(WWJ) – After announcing the “Make It In Michigan” initiative, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is headed off to France and Germany this week, her third European trip in five months, working to court businesses in an attempt to bring industry to Michigan.
On a new Daily J podcast, WWJ’s Zach Clark explores not only whether the trips are actually worth it for Michigan’s economy, but if there’s also another motivating factor.
While politicians are always talking about trying to create good, high-paying jobs across the U.S. – as former Gov. Jennifer Granholm did Monday morning in Birmingham – it’s not just federal leaders.
Whitmer says the initiative is set up to attract jobs and talent from other states and bring the supply chain home from overseas. During her trip, she’ll meet with business leaders to discuss investment opportunities in the state in fields like aerospace, defense, future mobility and manufacturing. She’ll also visit with Michigan troops stationed overseas.
Having already made three trips to Europe – including two this year – to pitch Michigan jobs, some have speculated there’s another factor behind it all – an eventual run for president in 2028.
While the governor has never discussed intentions for the Oval Office, John Mozena, the President of The Center for Economic Accountability – which opposes large tax breaks for corporations – thinks there’s “essentially no economic value,” but “serious political value” in this type of trip.
“It’s essentially a campaign advertisement much more than it is anything from a serious economic perspective. There’s essentially no economic value,” Mozena said.
But Oakland University political science professor Dave Dulio says this is “pretty standard economic development work for governors.”
“She’s not the only governor that’s doing it now, she’s not the only Michigan governor that’s done it. Rick Snyder went to China twice, he went to Japan, he went to Germany on these trade missions. So it’s pretty standard stuff. Maybe you could say going to visit the troops is a little departure from the norm, but I’m not sure I would reach much into it beyond that,” Dulio said.
In response to this story, a spokesperson for the governor's office stated that these trips are funded through the Michigan Economic Development (MEDC) Foundation, "which is non-state funds."
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