In this episode of Beyond Both Sides, we unpack a striking moment in Michigan’s economic conversation: a Detroit developer saying to Grand Rapids, “we want to be you.”

It’s a shift in how the state thinks about growth—not as a competition between cities, but as a question of whether Michigan has enough strong places to compete at all.

We break down what Grand Rapids has done differently, from decades of coordinated downtown investment to talent-focused placemaking—and how similar strategies are now shaping Detroit’s next phase of development.

We’re also joined by Megan Spanitz, Chief Operating Officer of the Detroit Regional Chamber, to discuss:

• The thinking behind the “house is on fire” message
• What to expect from the Mackinac Policy Conference
• How leaders can find common ground in a critical political moment

Plus:

• Flood risk and infrastructure challenges in Northern Michigan
• Progress—and remaining gaps—in traffic safety
• Michigan State’s medical school merger