Create High Paying Jobs in Detroit

The Issue: 

Jobs is an important election issue into 2020 and one that carries over from my 2018 campaign for governor because there is a lot more work to be done. Using my silks developed over a lifetime, I am ready to legislate for Michigan’s small businesses and working families.

Michigan has jobs to offer, but they’re often at lower pay, and our economic recovery is uneven.

Median income statistics shows that Michigan still lags $5,000 below the national level.

Shri’s Solution:

Michigan needs to improve access to capital, access to talent, and access to opportunity and networks for businesses.

Support Women & Minority-Owned Businesses

The Issue:

In 2018, female-led startups received 2.2% of all venture capital funding. Michigan must face up to the data about women and minority-led firms and realize that we don’t have a level playing field and we need to take immediate action to do better.

Shri’s Solution:

Michigan’s government must come into the equation by establishing employee rights such as minimum wage legislation, paid sick leave, and ensuring dignity in the workplace for all. 

Michigan also needs to alleviate the financial burden that some of our current policies place on small businesses by offering across the board tax incentives and abatements.

Support Detroit’s Small Businesses

Detroit has roughly 50,000 small businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color. The majority of them are smaller, owner-operated, often even home-based businesses that are just starting out.

Entrepreneurs 55 and older have an average first-year revenue of $74,000, in Detroit, while the 35-54 bracket averages $72,000 and under 30 averages $63,000, according to the study.

Small businesses are a massive source of employment especially in Detroit where our entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to emerge and become stronger, but there are still challenges and issues on the horizon that need to be navigated. 

Support Detroit’s Historic Avenue of Fashion

The Issue:

More than 160 businesses exist on Livernois and these businesses need support to avoid a repeat of our city’s historic Black Bottom business district that was demolished to make way for what some refer to as  “redevelopment,” but most would agree was an early form of gentrification.

Today, the Avenue of Fashion features  the highest concentration of Black-owned businesses in the city (some say the entire country) and I am proud to say that my campaign office is now part of this community and I am a stakeholder.

Shri’s Solution:

I support the “cash mobs” and “Light Up Livernois Day(s)”, but policy also needs to be set and turned into legislation that can help small businesses like the ones on the Historic Avenue of Fashion, not only survive and grow, but also thrive, which is so crucial in our state.

Shri’s Michigan Advantage Act

Business Climate

The Issue:

Michigan needs to an enhanced Business Opportunity Zone. 

Shri’s Solution:

I will work to legislate for additional training, micro-loans, business incubator, lower business taxes and regulatory reforms as major helpers for small businesses.

With these improvements, Michigan’s national reputation as truly being business friendly will grow to attract more business and better conditions for small businesses. 

Michigan must keep incentives business friendly across the board. Keep the environment good across the board, don’t pick winners and losers, don’t give special favors. That’s how we will attract job creators, by legislating and  ensuring an equal approach to providing incentives.

Workforce

The Issue:

Michigan’s “brain drain” is causing educated workers to leave for jobs in other states.

Technical Skills are important. Graduates of science, technology, engineering & math (STEM)  programs have strong research and analytical skills that can help an emerging tech company reach new heights.

Shri’s Solution:

I will propose legislation to support public programs  to boost income for working families and  mandate employers to provide benefits such as  higher minimum wage such as the Fight for $15 movement that I  supported during my gubernatorial campaign land paid sick leave.

Infrastructure

The Issue:

Michigan must meaningfully advance its infrastructure because as  challenged as it is right now, it really does set the pace for the rest of the country.

Shri’s Solution:

My recommendation  for advancing infrastructure covering water, transportation, energy and telecommunications is to expand the Michigan Infrastructure Council.   Michigan requires strategic decision making using nonpartisan, independent commissions at  regional levels and federal levels with the authority to make all decisions related to national infrastructure. Michigan needs this intersectionality to implement real infrastructure improvements that hold up long-term.

Michigan also needs to adopt the creation of a statewide asset management database that could give both public and private entities the ability to coordinate the state’s infrastructure assets, including below-ground structures such as drainage pipes, gas mains and broadband cables.

Innovation

The Issue:

Michigan needs more innovative processes, services, and  products to affect positive change for our businesses.

Shri’s Solution:

I will legislate for increased small business assistance in the form of tax abatements for all, grants, micro loans and credits for research and development.

Additional resources include: 

• University Programs

• Skilled Trades Development

• Blockchain: Implementing data structure that builds a digital ledger of transactions and shares it among a distributed network of computers. 

Swarm Teams Using group that form and disband with lightning speed for the express purpose of solving a particular business problem. The increase in swarm team members will also facilitate the rise of business innovations like co-working. Real-time marketplaces can help mobile professionals locate the most effective spaces to work—for an hour, a week or a few months.