MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. – The second day of the Mackinac Policy Conference brought together state leaders, business executives and many other local officials for high-stakes conversations on Michigan’s future -- with talent retention, population growth and the integration of artificial intelligence into the workforce topping the agenda.
Related: Policy, partnerships, progress: Mackinac Conference Underway at Grand Hotel
Under the iconic porch of the Grand Hotel, Michigan’s top decision-makers gathered for a full day of panels, policy pitches and partnership announcements aimed at shaping long-term growth.
“We’re leading in population growth -- both in my role as the chief growth officer in the country, but also because our population is growing in important ways like our young adult population,” said Hilary Doe, Michigan’s first-ever Chief Growth and Marketing Officer at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Doe and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist announced $769,000 in new funding as part of the statewide MI Home talent retention and attraction program. The funds will support five new grantees across Michigan, with each community designing programs tailored to its specific needs.
The City of Detroit received $210,000 to launch the Detroit Tech Fellowship Program, which will focus on keeping recent college graduates in the state by helping them scale their startups locally. The program aims to strengthen Detroit’s position as a hub for emerging industries, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology and clean energy.
Wayne County Sheriff Raphael Washington also weighed in on the theme of talent retention -- this time in the context of law enforcement.
“The recruitment that we’re doing is going through the roof right now,” Washington said Tuesday morning on the Grand Hotel’s porch. “People are all excited about what the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office can do, and how they can help -- especially young people.”
With two more days of conference sessions ahead, organizers and attendees alike say the goal is to turn ideas into action.
The Local 4 team is live all week from Mackinac Island. Stay with WDIV and ClickOnDetroit.com for continuing coverage.
