Marketing Michigan’s Business Strengths

If you could promote the State and the workers who support it all at the same time, go for it.  Personally, I believe, you are too closely tied to corporate interests.

@michiganproductionalliance, #michiganproductionalliance, #michiganfilm, @filmmichigan

Incentives of all kinds have become even more of a political football and we at MPA have been saying the a new model must be found to promote MI as a location for live shows, corporate, commercial and feature film. As we do research on this subject, my premise being that the State of Michigan should be invested and committed to such an endeavor - I discovered that no references to our industry are present on the MEDC website or FB page. We think it would be wise to add the film industry onto these sites. It is our belief that all efforts should be made to promote Michigan as a location - for the economic development it could bring. The state of Michigan remains undiversified and linked as always to the automotive industry. Problem is, the auto industry goes through economic downturns occasionally and when that happens, well everything else goes to hell in a hand-basket. Why not get behind a clean industry that is labor intensive and spins off financial gains to cities and towns and the vendors within? What do you think?

One of your stated goals is to "keep talented residents." Michigan was the only state in the nation to lose population, according to US Census results. Half of the students from our public universities will LEAVE MI once graduated. We have a serious braindrain problem here. Young, talented, intelligent people want to leave MI. Not hard to figure out why: it's tough to get a good job here. A job with real benefits, and get paid enough to pay off the mountain of debt that most of us have in our early 20's. Student debt, credit card debt, car loans - on and on. How can our legislators say they want to keep young people here from one side of their mouth then pass legislation that will deter young people from staying here? Right to Work for Less and Less does just that. It says Michigan legislators aren't concerned with the future of the next generation here; they are just concerned about stuffing their pockets and those of their cronies. We see through this. Bottom line is if you want to keep young people here, then we need the kind of jobs that provide a stable, decent, worthwhile future and living standard - not more nickel and diming us.

Please monitor the "Pure Michigan" Photo page on Facebook.  Just this morning I found images of the KKK.

The Pure Michigan ad was purely a political move in this case.  Employers across the US know that Michigan is now a "Right to work" (for lower wages) State.    There was no need for an ad to bring businesses to Michigan.  This ad was a slap in the face of all hard-working people of Michigan.  The cost came from our taxes.  We are angry that our taxes were used so callously unnecessarily.  

Dude, the more you try to justify your actions, the worse you sound. Michigan citizens have spoken CLEARLY. QUIT using the Pure Michigan logo in this context or all you'll accomplish is pissing us off even more. The citizenry has spoken, so BUTTON IT!!

In the past I loved the Pure Michigan Campaign.  Now it represents attempts by the Republican Party's campaign to oppress Michigan workers and bust union funding of the Democratic Party.  What next, the return of child labor, repeal of safety, and environmental laws.   You bastards and your wealthy puppet-masters can expect a robust backlash by the people of Michigan. 

It's pure nonsense that you chose to politicize not only a unique logo/trademark, but a concept that many of us hold close to our hearts in our beautiful state. The natural beauty found in Michigan is unique and it should be treasured. It can stand on it's own and there was absolutely NO need to change this up to support right wing politics under the guise of promoting tourism. Ridiculous!  Your political agenda has NO place in Pure Michigan and this is an epic fail on your part. There is no 'logic' involved in your decision; only a bold arrogance that I find more than a bit disturbing.

Elections have consequences,that's why RTW had to be forced behind locked doors in lame duck. This is yet another abuse of Michigan taxpayers for political propaganda. I know the attack on collective bargaining will surely bring tons of tourism to the state. After all how many chances do you get to see the reenacting of the rise of nazi Germany.

I think it's just great that Pure Michigan is promoting our new Right to Work law.  Bring more businesses in, more jobs, more tourists, and Michigan prospers!  It's a win-win.  Those who are complaining need to grow up and look at the big picture.  Do we want Michigan to keep on losing jobs and families to states that are right-to-work states?  Wouldn't it be better to have jobs available here, so our kids don't have to move to Texas to find work?  I say yes.

I'm sorry but explain to me again how RTW helps Michigan's economy grow? On paper it says it lowers labor costs for manufacturing sector and will make Michigan competitive with other RTW states in attracting businesses.  Okay, now this is where the Mackinac Center or as I call it, The "Ayn Rand Fan Club" and faux non-profit, Americans For Prosperity have not gone further than A+B=C.  This short term thinking may also explain why the Governor ran Gateway computers into the ground. Free marketeers end their thinking at the short term benefits for the business owner. We need to take the next logical path to steps D or E and ask how is this going to attract employees by offering low wages?  Michigan no longer offers anything of significant value to a middle class family.  So if I'm a potential employee and I have a choice between making $30 an hour between Michigan or Florida (both RTW states) which one would I choose? So now the business owner is forced either to move his/her business to another state or raise wages to attract employees either way it nullifies the rationale behind RTW.

Here are the MLive polling totals as of Saturday at 1:12 p.m.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

No, Pure Michigan should be used to promote state tourism, not business or political issues.  82.32%  (661 votes) 

Yes, it's a natural extension of the brand to promote all things in Michigan, whether its tourism or business.  17.68%  (142 votes) Total Votes: 803

"FIRE MIKE FINNEY!"

"Using the Pure Michigan brand for business marketing is not new. Over the past two years, we have expanded the Pure Michigan brand beyond tourism to market the entire state."

Oh really?

Then why does the Pure Michigan website call itself "Michigan's Official Travel and Tourism Site"? Did they not get the memo that "Economic Development" should be included as well? Same with the Twitter, Facebook, and Google accounts - all of them focus (in terms of imagery, posts, site design) on travel/leisure. You'd have to scrape hard to find anything about "freedom-to-work."

It's depressing when the head of an Economic Development group fails Marketing 101 - keep your brand messaging clear. You've muddied "Pure Michigan" with the inclusion of polarizing rhetoric. Talk about counter-productive.

The fact that you cut business taxes at the expense of the average citizen is nothing to be proud of.  Taking advantage of the little guy will NOT win over the hearts of the middle class!  I hate that all those beautiful pictures of Michigan have been hijacked by BIG BUSINESS to promote their greedy ends!

The unions in this state made the companies, corporations and the State strong and profitable only to have rightwing legislators kick the hard-working laborers in the teeth with corporate-backed attempts to cut middle class standards of living. Now with the emotions running high, you rub salt in the wounds. How are you going to advertise the fact that workers in this state will not be able to afford the products business peddles? You no longer can point out that labor and business have a positive relationship. Hijacking the Pure Michigan brand is going to have negative effects in the long run.

Dear Mr. Finney:

As a 39 year member of the U.A.W. I have spent nearly every vacation dollar I've ever received right here in this great State.  From golf weekends with friends, to being able to park my Travel Trailer in 32 different State Parks.  Everywhere from Sterling to the Porcupine Mountains.  We never took our kids to Disney but they sure got to see Mackinaw, Houghton Lake, Traverse City...Well, now all that as changed.  I"m using the "freedom' you so profoundly profess to explore other options.  Ohio has some interesting spots.  You see, unlike the legislators in Michigan. they allowed true "Freedom" to SB 5 by not doing something like attach an appropriation to it so the people of that state had "Freedom" to challenge and vote on it.  Been 20 years since we have been to the Smokies.  I bet they are beautiful in the spring.

Sincerely:

Joseph G. Elden

We are the Winter Wonderland.  I always wondered why efforts haven't made to bring the Winter Olympics to Michigan.  Ironwood has one of the longest ski jumps.  Then we have loads of snow, cold weather, excellent road service, great people and, if in the Yooper, pasties like no other.  It would be a great place to have the Olympics.  Hey, I would even help you out for free!