Detroit Free Press Carol Cain column: Business group says state can help start-ups
BYLINE: Carol Cain, Detroit Free Press
Apr. 17--A growing number of small businesses are saying Michigan could be doing more to help entrepreneurs, according to a report released Monday.
The Michigan Entrepreneurship Scorecard -- released by the Small Business Association of Michigan -- gave Michigan a D- for entrepreneurial dynamism in 2006.
That was down from the D it received in 2005 and edged closer to the F it earned in 2004 -- the first time the report was released.
The report looks at a variety of measures and defines entrepreneurial dynamism as a composite measure of Michigan's performance in entrepreneurial change, entrepreneurial vitality and entrepreneurial climate.
"This report was designed to...not point fingers at anyone," said Michael Rogers, vice president of communications at the business association, which has more than 5,000 members.
"But our efforts to support entrepreneurs here has a long way to go," Rogers added.
The scorecard ranked all 50 states in 122 categories. All Midwest states earned D's when it came to entrepreneurial dynamism.
"Michigan is not alone," said Mark Clevey, executive director of the association. "Other states are obviously having problems."
Observers say the changing marketplace and the shift from an industrial economy to a knowledge-based one caused problems for Michigan.
"Globalization has hollowed out our manufacturing industries and our service industries, and the only thing we have to combat that is to help our entrepreneurs grow," Clevey said.
This year's report card did have some bright spots.
It ranked Michigan eighth in the nation for its education system.
The report lauded efforts like TechTown, a business incubator in Detroit, and Automation Alley, which boosts local high-tech firms.
"We have the best educational system but the question is: Are we training people to learn the skills they will need?" Clevey asked.
CAROL CAIN is the host of "Michigan Matters" on WWJ-TV (Channel 62) at 11 a.m. Sundays and on WKBD-TV (Channel 50) at 9:30 a.m. Sundays. If you have information about your business, mail it to Small Business, Detroit Free Press, 600 W. Fort St., Detroit 48226.
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