Ann Arbor SPARK to President Obama: 'Michigan has a bright future'

http://blog.mlive.com/businessinnovation/2009/07/ann_arbor_spark_to_president_o.html

Ann Arbor SPARK to President Obama: 'Michigan has a bright future'

Posted by Nathan Bomey | Michigan Business Review July 06, 2009 09:50AM

Ann Arbor SPARK, the region's leading regional economic development organization, hopes to convince President Barack Obama that Ann Arbor is a prime example of what Michigan can become.

SPARK CEO Michael Finney urged Obama, who is visiting southeast Michigan on July 14, to tour Ann Arbor's "diversified" economy in an open letter released last week.

"Michigan has a bright future and the seeds have been sown and are starting to bear fruit," Finney wrote. "With the right planning and investment, the Michigan of the future can look a whole lot like the Ann Arbor of today."

Political leaders and economic development officials often describe Ann Arbor as a beacon of economic hope for a state thirsting for jobs and capital investment.
Barack Obama

That's why SPARK's new chairman, University of Michigan Vice President for Research Stephen Forrest, wants to extend SPARK's model to other regions in the state.

Finney, to his credit, never downplays the role of U-M in propelling the region's economy in the midst of a global economic crisis.

U-M is still the linchpin, and Ann Arbor surely has a significant edge on the rest of the state solely because of the university.

A few more highlights of Finney's letter:

• "Ann Arbor has diversified - there are more IT, (software), life science and cleantech companies in the Ann Arbor area than automotive-related businesses.
Nathan Bomey is a reporter for Michigan Business Review.

• "There is a thriving entrepreneur ecosystem with active (venture capital) and angel support for start-ups."

What do you think: How can the rest of Michigan -- not blessed with the University of Michigan in its backyard -- copy Ann Arbor's economic success?