On July 24, Adam Majestic, the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Director of Public Policy and Business Advocacy, addressed the Macomb County Board of Commissioners. Majestic’s presentation highlighted the Chamber’s regional efforts to bolster the Detroit Region’s national competitiveness, with a specific focus today on the benefits to Macomb County’s businesses and residents.
Majestic outlined three key areas of the Chamber’s work that directly support Macomb County’s economic vitality:
- Building a Talented Workforce: The Chamber works to solve the top business issue: access to skilled talent. Initiatives like the CEO Talent Council promote collaboration between business leaders and educational institutions, including Macomb Community College, to align curriculum with employer needs. This leads to internships, apprenticeships, and high-quality local careers that keep talent in the county. Majestic also highlighted the Chamber’s support services for Macomb students, addressing barriers like transportation and child care.
- Protecting the Defense Industry: The Chamber champions Macomb County’s defense sector by advocating in Lansing and Washington, D.C., helping establish and staff the Defense and Aerospace Caucus to diversify Michigan’s economy beyond auto. Key successes include securing the F-15EX mission for Selfridge Air National Guard Base and fighting for federal funds for the Detroit Arsenal.
- Providing Data for Informed Decisions: The Chamber’s in-house research team produces the annual State of the Region report, a vital tool for Macomb County. This report provides crucial economic data, benchmarking Macomb against other regions on key metrics like job growth and income. This empowers leaders to make strategic, fact-based decisions for future investment and growth.
By fostering a skilled workforce, safeguarding the vital defense industry, and equipping leaders with critical data, the Chamber is actively shaping a more prosperous and competitive future for the region. To delve deeper into the data that drives these initiatives and explore the metrics that benchmark the Region’s progress, visit the Detroit Data Center.