Governor Rick Snyder has announced the launch of the state’s first-ever talent attraction and retention campaign, Choose Michigan.

The media campaign highlights our state as a vibrant and fun place to live, work and play.

Choose Michigan was designed with input from a group of 15 science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) professionals who relocated to Michigan for their jobs.

The campaign is targeting STEAM graduates and young professionals and has already launched in several television markets including Chicago, Pittsburgh, Madison and throughout Michigan.

“Michigan’s economic growth is nearly unstoppable,” Snyder said. “The only thing standing in our way now is ensuring we attract and retain the talent to meet the demands of the future. It’s time to get louder and prouder and show these young people why Michigan is their best choice to start and grow their careers, with a work-life balance that is second to none.”

The campaign shares stats about our state’s workforce, areas of growth, outdoor activities and fun events to encourage people to Choose Michigan:

• Our cost of living is 11 percent below the national average.

• More engineers live in Michigan than any other state.

• Michigan ranks third in the country for tech job growth.

• Our state has the most commercial and industrial designers in the country.

• We’re a top 10 state in aerospace, with nine of the 10 largest aerospace research and development firms.

In addition to the Choose Michigan campaign, the Detroit Regional Chamber is launching their own talent attraction and retention initiative, Let’s Detroit, later this month.

The Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development is working with the chamber to see how Let’s Detroit could serve as a framework for other communities around the state.

In Michigan philanthropy, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County recently announced their latest round of recipients for their Come Home scholarships, which are aimed at attracting and retaining home town talent.

Launched in early 2016, the community foundation’s innovative reverse scholarship program provides scholarships for graduates who return home to the community to put toward their student loans.

As Bridge Magazine reported, this talent attraction and retention scholarship model is being studied by several community foundations around the state to possibly replicate.

There has been work underway by the community foundation and CMF to address an issue on the federal level as it stands currently, post-graduation scholarship recipients are required to pay income tax on it.

Earlier this summer, Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois introduced House bill 6486, which is focused on boosting workforce development through post-graduation scholarships.

In late August, Senator Gary Peters was in Port Huron to meet with regional stakeholders and announce proposed legislation that would fix that issue by ensuring the government treats reverse scholarships as traditional scholarships and gives authority to the U.S. Treasury Department to provide oversight and guidance for this model.

“I’m proud of the work our community foundation staff has done regarding talent retention and attraction. They’ve been working diligently to advance the national conversation on these issues,” Mike Cansfield, board chair, Community Foundation of St. Clair County said. 

Want more?

Learn more about Choose Michigan.