MSU helps put Detroit in positive light

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Leading up to this past weekend’s Final Four, I had the opportunity to speak with a few individuals tasked with making sure the NCAA Tournament is a huge success for Detroit and Michigan.

One concern they voiced was, although they would love to see MSU play in the Final Four, they also hoped the Spartans wouldn’t make it that far. This was not because they are secretly fans of that other big school in the state, but because out-of-state teams and their fans have a greater net economic impact on the state than in-state teams.

However, after watching Detroit turn green over the past few days, I think the benefits of having an in-state team and its fans invade Detroit will far outweigh the loss of out-of-state dollars spent this weekend.

It’s no secret Michigan has been experiencing an enormous “brain drain” over the past decade.

As jobs have become scarce and the unemployment rate has skyrocketed, graduates from Michigan’s universities have understandably looked elsewhere for employment after college.

Most significantly, thousands of graduates have flocked to Chicago, following I-94 to the hopefully greener pastures of the Windy City. For example, I completed my undergraduate courses at MSU in 2005 and today have more friends from those days living in Chicago than in East Lansing, Detroit and the rest of Michigan combined.

There have been various efforts by public and private entities to make Michigan more appealing for the so-called “young urban professionals.”

For example, Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s Cool Cities Initiatives have helped build art galleries, creative spaces, parks and other elements of cities that are attractive to these young professionals across Michigan.

Private foundations and businesses have also invested millions of dollars to make our state more amenable to entrepreneurship and the creative class.

But while these efforts are valuable and worthwhile, they are still not enough to entice young graduates to stay in or come to Michigan.

On the very basic level, if there are no jobs that match the skills of graduates, there simply won’t be any reason for them to stay, regardless of the cultural gems that may exist. But to say there are no jobs is an exaggeration.

It’s a very difficult time in Michigan, and jobs are certainly not plentiful, but for those willing to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work, there is a lot of opportunity and potential to make a difference.

For those looking to cut their teeth in the work of solving the problems that plague all of our country’s urban cores, Detroit today in particular represents tremendous opportunity.

That is why I think it was so valuable for Detroit and our state as a whole that the MSU men’s basketball team made it to the Final Four and brought its thousands of fans, friends and supporters with it. Although only separated by about 90 miles of I-96, MSU and Detroit often seem worlds away from one another.

While the University of Michigan has a strong presence in Detroit that is likely to grow significantly when the planned Detroit-Ann Arbor rail line begins service, MSU is largely disconnected from our state’s urban cornerstone.

Other than the occasional sporting event or concert, how often do MSU students otherwise explore Detroit? Probably not very often. It was exciting to see green and white flooding Woodward Avenue and every bar and restaurant downtown this weekend.

As with the Super Bowl a few years ago, Detroit put on its best face for the Final Four, and many saw the city in a new, more positive way. From Ford Field downtown to the city’s suburbs and surrounding region, Detroiters proved that even in these trying times, we are resilient, hard working and creative.

While this tournament alone certainly doesn’t guarantee any student will find employment and stay in Detroit, it is a meaningful step and an opportunity for them to be exposed to Detroit at its best.

As an MSU graduate working to return Detroit to prosperity, I was encouraged by this weekend and hope that it is a sign of more to come.

Ryan Dinkgrave is a State News guest columnist. Reach him at dinkgrave@gmail.com.

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