In the years since the launch of Forward Together – when the Flint & Genesee Group, the City of Flint, and Genesee County led a collaborative effort to create a shared vision for economic prosperity – much has changed, and much progress has been made.
At the initiative’s start in 2019, each convening partner had completed dozens of plans independently. The new collaboration had a broader focus and incorporated insight from the public and stakeholders to create a united vision statement: “In 2040, Genesee County is a top-five community in Michigan based on jobs, talent, livability, and equity.”
Genesee County’s progress toward this vision is measured across five key metrics reported on the Forward Together dashboard. Rankings include average wages, net in-migration, educational attainment, gross domestic product growth rate, and family poverty rate, comparing Genesee County with the other 82 counties in the state of Michigan. With an update to the dashboard, Flint & Genesee Group Chief Operating Officer Kristina Johnston is making presentations across the community.
Johnston says, “The overall theme of the presentation is optimism.”
For example, data shows that average wages are increasing across the state of Michigan. While Genesee County’s ranking has fallen slightly, the region’s average wage has increased since tracking began in 2019. Compared to the growth rate of Michigan’s top counties for average wages, Genesee County is increasing at a faster rate. Johnston notes that a top-five ranking is achievable with the right catalyzing economic development projects.
Net in-migration numbers show that Genesee County continues to lose population, a trend that spurred the Make Your Move talent attraction program. However, data shows that county population increases are often tied to business growth in nearby metropolitan areas. Neighboring Livingston and Lapeer Counties are in Michigan’s top five for population and Shiawassee County is quickly rising in the rankings. This is a good sign for the future of Genesee County.
When it comes to family poverty rates, Genesee County has risen to 75th out of 83 counties, an improvement from the 2019 benchmark (78th out of 83). Currently, 11.4% of families are living below the poverty line. While this is one of the more concerning metrics, Genesee County’s improvements are outpacing the state and matching national numbers. If wages, educational attainment, and GDP go up, it’s likely that family poverty will decline even further.
Along with the Forward Together dashboard, additional data is tracked in a community scorecard – which provides deeper insight into the quality of life in Genesee County. Johnston explains, “The dashboard includes five metrics where we rank ourselves compared to other counties in Michigan, but these are certainly not the only measures of economic prosperity. The community scorecard helps us understand the state of our people.”
The updated scorecard shows small improvements in areas including median household income, workforce participation, third grade reading proficiency, and total jobs. In addition, the number of private establishments has increased, which reflects the growth of small businesses in the county.
According to Johnston, the data presented can help stakeholders understand where the community stands, where it’s headed, and how Genesee County can continue to move forward together.
“With that horizon of 2040, we’re hoping to engage partners to help maximize our growth and head in the correct direction toward that top five,” says Johnston. “Whether it’s residents, municipalities, elected officials, or businesses – everyone has a hand in helping reach that goal.”
The updated Forward Together dashboard and recorded presentation are available at ForwardTogetherGenesee.org. To schedule a Forward Together presentation for your group or organization, contact Kristina Johnston at kjohnston@flintandgenesee.org.