Gov. Gina Raimondo (RI) and Gov. Rick Snyder (MI): Small Businesses Catalyzing the Future Economy

Key Statistics & Economic Context

• 90% of small businesses surveyed provide some form of employee training.
• 70% of small business alumni cite hiring and retaining skilled talent as their primary challenge.
• Small businesses serve as critical entry points for first-time job seekers, workforce re-entry transitions, and career shifters.
• Rhode Island improved its unemployment insurance tax ranking from 50th to 23rd under Governor Raimondo.
• Rhode Island moved from 50th to 26th in Gallup's business climate rankings since 2021.
• Michigan's "pure Michigan business connect" initiative generated $5.5 billion in additional sales for small and medium-sized businesses over five years.
• Michigan ranked No. 6 nationally and No. 1 in the Great Lakes region for private sector job creation.
• Immigrant-owned small businesses typically create over two jobs for every direct immigrant job held.

Governor Gina Raimondo (Rhode Island) Strategic Actions

• Leveraged private sector experience to prioritize risk-taking and innovation while reducing regulatory red tape and taxes.
• Implemented free community college tuition for all Rhode Island residents in the previous year.
• Mandated computer science instruction in every public school grade across the state.
• Addressed high unemployment and poor business rankings through immediate fiscal austerity (cutting Medicaid and pension costs) paired with growth investments.
• Prioritized cross-state networking, encouraging businesses to sell to one another even across state lines.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan) Strategic Actions

• Defined government success strictly by the volume of private sector jobs created rather than government hiring.
• Revitalized the state's business environment by shifting from a risk-averse corporate culture to an entrepreneurial one.
• Launched the "First Customer" program in 2012 to convene large companies and match them with small suppliers, facilitating introductions to utilities and other large buyers.
• Adopted a pilot-and-scale methodology in government, treating failures as learning opportunities to avoid stifling innovation.
• Hosted an annual immigrant award dinner to counter negative narratives and celebrate immigrant entrepreneurship.

Shared Leadership Philosophy & Human Capital

• Both governors emphasized the critical transition required for founders moving from "doing the work" to managing teams and delegating authority.
• Governance strategy involves backing teams with autonomy, allowing mistakes to occur, and encouraging immediate regrouping and iteration rather than stopping projects.
• Talent acquisition is viewed as borderless, with immigrants identified as a primary driver of innovation and job creation.
• Networking and ecosystem building (such as the "class" dynamic in Goldman Sachs alumni programs) are cited as vital for sustaining business growth.
• Technology integration is a priority, with specific state-funded IT training programs designed to prepare the workforce for future digital roles.

Forward-Looking Statements & Goals

• Rhode Island aims to continue climbing state rankings, with a stated goal of reaching the top of the list.
• Governors advocate for replicating the "convener and connector" model of government matchmaking nationally to support small business expansion.
• Both leaders plan to maintain aggressive investment in digital literacy and workforce development to ensure state populations remain competitive in a transforming economy.
• Future discussions aim to scale state-level small business support models to a national level.