Canton Township is a perfect example of the strides we've made. Since June 1989, the unemployment rate here in the area has dropped from 4.7 percent to 1.6 percent. And in that same period of time, your local workforce has grown by 10,000 jobs. As business and community leaders, you can see what these numbers mean for a community like Canton. They mean more people are working.
More people are able to provide a better quality of life for their families.
More families are able to invest in their children's future, in better homes, and in quality health care. The impacts of Michigan's strong economy work their way into almost all aspects of our lives. Clearly, we have solved the first part of the equation. But in the reminder of my time today, I would like to talk about the second half of our challenge. It's a challenge that I believe will be the number one factor in determining Michigan's economic success in the next decade.