In her first blog as TechTown President and CEO, Leslie Smith writes from Washington, D.C., where she was invited to attend a Living Cities consortium on small business as an engine of economic growth.
Halftime
Here I sit in the Hotel Palomar overlooking the Georgetown district, thinking about being an American. Thinking about being a Detroiter. Thinking about serving small business creation in our great city. Thinking about halftime.
It is said that small businesses play a pivotal role in a local economy, and increase personal income and wealth. It is said that small businesses define the identity of a neighborhood by serving its uniqueness and developing its own sense of place. And it is said that small businesses employ half of the private sector workforce and are the source of nearly all new job creation.
Since 2009, TechTown has been helping Detroiters create their own new personal economy by supporting hundreds of small businesses; by charting a course through the uneven terrain of entrepreneurship, awakening a lost innovative spirit and core grit that led us to greatness.
Why do the folks in D.C. care about this? What value do we add to a national dialogue? Why do we have to fly 90 minutes to tell them what we know? Because they just got through the coin toss. Their game has only just begun.
But friends, in Detroit, we are in our halftime huddle. We’re in the locker room making adjustments. We’ve seen what the other team is bringing, and we know how to defend it. Our offense has studied the competition and is ready to lead us to victory.
You see, while everyone else has been focused on sexy pre-game glitz, we’ve been focused on playing the first half. We’ve focused on building a victory—one play at a time, one company at a time.
Coffee shops and medical device companies, hair salons and disruptive catalyst technologies; movie production companies and homeland security defense sensors. A diverse team of women, young adults, immigrants, minorities and baby boomers. They make up our team, and they will lead us to victory, creating new economic realities for themselves and their families, paying taxes in our city to provide essential public services, and attracting new talent to a vibrant, unique game.
We understand that it takes a team to turn around a city, a committed team of folks working hard to create opportunity for themselves where it otherwise may not exist. We understand what it takes to defy the odds, and we don’t feel bad about it. We don’t want sympathy for it. We’re here in D.C. because we hope the rest of the nation just may learn from it.
Let us help you make adjustments to your game. We’ve learned so much along the way.
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Great post. Within the past two years I have moved back from a high tech, entrepreneurial, opportunity driven market of Southern California. At first I was not sure how Michigan would be able to be compete with that market.
I soon found out it Michigan was already in the game. Throughout Michigan, I find business opportunities and networking unique to a state that has a game plan and is acting on it. Is it half time or are we starting a new season? With stronger players, more motivation to work as a team, working toward a common goal of success.
I am excited to be apart of Michigan’s new season. Together we can do great things.
Great Post. My last trip to DC I also stayed at the Palomar- Great walkable location in a vibrant neighborhood.
When I returned to Detroit in late 2008, I was not sure if this was a good move or not. But now, 3 years later, I am thoroughly convinced that this is the perfect timing for my Business. Great to meet you last year also.
Bob
Bob Prud’homme is on the money. The key is walkability. We’ve been gentrifying here for two decades. 90% of the condos and upscale apartments from the river on up to the New Center are occupied. Too many still jump in their cars and buy retail elsewhere. Keep on truckin’, like the old hippy Crumb cartoon still says. Nothin’ like a hike through canyons of steel, stone, and glass, especially when it ends where there are a few trees and flowers. Mark.
It is fantastic that Michigan will have a voice in our nation’s capital. Much more should be said about funding and support being made available to NEW businesses, especially those that are what I refer to as “serving people” industries vs retail oriented or market sales businesses. People need to be served in this disastrous economy and not SOLD another thing. Go capitalism! Don’t get me wrong, I love the opportunities available in our country to make money. But without people, who are the consumers, capitalism would go away. Too many families need to EAT first. It is now time for companies to arise that will aid families in recovering from the economic storm that has hit our country, our state and our city. Thank you Ms. smith for letting our leaders know the real condition of the Detroit area. I look forward to all you have to bring back.