NILES, Mich. (WNDU) – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made e brief appearance in Michiana on Thursday, as she was the keynote speaker at this year’s luncheon for the Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce.
The governor has about 18 months left on her term, and on Thursday she spent about a half hour of that speaking in Niles.
Gov. Whitmer says the Michigan economy is more vulnerable to tariffs than those of other states, and she listed three reasons why.
“A state that is so heavy in manufacturing. A state that has a huge agriculture sector. The second most agriculture in the country comes out of the state of Michigan and is a unique challenge when we’re talking about tariff policies in Mexico and Canada in particular, but other countries as well. And then we’re disproportionately in auto space in our manufacturing,” Gov. Whitmer said. “Those three things make Michigan the place that has the greatest challenges when there is tariff policy that is changing that isn’t tied to a long-term strategy.”
In the meantime, Gov. Whitmer’s strategy is to stick to the basics: to invest in infrastructure and people as to increase the skills of the workforce.
“When you add up all of these different paths for people, you’ve got over 100,000 Michiganders who are or have gotten or are in the process of getting a certificate or degree,” she said.
The state’s stated goal is to have 65% of Michiganders have a post-secondary certificate or degree by 2030. Michigan is at about 52% attainment at present.
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