Global Detroit cites Duke University research indicating a third of Michigan’s high-tech startup companies founded between 1995 and 2005 had at least one immigrant founder. A U.S. Small Business Administration report found that 16 percent of all Michigan businesses started between 1996 and 2007 were started by an immigrant.

via Snyder: Foreign nationals could help Michigan economy – Crain’s Detroit Business – Detroit News and Information.

Creating an environment that is welcoming to people interested in starting their own business is critical. Having policies that attract and bring  talented people to Michigan from other nations and that are more likely to start-up a business enterprise could be a jobs engine.

There was a time when Detroit and Michigan were leaders in innovation and manufacturing. Manufacturing will probably not be a job engine for Michigan as it was in the past. technology and services are the areas that are poised to be fast growing and provide the most opportunity.