01/17/2026
The U.S. economy is rapidly evolving and the ability for small businesses to keep pace with it often boils down to resources and where they are operating.
In his latest with Forbes, Rhett Buttle sits down with Jonathan Smith, Chief Deputy Director of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and Director of the Community and Worker Economic Transition Office, to discuss the state’s efforts to make sure that this evolution happens in a fair and inclusive manner for their economies.
A few points that stood out to us:
→ What arguably sets Michigan’s task apart from others is that it has to guide the transition of the state’s utility and auto sectors, which make up more than 20% of its economy.
→ The Community & Worker Economic Transition Office is executing a first-of-its-kind, integrated strategy that brings together workforce development, community resilience, and industrial competitiveness under one unified vision.
→ The Economic Transition Office’s work has three main areas of focus: Industry Growth and Diversification, Community Resiliency, and Employee Engagement and Empowerment.
→ Michigan’s approach is grounded in community-driven design, bottom-up capacity building, and collaborative problem-solving.
As Mr. Smith notes, “By listening first, equipping local leaders with data and tools, and convening cross-sector partnerships, we ensure strategies are rooted in local priorities and capable of delivering real outcomes.”
Read the full interview here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rhettbuttle/2026/01/15/inside-michigans-strategy-for-economic-transition/
