ROLLING OUT THE ECONOMIC WELCOME MAT
Michigan is a global state, supporting businesses from around the country and on the international stage as they find new opportunities here—and it wouldn’t be possible without help from the MEDF.
Hosting and Showcasing
The Battery Show: North America’s largest advanced battery event, the MEDC and businesses we support were able to interact with over 1,100 manufacturers in the battery supply chain.
Detroit Auto Show: Michigan’s one-of-a-kind mobility and EV ecosystem was on display during the Detroit Auto Show, and the MEDC was able to welcome state agency representatives, industry leaders, academics and startups to a reception after the opening day.
Delegations: Michigan hosted several delegations in 2023, fostering stronger relationships with international partners from Germany, Japan, Spain, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates.
IMEX America: The MEDC exhibited to the more than 15,000 participants, representing over 3,400 companies, who walked the show floor at the 12th IMEX America in Las Vegas. Those numbers make for the largest show yet for the global buyer’s trade show.
Consular Corps of Michigan Reception: Both Gov. Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Gilchrist were able to attend the reception, which serves as a chance to meet with government officials, economic development agencies, trade organizations, universities and more.
Michigan/Shiga Sister State Goodwill Mission: A Michigan delegation traveled to Japan to enjoy the Shiga Prefecture, complete with events and sightseeing to celebrate the shared partnerships, cultural values and institutions that have marked this relationship since it began in 1968.
Michigan Travel Commission support: The Travel Commission is responsible for advancing travel and tourism in the state, helped by hosting MEDF-supported gatherings the evening before the commission’s quarterly meetings.
Mobility Meetups: With four meetings in 2023 hosted by the MEDC Office of Future Mobility, MICHauto and Plug and Play Detroit, these sessions connect automotive tech startups with Michigan’s automotive and mobility industry stakeholders.
Out-of-state receptions: Michigan held networking receptions after high-profile international events, including MEDICA, one of the world’s largest medical B2B trade events, in Düsseldorf, Germany; MD&M West, a premier medtech trade show, in Anaheim, California; BIO International, a conference put on by the world’s largest biotech trade association, in Boston; and Pitti Uomo, the international men’s fashion show in Florence, Italy.
Promoting Michigan in Montreal: The MEDC, U.S. Commercial Service and the U.S. Consulate General Quebec hosted a reception at the Consul General’s home to showcase investment opportunities in Michigan for executives based in Quebec.
Site selection: Michigan was able to present the boundless business opportunity to site selectors at the Site Consultant Roundtable at Area Development in Detroit, four Market Blitz events and the Region 4 familiarization tour.
Site visits: An essential piece of Michigan’s economic strategy, site visits bring key decision makers to designated locations around the state that are best suited to support businesses in our key industries. This opportunity can be an unparalleled step in turning potential projects into transformational investments in Michigan’s future.
Tribal/State Summit: The governor attended the summit, an essential platform to address shared priorities and continue an open dialogue between the State of Michigan and sovereign tribal governments.
Investment Missions
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist began the year leading a Michigan delegation to the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show, including MEDC leaders and the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrificatio (OFME), to highlight our state’s public/private partnerships that address mobility solutions to challenges in communities across Michigan.
Gov. Whitmer led the year’s first internationalinvestment missions to promote Michigan’s strengths, beginning with visits to Norway and Switzerland in January. The governor attended the World Economic Forum, participating in forums on sustainability and mobility.
The delegation also met with executives of Norwegian company Nel Hydrogen, laying the groundwork for the company’s May announcement of a $400 million investment in Michigan, which they made alongside the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, Gov. Whitmer and MEDC CEO Quentin L. Messer Jr. at the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland.
Also in May, the second international trade mission took the Michigan delegation to Austria and Latvia to meet with business leaders, including automotive suppliers, and government leaders.
During the investment mission to France and Germany in June, the governor met with leaders of Expleo in Paris to announce the company will establish its first North American R&D facility in Michigan. In Japan in September, the governor and Team Michigan joined Denso to announce the retooling of its Battle Creek facility to support vehicle electrification.
In November, the governor undertook a threeday investment mission to California, where the delegation announced continued support for the Michigan Semiconductor Talent and Automotive Research Center of Excellence, known as Michigan STAR. The delegation also attended the 2023 Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) Awards Dinner and participated in the SIA CEO Roundtable.
Current and soon-to-be Michigan entrepreneurs and workers know that our state is forging a holistic path to a strong and inclusive economy.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity
The MEDC is tying transformative projects to greater economic good, making Michigan a world-renowned location for inclusivity and limitless equitable economic opportunity. To expand access to economic success, the MEDC’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity team is focused on cultivating a culturally competent climate where MEDC employees feel empowered, and shaping programming that reflects the communities it serves.
2023 served as a year of building capacity and frameworks with the MEDC’s DEI team, preparing for a 2024 that will deliver a strong focus on creating a sense of belonging for all Michiganders. The new year will also see the organization develop partnerships throughout underserved communities and collect comprehensive demographic data, providing more accountability that will guide the MEDC to be a best-in-class economic development organization.
Marketing a Welcome Place for All
Also in 2023, Michigan launched the beginning of its largest-ever collection of attraction campaigns to deliver its case as the perfect place to live and do business, letting the world know that we’re putting out the welcome mat for everyone to make their life in Michigan.
You Can in Michigan: This new national talent attraction marketing campaign shows people Michigan has career opportunities for workers of all backgrounds who want to contribute to our high-tech industries.
Pure Michigan: The MEDC’s Travel Michigan team, which administers the award-winning Pure Michigan campaign, directed federal funds to develop accessible websites and physical spaces for convention and visitors’ bureaus.
Pure Michigan Inspiration
The iconic Pure Michigan campaign, which markets the state as a premiere place to live and visit, launched a new effort inviting travelers to “Keep it Fresh” and “Keep Falling for Michigan,” with spots designed to attract visitors and potential new neighbors with inspiring new travel perspectives and voices.
Commercials were set to a new sound with the introduction of an original track by Michigan-based independent music company Assemble Sound and the voice of Detroit poet jessica Care moore, who will be the first new artist adding her fresh voice to the campaign through a spoken word content series.
The campaign also featured commercials with regional travel partners, including Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Traverse City, using the sights, sounds and artistry that reflect the range of unique experiences and stories to be found in Michigan.
The Pure Michigan campaign continues to inspire out-of-state talent and potential visitors to consider Michigan’s thriving communities as the perfect place to live and play, reporting in 2023 that two million leisure trips to our state were influenced by the travel advertising in the previous year.