Tune in to this week’s “50 CEOs on the D: Detroit Renaissance Reports” podcast with guest John Rakolta, Chairman and CEO of Walbridge, as he speaks on the formation of the planned Aerotropolis and what it can mean for Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

Rakolta speaks with host Doug Rothwell about the history of transportation hubs, and how air travel is the last evolution. The presence of the Aerotropolis could mean substantial growth for our area, though the process won’t happen overnight.

“Bringing an Aerotropolis to life is a rather large task,” Rakolta says, “But Detroit is brimming with potential, as it is the gateway to virtually every industrial center in North America. We’re off to a good start and the future it offers our community is a strong and prosperous one.”

The Aerotropolis is the type of bold endeavor that Detroit needs in order to continue to grow, and Rakolta reminds us that though it might take time and effort, the payoff will be exponential.

Listen to the podcast here, or subscribe via your RSS reader or via iTunes.

The Second International Creative Cities Summit is coming to Detroit, and we are excited to host this event and happy to be a part of the advisory and executive committees. The event is scheduled for October 13 – 15 at the Marriott Renaissance Center downtown, and is for architects, designers, urban planners, artists, students, community leaders, or anyone who hopes to share their ideas in re-imagining our cities.

We have helped to support this event, and Doug Rothwell will participate in a planning session on Creative Cities Initiatives with Kelly Lee from Innovation Philadelphia following the Summit on Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

"We are excited to be part of this event because we believe creative communities provide positive economic benefits to cities and promote talent retention," said Rothwell, "Growing greater Detroit's creative community is one objective in our Road to Renaissance Initiative."

This is a great event for the revitalization and ongoing efforts to make creative communities flourish, and we’re thrilled to be hosting it in Detroit. We encourage you to register early, though, because if you do before September 12th, you can get the early bird special rate of $250. For more information about the event, including sponsors, registration and hotel info, visit the website at www.creativecitiessummit.com.

This week’s “50 CEO’s on the D” features Carl Roehling, CEO of the Smith Group. Roehling speaks with Doug Rothwell about maintaining creative talent in our area.

The two discuss Detroit’s creative class, which is made up of more than just artists—web designers, advertising designers, and engineers all fall within the category of “creative,” and Roehling discusses some of the ways to nurture this aspect of Detroit’s industries. The Creative Corridor is one such area that Carl maintains as a way Detroit can flourish its creative class.

“With initiatives such as the Creative Corridor, another way Detroit can develop its creative class is through maintaining closeness and density, “ Roehling says, “Consolidating in this region would boost our ability to bring people from the outside here, as well as keep the people that are here within this environment.”

Listen to the podcast here, or subscribe via your RSS reader or via iTunes.

The Detroit Renaissance is pleased to announce the release of the results of a statewide survey amongst Michigan voters. The survey, conducted by Glengariff Group, Inc. is also the subject of a special podcast with Dave Brandon, CEO of Domino’s Pizza and Chair of the Detroit Renaissance, and David Bing, CEO of the Bing Group and a member of the Detroit Renaissance Executive Committee. Host and President of Detroit Renaissance Doug Rothwell discusses the findings in the survey, including voters’ wants for major government reform.

The public opinion poll found that over 80% of Michigan voters, regardless of demographic differences, believe the state is on the wrong track. 87% of voters feel that Michigan’s political leaders are doing a fair or poor job on budgeting and spending. These statistics and others are discussed during the podcast conversation, as well as several proposed ideas for reform. The top six reform ideas include:

• Find other means of punishment for non violent offenders other than prison
• Increase premiums for state employee health care
• Change the retirement system for new teachers
• Increase deductions/co-pays for employee health care
• Impose small co-pays for Medicaid
• Release some non violent offenders before parole

Doug Rothwell had this to say: “These results confirm our assertions that we need a greater sense of urgency to address structural reforms, not just incremental budget cuts and one-time fixes. Only meaningful structural reforms will give businesses a greater sense of confidence in Michigan’s future as a good place to do business.”

You can download and read the full opinion poll results report here.

You can also listen and download the podcast here, or subscribe to our RSS feed.

The latest Forbes ranking of the "Best States for Business" lower Michigan from 46th worst last year to 47th worst this year. We ranked #39 on business costs, #44 in labor climate, #46 in economic climate and a terrible #49 in growth prospects. We only scored well on regulatory environment (#4), but this ranking factors in a state's incentive offerings (of which Michigan has plenty) and tort climate (which was dramatically improved in the 1990's). The only states that scored worse on the overall rankings were Alaska, Louisiana and West Virginia.

But the pain we are experiencing today might help us in a few years. The historic union agreements with the auto companies are going to make our cost structure more competitive. Our companies are getting leaner and more competitive to create jobs a few years down the road. Our cost of living is getting even more affordable. We're increasing our number of college graduates and increasing our level of venture capital.

Yet the actions that would likely have the biggest impact still aren't getting enough attention: lowering the cost of doing business through state tax, structural and energy reforms. Until these are dealt with, we should fear what our ranking will look like in 2009.

In this week’s “50 CEO’s on the D: Detroit Renaissance Reports,” Doug Rothwell speaks with Tony Earley, Chairman and CEO of DTE Energy and Board Member of the Detroit Renaissance .

Host Doug Rothwell and Earley discuss how regulation of energy resources will prepare us for a successful future.

"Energy is crucial to a state like Michigan. We are very energy intensive," says Tony, "The energy users here in the state are large users of both electricity and natural gas and therefore we have to have a very stable, reliable infrastructure for the future."

Tony takes his expertise from his years working closely in the energy industry, and shares his experience in order to inform and inspire the people of Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

Listen to the podcast here, or subscribe via your RSS reader, or via iTunes.

In this week’s “50 CEO’s on the D: Detroit Renaissance Reports,” Doug Rothwell speaks with Florine Mark, President and CEO of the WW Group.

Host Doug Rothwell and Florine discuss how being individual ambassadors for the city of Detroit could empower Detroit.

“We’ve got the greatest city and state, I feel, in the union," Florine says.  "We have got more wonderful things, yet I hear people saying ‘Oh, I don’t want to go downtown.’… We’ve got a fabulous downtown and it’s getting better and better and better.” 

Florine Mark challenges people to get involved in Detroit, to learn about what is being done to revitalize it, and to learn to see Detroit the way she sees it herself.

Listen to the podcast here, or subscribe via your RSS reader, or via iTunes.

Just wondering...

Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, the state budget is projected to have at least a $500 million shortfall next year, and our state leaders find the time to enact legislation to divest state investments in companies that do business in Sudan?

Let's be clear, no one is supporting Sudan in any way, shape or form. But, how is it that our state leaders find the time to dabble in international policy rather than their official role as managers of the state's business?

As a good friend of mine put it, "Michigan is burning and this is what our elected leaders are focusing on....says it all..."

- Doug

Tom Watkins makes a great case in the Detroit News for state government reform. Read his column which reflects much of our thinking at Detroit Renaissance that state government needs to adopt a strategic principles and actions to achieve a sustainable fiscal structure. One of those principles is to enact meaningful structural reforms to minimize the need for new sources of revenue such as bringing state employee health care benefits in line with the private sector and bringing local government and public school health care benefits in line with those of state employees. The private sector is making drastic adjustments to its healthcare plans.

As Watkins government should follow their lead by making "...the tough and necessary structural changes in prisons, consolidate school districts, and local units of governments, and address the runaway state employee health and pension benefits that were once modeled after the auto industry and that are no longer sustainable."

Read more about our recommendations to immediately improve the health of our state's economy and improve our overall economic competitiveness on
our website at: http://www.detroitrenaissance.com/agenda/improving-competitiveness

In this week’s “50 CEO’s on the D: Detroit Renaissance Reports,” Doug Rothwell speaks with Gail Torreano, President of AT&T of Michigan.

Torreano and host Doug Rothwell discuss how the onset of telecommunication technologies has created a convergence of products and therefore competition that was not always present. This competition and regulation has the potential to inspire growth in the region and beyond.

“The technologies available in the telecommunications industry have surpassed any notion of what we considered possible several years ago,” says Rothwell, “Gail explains just how far we have come, and how we can be prepared for further regulations and adapt technologies as they become available.”

Torreano notes: “We have to always continue to work to stay ahead of the curve, and it is critical that we understand that as a state.”

Listen to the podcast here, or subscribe via your RSS reader or via iTunes.