ACC President and CEO Haifa Fakhouri and Douglas Smith, senior vice president of strategic partnerships for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation during a discussion on the role local communities throughout Michigan will have in developing the state’s future economic policies. The discussion was held at ACC’s Youth Recreation and Leadership Center. PHOTO: Natasha Dado/TAAN

DETROIT — Speaking at the Arab American and Chaldean Council’s Youth Recreation and Leadership Center Douglas Smith, senior vice president of strategic partnerships for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s administration, plans on working with communities around the state to develop economic policies. 

“Everything we develop at the state level is going to start with local partners,” Smith said. 

He says decisions made in Lansing over the next few years will either make or break Michigan’s future in the coming decades. 

Smith said local communities will have a voice in developing new economic initiatives, and that Snyder is willing to change the way economic development is conducted in the state.  “We are going to start day one with our local partners, figure out what they are doing, and ask the simple question: What do you need us to do before we start devising any policy?”

According to Smith, Snyder is calling the new approach the process of development at the local level. Smith says “local consultants” will need to prove their initiative is a good business investment that makes sense. Economic initiatives requiring financial assistance from the state should only be requested when funds are desperately needed. 

“The local economic developer needs to show us that this is a priority for them. We have limited resources,” Smith said.  “Now it is all of our jobs to make sure it is a good business investment.” 

 Smith says he is convinced the governor as well as the legislature will work with communities if there is evidence that the investments made in partnership with them are effective and smart. 

He says local communities would also have influence in developing international economic policy. The discussion was a part of a luncheon with ACC’s Board of Directors and Advisory Board members. “What you (ACC) have done here is exactly what we need to do in many places around Michigan. And that is to build the fabric of the local community up and we need to help support that.”