Michigan Prosperity Agenda: What We Can Do to Make Michigan More Immigrant-Friendly

Michigan Prosperity Agenda: What We Can Do to Make Michigan More Immigrant-Friendly

Program Explores How to Make a Better Michigan

On this month’s Prosperity Agenda Radio show we discuss Michigan’s efforts to become one of the nation’s most immigrant-friendly states and how new state policies have the potential to bring new jobs and opportunity to the Great Lakes State.

The Michigan Prosperity Agenda is a monthly radio show that challenges listeners to help make Michigan a better place to live, work and play by creating vibrant and prosperous local communities. It has aired on News/Talk 760 WJR since 2010.

The hour-long radio program is hosted by Dan Gilmartin, CEO of the Michigan Municipal League (the League). The show is sponsored by the League and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

THIS MONTH’S SHOW airs at 7 p.m., July 23, 2014 on News/Talk 760 WJR, and you can listen by clicking the links below. Listen as we talk about what we can do to make Michigan more immigrant-friendly.

	Dan Gilmartin Dan Gilmartin, executive director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League, explains that the Prosperity Agenda radio show is about challenging listeners to help make Michigan a better place to live, work and play. Gilmartin said having vibrant and prosperous local communities is a key factor. – Dan Gilmartin explains this month’s show. (1:06)
	Mary Kramer Gilmartin is joined by guest co-host Mary Kramer, publisher of Crain’s Detroit Business. They discuss the immigration movement in Michigan and efforts underway to attract and retain them. – Listen to Kramer discuss her publication’s long-standing “American Dreamers” series and why the immigration issue is so important to the economic growth of Detroit and Michigan. (6:58)
	Bing Goei Bing Goei is a Grand Rapids community leader, entrepreneur and immigrant who was appointed director of Gov. Rick Snyder’s Office for New Americans in January 2014. The office’s goal is to help propel Michigan’s comeback by attracting and retaining highly skilled immigrants. Goei serves as chief adviser to the governor and state departments on the formulation and implementation of Michigan’s immigration policies, programs and procedures. Goei immigrated to Michigan from Indonesia via the Netherlands with his family in 1960. He rebuilt the Eastern Floral company and serves as its CEO. – Listen to Goei discuss the state’s EB5 and EB2 programs and what the state is doing to help immigrants (9:41)
	Scott Woosley Scott Woosley is executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). Prior to his current role he was a highly successful Rochester real estate financial developer and a principal and one of the founders of Labor-Management Fund Advisors (LMFA) LLC, a Troy-based full-service commercial and residential real estate advisory firm. – Woosley explains why the state housing agency is involved attracting wealthy and highly educated immigrants to Michigan and what it’s been able to accomplish so far. (9:46)
	Steve Tobocman Steve Tobocman has spent the past three years spearheading Global Detroit, a regional economic revitalization strategy for the Detroit area focused on immigration and global connections. Steve is the managing partner of New Solutions Group, a mission-driven consulting firm that develops smart, innovative and collaborative solutions that often challenge old paradigms that often restrain success and opportunity. – Tobocman discusses the efforts of Global Detroit and why he has said metro Detroit can become the Silicon Valley of the Midwest if Michigan opens its doors to more immigrants. (10:32)

Michigan Prosperity Agenda: What We Can Do to Make Michigan More Immigrant-Friendly

Michigan Prosperity Agenda: What We Can Do to Make Michigan More Immigrant-Friendly

Program Explores How to Make a Better Michigan

Dan Gilmartin

Mary Kramer

Bing Goei

Scott Woosley

Steve Tobocman