Michigan is on the road to recovery, but we have a long way to go before we can lead the nation in economic vitality, innovation, job growth and quality of life.

The West Michigan Policy Forum’s mission is to create jobs and opportunities in Michigan by removing barriers to competitiveness, empowering grassroots advocacy within the state’s business community and moving forward with legislative policy directives geared toward Michigan’s long-term prosperity.

At WMPF conferences in 2008, 2010 and 2012 business and community leaders from around the state set forth an aggressive agenda geared toward fulfilling that mission in the following areas:

GOVERNMENT

• Streamline the permitting process within state government
• Support policies that enable local government consolidation

HEALTH CARE

• Increase funding for health care providers with effective prevention practices

LABOR

• Implement a freedom-to-work (right-to-work) status for Michigan

TALENT

• Dedicate funds for early childhood development in the state budget
• Develop common K-12 and higher education metrics that better prepare students for Michigan's future workforce needs

TRANSPORTATION | INFRASTRUCTURE

• Update funding mechanisms for transportation infrastructure
• Build the New International Trade Crossing and a new freight tunnel connecting Michigan to Canada
• Improve transportation infrastructure by creating policies that maximize federal matching funds

We will hold lawmakers accountable for making bold decisions to reinvent Michigan and challenge state government to operate with the same vigor as the private sector. We will serve as tireless advocates for achieving these policy priorities.

Action must be the new “buzzword” in the arena of legislative policy.