Listening tour will draw feedback from across the state to inform Growing Michigan Together Council’s population report
ESCANABA, Mich., Aug. 17., 2023—The Growing Michigan Together Listening Tour kicked off today in Escanaba and will make its way across the state to collect feedback from Michiganders about what can be done to attract and retain talent. This feedback will inform the Growing Michigan Together Council’s formal report that must be submitted by December 1, 2023.
“Now it’s time to put our words into action and listen,” said Michigan’s Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe, “From now until the end of September we’ll travel across the state to hear directly from Michiganders about what we can do to make Michigan a thriving, vibrant and exciting place to live and work.”
The Growing Michigan Together Tour will include stops at community events and regional forums designed to discuss local challenges and growth opportunities in communities across the state. Many events will focus on collecting additional input from young people—at work, on campus and online. The tour will also meet college students where they are—on campus—convening both traditional students and adult learners with stops at universities, colleges and community colleges. Engagements will include move-ins, on-campus listening events, homecomings and other youth-focused events across the State.
“We look forward to hearing input from Michiganders across our great state,” said Ambassador John Rakolta, Jr., Chair of the Growing Michigan Together Council. “The Council includes Michiganders from every age group and walk of life. We are diligently working to provide bipartisan recommendations that will create a clear and informed path forward.”
Gov. Whitmer established the bipartisan Growing Michigan Together Council to develop a statewide strategy to attract talent, improve education, modernize infrastructure and continue Michigan’s economic momentum. The Council is tasked with preparing and submitting a report to the governor and legislature on ways the state can grow its population. Gov. Whitmer recently announced workgroups for the council. Focus areas include Infrastructure, Jobs, Talent and Economy, Prek-12 Education and Higher Education.
“The Growing Michigan Together Tour is a vital part of our process and reaffirms our commitment to gathering feedback directly from Michiganders in every part of the state,” said Growing Michigan Together Council Chair and Wayne State University Governor Shirley Stancato. “What we hear from communities will directly impact the report the Council is developing. We encourage Michiganders to participate in their local events to make their voices heard and play a role in shaping the future of our state.”
To learn more about Growing Michigan or to submit feedback, please visit Growing Michigan Together.
CONTACT:
Rachel Felice
rachel@momentstrategies.com
