What is Economic Gardening?

On Wednesday evening, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder gave his first State of the State Address, outling his priorities for the coming year. The Ann Arbor businessman's performance was said to resemble a "CEO-like" evaluation of the state government's performace; including the adapation of Michigan Dashboard, a website designed to track the performance of Michigan in comparison with the rest of the rest of the country, in various categories.

The new governor called for the consolidation of local government services in order to cut costs and called for the repeal of the "item pricing" law that he suggests will save the state $2 billion. While his speech was light on government reform and spending cuts, he displayed a laser focus on economic development, outling his plan to adopt an approach called "economic gardening" over "economic hunting."

Snyder attempts to separate himself from the previous administration's policies of using the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to offer large tax incentives in attempt lure particular industries into the state. Instead, Snyder aims to reform the MEDC to create a collaborative network of local economic development organizations to provide resources for entrepenuers and job seekers. He highlighted his own experience with Ann Arbor SPARK and at the MEDC under Governor Engler. According the Kauffman Foundation:

Economic gardening is an economic development model that embraces the fundamental idea that entrepreneurs drive economies. he model seeks to create jobs by supporting existing companies in a community. Economic gardening connects entrepreneurs to resources, encouraging the development of essential infrastructure and providing entrepreneurs with needed information.

Governor Snyder has also separated himself from other recently elected midwestern Republican Governors, who have rejected federal funding for infrustructure projects; by embracing the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) bridge project. The Governor insisted that federal funding will be matched with funds from the Candadian government and will not require state money be used. He also spoke extensively about initiatives to bring new residents and companies into the city of Detroit and other central cities; opening new state offices of "Urban Initiatives."

Snyder's economic philosophy may resemble something similar to Henry Clay's "American System," with a modern twist. The new Michigan Governor is not asking government to simply "get out of the way," (like The Marketeers) but he's asking policymakers to change course on previously held beliefs about economic development. It still remains unclear as to whether or not he will extend the Michigan Film Credit or credits regarding alternative energy initiatives. However, it is clear that the new Governor believes government should play a different sort of active role in encouraging business growth. Perhaps we'll call this group, The Gardeners.