Driving Michigan forward: Gov. Whitmer announces new economic transition strategy unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show

The Community and Worker Economic Transition Office is building Michigan’s economic future through growth, resilience and empowered workers

DETROIT, Mich. — Michigan built the industries that built America. Now, Michigan is taking a proactive step to ensure workers, communities and businesses are positioned to adapt and thrive in a changing economy.

Today, at the Detroit Auto Show, Gov. Whitmer along with the Michigan Community & Worker Economic Transition Office announced the release of the state’s first-ever Michigan Economic Transition Strategy — building a stronger, more resilient future together.

"The State of Michigan is focused on growing our economy, creating good-paying jobs and preparing our talented workers for jobs of the future," said Gov. Whitmer. "Michigan put the world on wheels, and we want to keep making the best cars and trucks. This new strategy ensures we will continue to do just that by supporting workers and communities through long-term changes in the auto industry. By working with businesses, communities and workers we can grow our economy and build a Michigan where future generations can thrive." 

Created in 2023, the Community & Worker Economic Transition Office within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity was tasked by the governor and the legislature with helping the state anticipate and navigate economic transitions, particularly in the auto and energy sectors. One of its core responsibilities was developing and publishing a statewide economic transition strategy that aligned efforts across government, industry, labor and communities.

“The Community & Worker Economic Transition Office is turning Michigan’s strength into action — connecting people, ideas and data to help workers, businesses and communities move forward with confidence,” said Community & Worker Economic Transition Office Director Jonathan Smith. “This work is about more than managing change — it’s about shaping what comes next and building a resilient economy where every corner of Michigan has the opportunity to thrive.” 

The Michigan Economic Transition Strategy was developed over the past year and a half with extensive stakeholder input. An advisory committee of 75 members representing more than 60 organizations in 40 counties contributed diverse insight to shape the approach. To mark its debut, the Transition Office hosted a roundtable discussion at the Detroit Auto Show, bringing together key partners who contributed to its development.

“By securing Michigan’s manufacturing legacy while embracing our economic future, this strategy helps small and mid-sized manufacturers adapt, compete and thrive in a rapidly changing global market,” said MichAuto Executive Director Glenn Stevens Jr. “It serves as a model for industrial resilience and business attraction — opening new pathways for existing companies to diversify, strengthen supply chains and grow into emerging sectors — all while retaining and creating good-paying jobs in Michigan’s industrial communities.”

The strategy itself connects three priorities under one unified vision: industry growth and diversification, community resilience and employee engagement and empowerment. It outlines programs and recommendations that help Michigan prepare for economic change and take the next step.

Industry growth and diversification
Michigan’s Economic Transition Strategy aims to bridge the gap between our economic future and our industrial legacy and heritage. It serves both as a tool to help small and medium-sized manufacturers adapt to economic change, and as a strategic comparative advantage to attract new investment from companies seeking dependable supply chains built for what’s coming next.

Community resilience
Throughout the office’s engagement activities, it has been clear that most communities have a sense of what their future could be. They have an asset like a college or historic downtown, a resource like access to public lands or fresh water, or a key employer or sector that could catalyze broader economic growth. What these communities often lack is the data, information or mechanisms for collaboration to turn that vision into an actionable, implementable plan. Rather than prescribing top-down solutions, the state is leaning into its role as a provider of information and as capacity enhancer, supporting communities to chart their own paths for the future.

Employee engagement and empowerment
The Community & Worker Economic Transition Office is leading a proactive effort to help workers prepare for and succeed in this changing economy. By filling gaps in existing services and coordinating resources across the state, the Transition Office ensures that workers, especially those at risk of being left behind, can participate in, benefit from, and help shape Michigan’s economic future.

“As Michigan’s largest industries evolve, our response must be bold, coordinated and people-centered,” said James Harrison director of renewable energies, Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO. “Michigan’s future prosperity depends on a workforce equipped with the skills and training to meet what’s next, and this strategy ensures that Michiganders are prepared for, and included in, the good-paying, high-quality jobs created through economic transition.” 

Over the past year, the Transition Office has continued to achieve milestones in advancing economic progress in Michigan, including launching a $3.5 billion procurement initiative with DTE and Consumers Energy to grow local supply chains, unveiling the MI Hub for Manufacturers to connect businesses with growth resources, establishing the Community Growth Academy to help communities prepare for economic change, developing the Reliable Rides playbook to address transportation barriers, onboarded Syncurrent, an AI startup, to enhance the MI Funding Hub and so much more.

The Michigan Economic Transition Strategy is available at: MITransitionStrategy.org

Learn more about their work and sign up for Transition Office email updates at Michigan.gov/EconomicTransition.