Series at the Holiday Inn in Marquette, Michigan.
This luncheon series is sponsored by the Lake Superior Community Partnership, an economic development organization that played a leading role in the Michigan 2013 Economic Outlook Survey.
2012 was a volatile year. Nationally, we experienced a Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare, held a Presidential election, elected a new slate of new Senators and Representatives, and averted a Fiscal Cliff. We even escaped the oft-mentioned “Mayan prophecy” predicting the end of the world at the winter solstice.
As we enter 2013, Michigan faces a whole new set of challenges and opportunities. Michigan is now a Right-to-Work state, the impact of Obamacare is still evolving, and the economy is predicted to grow at a mild but relatively even pace. The business, nonprofit, and public sectors in Michigan will need to work closely together to face these challenges.
A recent statewide survey underscores these challenges and opportunities. The Michigan 2013 Economic Outlook Survey (www.michigan2013.com) involves 3,000 people through 70 associations and is being delivered by five Ann Arbor-based companies: Baker Strategy Group, CFI Group, Apogee Insights Group, Eiler Communications, and MOVE Communications. Read more…
Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas said, “There are some wonderful things ahead for Detroit and Grand Valley.” This Detroit Free Press article by Carol Cain, senior producer and host of Michigan Matters, highlights one of the most significant aspects of improving Michigan: our education system. Cain praises Grand Valley State University’s collaborative successes in helping with charter schools around Detroit. Funding 25 charter schools in the metro Detroit area and 25 out-of-state, GVSU plans to start up to 8 more schools in 2013.
GVSU is able to work together with businesses and organizations to reach their goals. They recently collaborated with Cornerstone Schools and Detroit Medical Center to open The Cornerstone Charter Health High School.
GVSU represents a much larger force of school funding initiatives. Other universities such as Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan, and like-minded individuals including Robert Thompson, who provides scholarships for charter school graduates, contribute in the pursuit of better education.
These efforts between schools, organizations, and businesses demonstrate the kind of teamwork Michigan needs to build a better economy.
What can we do in 2013 to build a better Michigan economy? That is a question on everyone’s mind as we begin a new year. Michigan faces both clear opportunities and significant challenges and public, private, and nonprofit leaders will need to be unified in the pursuit of our state’s economic development. Join our distinguished panelists as they discuss Michigan’s economic outlook.
The results of the first annual Michigan Economic Outlook Survey will be released and discussed at this meeting. This highly-collaborative effort involves input from over 3,000 people and 70 associations statewide.
SPEAKERS
Charles Ballard Ph.D
Professor of Economics
Michigan State University
Michael Finney
President & CEO
Michigan Economic Development Corporation Read more…
The road to healthcare reform has been bumpy. Rancorous debate shook our country from mid-2009 through Q1 of 2010. On March 23, 2010, President Obama finally signed the controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. Then on March 30, he signed into law the hotly contested budget reconciliation bill called the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Together, the two laws make up what everyone, even the President, now refers to as Obamacare.
On March 9, 2010, just prior to the bills being passed in Congress, Nancy Pelosi uttered in her now famous line during a speech to the National Association of Counties: “But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” And today, almost three years later, everyone is still trying to figure out exactly what the law will mean for our economy.
One thing seems certain: Obamacare is here to stay. With hopes of repeal dissipating after the Presidential election, Michigan businesses must now learn to understand the law, its consequences related to health insurance costs and availability, and the implications it will have on business strategy. Read more…
The road to healthcare reform has been bumpy. Rancorous debate shook our country from mid-2009 through Q1 of 2010. On March 23, 2010, President Obama finally signed the controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. Then on March 30, he signed into law the hotly contested budget reconciliation bill called the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Together, the two laws make up what everyone, even the President, now refers to as Obamacare.
