TROY – 2006 will be a year of continued transition for Michigan?s economy, writes Ken Rogers, Executive Director of Automation Alley. Our domestic vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers will continue to reshape themselves into a more sustainable business model.

At Automation Alley, our emphasis is on where we are going not where we have been. We are aware of the mistakes of the past. But where are we going and how are we going to get there is what the Alley is focused on. Our focus is on opportunity. We recognize that it will be Southeast Michigan that leads the state?s recovery and crafts its future. This state needs to understand that it has hope and a future. The Alley will work to promote that understanding in 2006.

Southeast Michigan holds the key to our state?s future. Here are a few of the reasons why our region is so pivotal for Michigan?s future. Half the state?s jobs and population are in this region. We have over 350,000 technical workers and over 8,000 technology companies regionally. There are 184 R & D facilities in Southeast Michigan. We are the robotics manufacturing capital of the America?s. We have over 350 bio-medical businesses regionally. Southeast Michigan will define Michigan?s economic future as being directly tied to innovation and entrepreneurialism.

We are excited about the prospects presented by the new Strategic Fund initiative. We need to encourage and grow companies and in doing so create new jobs. This fund should address that issue. The MEDC, under the leadership of Jim Epolito, will continue to be a force for Michigan?s economic revitalization as they work to attract and retain businesses in this state.

We need to create new venture capital funds in Michigan. I think there will be efforts to create new funds in 2006. Improving the educational requirements and standards are a concern. Automation Alley supports the new state educational proposal that increases the graduation requirement for k-12 to 18 courses that emphasize math and science. Today, a graduate?s only requirement is a civics class. We will not have a future, a future that requires a smart workforce, with out educational reform.

Ken Rogers is executive director of Automation Alley, a technology marketing consortium in Southeast Michigan that just added its 600th member. For more information, click on AutomationAlley.Com