Michigan’s communities face a critical choice: keep chasing yesterday’s economic development playbook or embrace the entrepreneurs who are already there. From Grand Rapids to Marquette, local leaders are grappling with the same challenges—vacant storefronts, brain drain, and dependence on outside solutions that never materialize.

But what if the answer isn’t recruiting the next big business? What if it’s the laid-off factory worker crafting furniture in his garage, the entrepreneur brewing her craft beer, or the family creating specialty foods from Great Lakes traditions? These small-scale manufacturers are Michigan’s untapped economic engine, capable of transforming empty downtown buildings into thriving businesses that can’t be replicated online or moved overseas.

This webinar reveals the SPARK framework that’s helping elected officials revitalize local economies across America. You’ll discover how simple policy changes can unlock manufacturing potential, how shared facilities can become community anchors, and how supporting local producers can create the authenticity that retains and attracts residents and visitors alike.

You’ll leave with your community’s readiness scorecard and three policy actions you can champion immediately. Your economy’s resilience revival starts with believing in your constituents—and creating the conditions for them to succeed right where they are.