Mackinac Island is known for fudge and having an old-timey feel (no cars allowed!). But did you know that once a year, it's also responsible for producing 90% of the hot air in Michigan?
That's right, the Annual Policy Conference was held last week on the island. What does it mean for those of us not politically connected? Let's find out.
Here's Five Fast Facts …… :
- 🦸 The theme - Yes, the conference always has a "theme." While we were hoping the theme was "Superheros: where are they now?", we're sad to report that it wasn't. It was "civility," - which I guess is okay too.
- 🌟 The attendees - Who attends this conference extravaganza? Mostly politicians, business owners, and community leaders. It's definitely a "who's who" of power players in the state, and there weren't many seats at the table for us regular folks.
- 💬 The conversations - There was lots of mention of the "future of work". Is hybrid work-from-home here to stay? Will the jobs of the future require college degrees? These were some of the questions raised, but there weren't many answers.
- 📢The speakers - This year's keynote speakers wanted to bring a powerful drug with them, but they were stopped at the door, so they brought hope instead. Just kidding, they were trying to inspire us to be hopeful and continue to work together to solve our state's problems.
- 🚗 The results - The conference is typically geared more toward conversation and less toward immediate solutions. But, it's also where people come to announce big things – and this year, that came from the Ford Motor Company. During the conference, news broke of Ford's $3.7 billion investment in electric vehicle manufacturing – meaning lots of new jobs.
🔥Bottom line: The Mackinac Policy Conference is a big deal – if you're a big deal person in the Michigan political scene. But if you're not, we hope these takeaways give you a glimpse of what happens at these shindigs. Of course, if Mackinac fudge is more your thing… that's okay too. We'll be here to break down the news while you get your chocolate fix.
Do you think the state is headed in the right direction? Let us know by connecting with us on Social Media and be sure to share this newsletter with any friends & coworkers!
Btw, If you’ve read this far and haven’t yet signed up for the weekly Paycheckology newsletter, CLICK HERE!
