People should be looking at cities that attract young people and asking “what do they offer that we don't.” And also “What can we offer that other states don't. What can set us apart?” As far as I am concerned Michigan is in a tough situation because of the condition of the state budget and the unemployment rate. If you are going to spark and attract entrepreneurs I don't know where the money is going to come from.

When people complain about negativity you also realize that saying “It can be done, just roll up your sleeves” is just as unproductive as complaints and negativity. Bottom line is; starting your own business can be done easier in other places and has been for some time, that's why places like Silicon Valley are hotbeds for startups and Detroit has next to nothing. It would be nice to see more people mentally stepping outside “the mitten,” stop saying “you can do it here too!” and start looking around at what has worked elsewhere and find out why we are losing the race. The answer is not easy, maybe that is why I have yet to hear any kind of real answer.

So here are some of the valid concerns individuals have raised, just with some productive solutions this time. :

1. Students have too much debt to start their own entrepreneurial ventures- Definately very true in some cases. So what if there was some sort of tuition loan reimbursement program? If students start a business that grosses a certain amount, or employs a certain amount or whatever metric we want to use as success, they get a break on some of their federal loans or at least get the payback date extended.
- This also means creating access to capital or even small microfinance loans for those with poor credit ratings due to their student debts.
I don't think making any of these things happening in MI are lost causes at all. Just need groups of organized individuals to push for them.

2. John-”The state needs an infrastructure that supports and creates JOBS”- so what does this look like to you? to me it looks like supporting young and entrepreneurial individuals, such as Dan (spotlightcampusman), building his own company in MI. It means support for access to capital, loans, business services, etc that are reaching us GenY

It'd be cool if every problem someone brings up here with the article and/or Michigan if they attached a solution to it.

Nbashaw, nice point on “side projects.” Getting a job isn't all there is…and if our education is only setting students up to get entry level jobs and try to move up the ladder, then something has to change. The U.S. has the finest, most prestigious universities in the world. Leaders from countries all over the world have come to U.S. universities and been in awe about the innovativeness and creativity that is fostered in our higher ed institutions.

Yet, in Michigan, we are increasingly gaining less and less of this benefit, because folks are going elsewhere for jobs, or maybe even for their own entrepeneurial ventures. The culture has changed, because the perception about Michigan has changed. You try telling a student to look for jobs in Michigan, and most will nod and go apply to jobs elsewhere. You may even be right, because I myself know that yes, there are jobs in Michigan. But nobody is looking. If we could invest as much time and money into making creative space, or offering some new programs and curriculums for students to “get out of their major” and maybe see if they could develop their idea into something they could live off of, as we do with the 21st century jobs fund that has, unfortunately, not made any dent in the state's unemployment, students might feel like part of this state again, and will want to stay here.

People should be looking at cities that attract young people and asking “what do they offer that we don't.” And also “What can we offer that other states don't. What can set us apart?” As far as I am concerned Michigan is in a tough situation because of the condition of the state budget and the unemployment rate. If you are going to spark and attract entrepreneurs I don't know where the money is going to come from.

When people complain about negativity you also realize that saying “It can be done, just roll up your sleeves” is just as unproductive as complaints and negativity. Bottom line is; starting your own business can be done easier in other places and has been for some time, that's why places like Silicon Valley are hotbeds for startups and Detroit has next to nothing. It would be nice to see more people mentally stepping outside “the mitten,” stop saying “you can do it here too!” and start looking around at what has worked elsewhere and find out why we are losing the race. The answer is not easy, maybe that is why I have yet to hear any kind of real answer.