LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 9, 2025) — Facing challenges such as minimal population growth, an aging workforce nearing retirement, and widespread financial strain among residents, the Michigan Senate has approved a sweeping bipartisan initiative led by Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) to launch a decade-long economic development strategy. The move aims to reshape how the state fosters long-term prosperity across all regions.
“For years, we’ve engaged with people from every corner of Michigan — from small business operators to urban planners and everyday citizens,” said Sen. McMorrow, who chairs the Senate Committee on Economic and Community Development. “The message has been consistent: our current model for stimulating economic progress is insufficient. What we’re introducing is more than policy — it’s a commitment to measurable outcomes and forward-thinking investment that empowers communities to flourish not just now, but well into the future.”
Senate Bill 213, spearheaded by McMorrow, lays out a comprehensive framework designed to evaluate regional disparities in areas like transportation networks, housing availability, and infrastructure quality. Based on these assessments, tailored strategies will be developed to meet localized demands.
Complementing this effort, Senate Bill 214, introduced by Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs), establishes a Strategic Advisory Board responsible for drafting the initial version of the 10-year roadmap. This body will include both voting and non-voting members representing diverse geographic zones, professional fields, and demographic backgrounds. It will also be charged with reviewing and revising the plan annually to ensure relevance and responsiveness.
The legislative package was shaped through extensive consultations with state lawmakers, educators, local entrepreneurs, economic planners, and community advocates. A recurring insight from these dialogues was the necessity for a unified, enduring economic vision capable of maintaining momentum regardless of shifts in political leadership.
With Senate approval secured, the proposal now moves to the Michigan House of Representatives for further evaluation.
— news from Michigan Senate Democrats
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Michigan Senate Passes Bipartisan McMorrow Legislation to Create 10
LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 9, 2025) — With population growth largely stagnant, a workforce rapidly aging towards retirement, and too many Michiganders struggling to make ends meet, today, the Michigan Senate passed comprehensive, bipartisan legislation championed by Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) to establish a 10-year economic development plan for the state. n n“We’ve spent years talking with residents, business owners, and economic developers across Michigan, and here’s what we’ve learned: our current approach to economic development just isn’t cutting it,” said Sen. McMorrow, Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic and Community Development. “Real economic growth requires vision and measurable metrics. My legislation gets at the heart of what actually makes communities thrive — it sets out a clear, long-term roadmap to make sure every corner of our state has the tools and resources to succeed, not just today, but for generations to come.” n nThe plan outlined in Sen. McMorrow’s Senate Bill 213 would be holistic in scope, assessing the many diverse needs of different regions around the state, including infrastructure, transportation, housing, and more, and then developing specific strategies to address those needs. n nBuilt in bipartisanship, Senate Bill 214 — sponsored by Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) — would create a Strategic Advisory Board tasked with the initial creation of this 10-year plan. The board would be comprised of voting and non-voting members from all around the state, representing a wide range of skillsets, backgrounds, and industries, who would be responsible for updating the plan each year. n nThis legislation was crafted using extensive feedback from conversations Sen. McMorrow held with fellow state senators, local business leaders, economic developers, residents, education and community leaders around the state. From those discussions, a common theme emerged — the need for Michigan to adopt a long-term, sustainable, and coordinated economic plan to provide consistency and stability amid changing political landscapes. n nThis legislation now heads to the House for further consideration. n n###