How do you know what you need unless you know what you have?

We often focus on the things we need to change vs. what we already have. Even with all our challenges there is still a value proposition to be made in many areas in our state. Of course improvements can and should be made but in the meantime, make sure people know that there’s reasons to stay or come today! Of course not everyone will choose us right away, but they’ll be able to make a more educated choice, and the ones that do can be part of building that better future.

Retention is as important as attraction if not more so. 

As the adage says, It’s easier to keep a customer than get a new one. Too often our young people assume they know a place because they grew up there or went to school there, but being a kid somewhere is different than being an adult somewhere. We need to show them the opportunities in their own backyard and make sure that they know success doesn’t have to mean leaving. This also means don’t stop caring once they choose to be here. Help existing residents make connections and understand the region’s amenities so that they stay and become an ambassador to help others decide to stay or come here as well.

It’s not just about jobs.

• Research and my personal experience have demonstrated that when people decide whether to stay or move somewhere, their job is not always the biggest factor. While employment is important, individuals with options tend to prioritize the lifestyle they want and the type of environment they wish to reside in before seeking employment opportunities. According to Lou Glazer of Michigan Future, “Mobile talent –– particularly young talent ––  value quality of place in choosing where they live and work after college. Quality of place isn’t something you do after you grow the economy and have more resources to do the extras. It is one of the essentials that you do to grow the economy.”
• In today’s world, remote work has made it possible for people to bring their jobs with them wherever they go, and what people are looking for is a better Quality of Life. For example, I recently spoke with a family consisting of two sisters, their husbands, and their parents who are relocating from Oakland, California to Detroit. Their decision was based on factors such as diversity, culture, proximity to water, and housing costs, and based on the quality of life in Detroit they will now become six new residents of the city.

Highlighting assets doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges.

It’s important to recognize that good and bad, assets and challenges, are not mutually exclusive. They exist simultaneously; and they do in every city. It’s necessary to know about the wins, big or small so that you have the energy to keep working on the challenges.