Crain's Detroit Business - Mackinac Section - June 7, 2010 - (Page 6)

Page M6 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS June 7, 2010 2010 Mackinac Policy Conference A time for action MARY KRAMER: Detroit could learn a lot from Pittsburgh MACKINAC ISLAND — Thursday’s panel on the Pittsburgh story was inspiring — and maddening. Here’s a Rust Belt legacy city that emerged from the ashes of its dominant industry to become a Top 10 city for technology nationwide. The story told by leaders in Pittsburgh’s life sciences, entrepreneurship and business/civic structures was one of transformation. The business elite in Pittsburgh responded to the collapse of the dominant steel industry by diversifying the leadership and investing in the tools to rebuild and revamp. Like Detroit, Pittsburgh first suffered through a period of shock, loss and denial. But unlike Detroit, Pittsburgh was quick to diversify its leadership base to build on the assets that eventually led to the city’s revival: higher education, health care and improved quality-oflife initiatives, like arts and culture. After listening to the story, a couple of things are clear: We have a lot of great ideas, but we’re awful at prioritizing and implementation. We have too many plans, too many groups and not enough people who check their egos at the door and get behind one plan. In Pittsburgh, one organization is the primary business contact for any business interested in setting up shop in the 10-county region. What might that organization be in our region? Automation Alley? The Detroit Regional Chamber? The economic growth offices of each county and the city of Detroit? The change in Pittsburgh came after a prominent CEO spent 18 months in “shuttle diplomacy” to get politicians and government to sign on to the single-entry-point philosophy. We haven’t invited some key players to the leadership party. Earlier on Thursday, I moderated a panel on the opportunities for health care, life sciences and medical devices to transform Michigan’s economy. Panelists Nancy Schlichting Schlichting and Mike Duggan, CEOs of Henry Ford Health System and the Detroit Medical Center, asked why they weren’t invited to the leadership party at Business Duggan Leaders for Michigan or its predecessor, Detroit Renaissance, as the presidents of the three largest research universities in Michigan were. Good question. Who could watch the masterful political job that Duggan did to get usually recalcitrant political bodies to jump on board for the sale of the DMC to for-profit Vanguard? Or Schlichting’s reinvention of health care delivery at the new Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield Township? Both Duggan and Schlichting could teach a graduate course on anything from cost reduction to leadership. Southeast Michigan has some of the same assets as Pittsburgh: major research universities, health care institutions, incubators for small, emerging companies. In Detroit, we have TechTown at Wayne State University, which has been a terrific incubator. But it’s tapped out on space, and the companies there need capital investment. Where’s the private money to help fund more companies and build out the space? It’s priorities. And execution. We could use more of both. Mary Kramer is publisher of Crain's Detroit Business. Catch her take on business news at 6:10 a.m. Mondays on the Paul W. Smith show on WJR AM 760 and in her blog at www.crainsdetroit.com/ kramer. E-mail her at mkramer@crain.com. michigan.gov/mshda You’ve got a partner. Your MSHDA. Preventing foreclosure? We help. Resurrecting Main Streets? We’re there. Fixing up the neighborhood? Call us. Helping to build affordable housing? We’re on it. We’re working to bring Michigan back, with loans, housing programs, grants, and sound advice. If you’re interested in improving your home, your neighborhood or your community, you’ve got a partner. Your MSHDA. TTY 800.382.4568 http://michigan.gov/mshda http://michigan.gov/mshda http://www.crainsdetroit.com/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crain's Detroit Business - Mackinac Section - June 7, 2010

Crain's Detroit Business - Mackinac Section - June 7, 2010
In this Issue
Economic Makeover
Lesson Plan for Education Reform
Teaming Up for Action
Time for a Cultural Revolution
Defense Mechanism
Slowing the State's Brain Drain
Intern, Employers of the Year

Crain's Detroit Business - Mackinac Section - June 7, 2010