housing efforts that will directly help Michiganders by providing the peace of mind that comes with a physical space and community they can call home. Additionally, Michigan has always been at the forefront of advancements in mobility, including driving innovation in autonomous drone technology. Leveraging that leadership, Michigan has launched the Uncrewed Triple Challenge, a state-sponsored competition tasking entrants with using unmanned, autonomous drones to seamlessly transport a package across Michigan — traversing water, air and land. Companies across the nation, including many in Michigan, are working on the next generation of drones for a wide variety of defense, civilian, and commercial uses. These drones deliver medicine to isolated communities, support military personnel on the front lines, and transport critical manufacturing components to cut down on production delays. With the Uncrewed Triple Challenge, Michigan is making its mark in this sector, which will help drive investment and job growth and continue our leadership in all things mobility. How important is industry diversification AND what are some new industries that are growing in/coming to the state? While Michigan has long had a diverse economy, continuous industry diversification is critical to Michigan’s long-term economic success. By expanding beyond our traditional strengths in agribusiness, automotive manufacturing and other advanced manufacturing sectors, we are building a more resilient, future-ready economy that creates employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. Michigan is seeing tremendous growth in industries like semiconductors, electric vehicle battery manufacturing, life sciences and clean energy technology. We are also emerging as a leader in industries like defense and aerospace, which are bringing good-paying jobs to Michigan and strengthening our position as a hub for innovation and investment. Through strategic initiatives and partnerships, we’re ensuring that businesses of all sizes—especially small and mid-sized companies— can thrive in this evolving economic landscape. What makes Michigan unique from a growth and development perspective? Michigan stands out as a national leader in growth and development because of our unmatched combination of innovation, talent and strategic investments. We have a rich deep tech/hard tech legacy that has seen Michigan evolve into a hub for advanced manufacturing industries like mobility, clean energy, semiconductors and life sciences. With our competitive business climate, worldclass universities and commitment to workforce development, we’re ensuring businesses, entrepreneurs and researchers have the resources they need to succeed. We’re leveraging historic federal and state investments to create good-paying jobs, strengthen local communities and build a more sustainable, resilient economy. Home to the Great Lakes, Michigan offers residents and visitors alike the ideal four-season destination to live, work and play. With low costs of living, and excellent quality of life, both talent and employers see Michigan as a top state for business and leisure. Selected 29 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03 FOREWORD (MICHIGAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION)
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