Page 13 - LRCC May 2021 Focus

Trezise Daman Anderson Hamilton Clobes Dean Curran

Nashville 20.4%

- -
Madison 13.8% STATE OF
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Greenville 10.3% THE REGION

Des Moines 9.7% PARTNERS

Columbus 8.9% The State of the Lansing Region Benchmarking
Report would not be possible without the
Durham 8.5% backing of our partners who believe in this
project and are committing time and resources
Hartford 7.9% towards its successful implementation going
forward. LRCC and LEAP would like to express
Minneapolis 5.2% deep appreciation to the following partners:
Dean Transportation, Dewpoint, Forsberg Real
Indianapolis 5.0% Estate Company, Harvest Creative Services,

Grand Rapids 4.7% The Lansing region has a very small Lansing Community College, Maner Costerisan,
private sector compared to the peer Michigan State University, MSU Federal Credit
Ann Arbor 2.1% regions studied in the State of the Union, Shyft Group and TechSmith.
Lansing Region Benchmarking Report.
LANSING 0.3% Courtesy Anderson Economic Group

Benchmarking Report does just that for us,” said undersold or ignored for way too long.”
Steve Curran, president and creative director,
Harvest Creative Services. “Yes, the pandemic has In 2018, Lansing had the second-highest share of
affected growth and expansion here - and around Gen Z residents (those born between 1997 and
the world, but I believe that as we emerge from a 2012). That talent base is indicative of the number of
Covid world, this region is going to take off. And workers just entering or about to enter the workforce.
because of the State of the Lansing Region Report,
we now have a clearer picture of what needs to “Our potential for growth in talent is really high here
happen to drive that growth.” because that young generation is heavily located
in our region,” said Trezise. “There is something
Areas of Strength unique going on here that is making us attractive for
Gen Z, and that is crucial.”
The State of the Lansing Region Benchmarking
Report noted five areas of strength for the Lansing Though the region’s median household income is still
region compared to the 11 peer region evaluated low, it has one of the fastest-growing income growth
in the research; high Gen Z population, growth rates. Other areas of strength include housing costs
in median household income, low housing costs, which are not increasing significantly. Affordability
growth in STEM degrees awarded, and university remains good.
research expenditures growth. Patrick Anderson
says the first thing the region needs to do is to Lansing ranked second among the 11 regions for
understand we have those assets. growth in STEM degrees. Science, technology,
engineering, and math are essential for a robust
“The mid-Michigan region is a great place to raise economy of the future. The strength of the
a family and have a quality of life for a reasonable Lansing region here is viewed as a good building
cost,” said Anderson. “That is something we have block for growth.

12 FOCUS / MAY 2021 LANSINGCHAMBER.ORG 13