Michigan: Your Freedom Oasis
Michigan is making a bold move to welcome residents from Republican-led states with a new $30,000 digital ad campaign aimed at luring them to the Great Lakes State, where “fundamental human freedoms” are prioritized.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) initiated this campaign last week, focusing on six target states: South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee. These states have witnessed significant population growth recently, according to a nonprofit analysis.
The goal of this campaign, funded through business marketing resources, is twofold. MEDC spokesperson Otie McKinley explains that it aims to attract both talent and businesses to Michigan by showcasing the state’s business-friendly environment and its commitment to protecting individual rights and freedoms.
McKinley emphasizes the campaign’s focus on promoting personal rights in Michigan while highlighting the advantages of living, working, and thriving in the state. The ads prominently feature phrases such as “In Michigan, all are welcome: Discover the benefits of living in a state that protects your rights” and “In Michigan all are welcome: Enjoy your right to reproductive freedom.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has thrown her support behind the campaign, aligning it with her efforts to revitalize Michigan’s population and bolster equal rights. She championed voter-approved expansions of abortion rights and new laws protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from employment and housing discrimination.
In a social media post, Governor Whitmer stated, “Bigotry is bad for business,” emphasizing her commitment to creating an inclusive environment in Michigan.
Furthermore, Michigan has recently made constitutional amendments guaranteeing women’s right to abortion and expanding civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity, joining other protected classes like race and ethnicity.
The targeted states, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas, have all experienced substantial population growth from July 2021 to July 2022, in stark contrast to Michigan, which was among the 18 states to see a population decline during the same period.
This campaign coincides with an ongoing rivalry between Michigan and Florida, with political, economic, and population competitiveness taking center stage. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has received significant financial support from Michigan residents, visited Northern Michigan during a Florida COVID-19 surge, highlighting the two states’ interconnectedness.
Previously, Florida’s chief financial officer sent tourism pamphlets to Governor Whitmer, teasing the state for her controversial visit during the pandemic, when her administration advised residents against traveling out of state.
Notably, a conservative think tank in Florida sponsored a billboard in Lansing, Michigan, encouraging residents to move to Florida following Michigan’s repeal of its right-to-work law, a move that banned union contracts requiring employees to pay labor union fees as a condition of employment. The billboard played on Michigan’s motto: “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.”
Michigan’s campaign aims to not only bolster its population but also to stand as a welcoming beacon for those seeking a state that values personal freedoms and equal rights. As the rivalry between states intensifies, Michigan is making it clear that it stands on the “right side of history” in its pursuit of a more inclusive and prosperous future.
Sources:
- The Detroit News. (2023, August 16). Michigan ads target residents in red states with vows to protect their “human freedoms.” The Detroit News.
- LeBlanc, B. (2023, August 16). Michigan ads target residents in red states with vows to protect their “human freedoms.” Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
- Image Credit: Michigan Business