LANSING – Capitalizing on Michigan's strategic global trading location, House Democrats today announced a plan to create a new state authority that would make Michigan a leader in international trade, attract 21st-century investments and create jobs.
"Michigan must get ahead in the international trade game, and this plan gives us a strategy to compete in today's global economy," said Majority Floor Leader Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit). "By merging businesses, local residents and the state, we can create jobs, attract investments and make Michigan the Great Trade State."
Tobocman's plan will create the Michigan Border Development and Protection Authority to craft strategies that maximize economic development opportunities throughout the state and particularly in the three Canada-U.S. border communities of southwest Detroit, Port Huron and Sault Ste. Marie. The MBDPA would make Michigan one of the first states to develop a comprehensive strategy to attract businesses and jobs from the growing international logistics and transportation industry. Tobocman said the MBDPA could also support the aerotropolis development proposal by Wayne and Washtenaw counties for the Metro Detroit and Willow Run airports, as well as Detroit Renaissance for the region to become a global logistics hub.
Michigan currently does not have an integrated authority that partners state government with business entities and local communities along the state's international border with Canada. As a result, trade – and jobs – frequently bypasses Michigan communities and head elsewhere, such as Chicago, Indianapolis and Toledo.
"We want to send a clear message: Come to Michigan if you want to be a leader in global trade," said Rep. John Espinoza (D-Croswell), whose district includes the Blue Water Bridge linking Port Huron with Sarnia, Ontario. "Michigan is Canada's largest trading partner and Mexico's third largest. We do twice more trade with Canada than our entire nation does with Japan each year. With a border authority, we can capture economic value from the abundance of trade and turn it into good-paying jobs for our communities."
Rep. Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard), whose district includes the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, said: "This plan gives our community the tools we need to compete in a global economy, create jobs and attract 21st-Century investments."
Michigan and Canada do more than $160 billion in trade each year, much of it through Detroit and Port Huron.