In the last several months, we’ve put Michigan on a path toward economic recovery after a dismal 10 years, including an eight-year recession dubbed “the winter that never ends.” 

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder

But spring did arrive. We balanced the state budget in late May, the quickest we’ve finalized a budget in 30 years.  We substantially revised the tax code, lowering taxes to the tune of $1.8 billion for Michigan’s businesses.  We also launched our Pure Michigan Business Connect with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which combines public and private resources that will put $3 billion into helping existing and new businesses succeed.

These are great moves in the right direction toward Michigan’s recovery.  All of these are necessary, but insufficient by themselves, to create jobs and get our economy humming again.  We know that government doesn’t create jobs — talented business people and entrepreneurs do. 

Our job is to clear the roadblocks to allow — and encourage — these risk-taking, forward-looking people to realize their dreams by launching their businesses. And who is more of a risk-taker than an immigrant who uproots everything to come to a totally different country?

It’s simple: New, growing businesses will put more people to work.  One way to encourage these businesses is to enhance the attractiveness of the state for entrepreneurs, especially those from other countries who may want to set up shop in Michigan.  We need to welcome immigrant risk-takers ready to go to work.

As Dan Varner of the Kellogg Foundation recently said at a Global Detroit event, “Clearly, without question from anybody…there is an incredibly strong correlation between high immigrant populations and economic well-being.”

To help grow Michigan’s economy, we are aggressively encouraging immigrant entrepreneurs to choose Michigan for their relocation, especially those with advanced academic degrees.  We have launched our Global Michigan initiative, spearheaded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and 11 subcommittees focusing on a variety of strategies that would enable the state to better attract foreign talent and investment.   

Together, we are working to address the talent needs of Michigan companies.  We are working to retain college graduates, improving access to small-business investment, connecting investors with Michigan exporters and we’ll work with Washington on immigration legislation to create more pathways for immigrant entrepreneurs to contribute.

This isn’t a theory about creating jobs. It’s what created Michigan’s greatness in the first place.  We have more than 300 years of experience here working with immigrants interested in making their fortune to grow and enrich the state.  Long before Cadillac was an automotive brand, he was a French explorer and fur trapper who settled Detroit 300 years ago. The French and English laid the ground work for those who came later in the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Eventually, many immigrants started businesses that became job-creating powerhouses.  Names like Meijer, Masco and Dow Chemical all sprung from Michigan’s immigrants and more jobs were and still are being created by Michigan’s immigrant small business owner.

I’m not trying to romanticize our past.  But as an accountant by training, I have to let the numbers tell their story—and they are compelling.  Nearly 33 percent of tech firms launched in Michigan between 1995 and 2005 were founded by immigrants.  Moreover, 44 percent of all engineering master’s degrees and 62 percent of engineering Ph.D.s in this state are awarded to foreign-born students.

Finally, a note on demographics.  In 2008, more than 64 percent of Michigan’s immigrants were working age; this compares with only 50.8 percent of the non-immigrant population.  This is important as a large part of Michigan’s population is nearing retirement age.

Of course, increasing job-creating immigration and encouraging business startups, like getting the budget done early or cutting taxes, isn’t enough.  But it is another step in the right direction to putting all of our citizens back to work.

In past decades, families made tremendous risks to come here in search of a better life.  For the overwhelming majority of immigrants, the opportunity to begin again—and flourish—is what made Michigan great.  We need to continue to harness this thirst for success and the work ethic that makes success possible, to help Michigan grow once again.