The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
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Transcript of The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
Things are bleak
• Michigan unemployment = 15% +
• Manufacturing (automobiles) and construction challenged
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
Things are bleak
• The “old jobs” aren’t there anymore
• …and they aren’t coming back.
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
Key problems
• Too many people out of work
• Too few people starting businesses
• Existing businesses in mature/declining sectors
• No confidence in economic future
• Brain drain: MSU grads are fleeing
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
Narrowing focus: which to choose?
• Health care
• Education
• Child care
• Foreclosures
• Jobs in general
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
Steps to get back to prosperity
• Create places where talent wants to live
• Ensure long-term success of higher education
• Move beyond desire to recreate old economy
• Develop new public/private sector leadership
• Reinvent industrial base around innovation
• Promote next-gen talent through learning
• Build assets collaboratively
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
& Outreach/Engagement
• More promotional in nature
• Do what we do, hope it sticks!
Old model:
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
& Outreach/Engagement
LET’S ASK THE COMMUNITY!
Time for a change!
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
CPB Economy Grant – Economic Forum
Goal: to learn from participants how public media can be their strategic partner
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
We asked:
• What needs did these economic transitions create?
• What existing assets can address these needs?
• What assets need to be created?
• How can public media help address these needs?
CPB Economy Grant – Economic Forum
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
They said:
“The key issue is JOBS!”
CPB Economy Grant – Economic Forum
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
The Planets Align!
• “By the People: Hard Times, Hard Choices”
• Deliberative polling in Lansing
• Grant to focus on this event & follow-up
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
ReWorking Michigan
• WKAR focuses on jobs / employment strategies
for reinventing economy and region
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
ReWorking Michigan
• Air “Hard Times, Hard Choices”
• 16 radio features on jobs, entrepreneurship, new economy, etc.
• Half-hour doc’ on these issues
• Website with local/national resources; archived broadcasts
• Facilitated community conversations in 3 distinct areas
• Promotion support
Project Elements
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!
ReWorking Michigan
• Too soon to tell
• Stay tuned
Results
Contacts
• Jeanie Croope: [email protected] 517-432-3120, ext 424
• Susi Elkins: [email protected] 517-432-3120, ext 418
The Economy Sucks in Michigan – WKAR to the Rescue!