A few years back, the Greater Lansing region rallied together in a successful effort to protect the economic future of the community. The Keep General Motors Task Force was a model of regional unity unlike any other time in our history. The result was the investment of close to 3 billion dollars in two new GM assembly facilities and the retention of thousands of jobs.

Community leaders in both the public and private sectors were willing to set aside individual agendas to keep General Motors in the region because of the obvious importance GM means to our economy and quality of life.

Today, our region faces another set of challenges with an industry that is of vital importance to our present and our future. The issues involved are not as black and white as in the Keep GM effort, but the need for community support is just as great.

The insurance industry has become an enormous economic force in the Lansing region.  Insurance companies are responsible for close to 8,000 jobs in the region, and are expected to create another 1,300 jobs by 2014. While Michigan’s economy has suffered through job losses, foreclosures and bankruptcies, the insurance industry continues to grow, as the number of insurance jobs increased by 8 percent in the Greater Lansing region between 2000-2006. Expansion projects are under way at Delta Dental, Jackson National Life Insurance and the Accident Fund Insurance Company. Auto-Owners Insurance Company recently purchased 132 acres in Delta Township to accommodate future growth.

What should concern every citizen in our region is that insurance companies have become a target on two fronts. First, Michigan’s regulatory environment has been less than friendly in recent years. Second, other states are strategically focused on attracting our insurance companies to relocate and invest in their regions.

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) is championing an effort to help our region and the state of Michigan build an identity as a business friendly and welcoming environment for our insurance sector. Insuring Greater Lansing’s Future is a strategic effort to make sure the Lansing region grows and prospers as Michigan’s insurance capital.  

Over the next several months LRCC and Insuring Greater Lansing’s Future will seek to frame the positive aspects of the region’s insurance sector. We will work together to educate the media, community, opinion and business leaders on the economic significance of the insurance sector.

The positive impact of our insurance industry goes well beyond the significant jobs and investments made by the corporations headquartered here. When an accident or disaster strikes, we turn to our insurance companies to put our lives and businesses back together.  In 2005, insurers paid nearly $27.6 billion in claims and benefits to Michigan businesses and residents. The insurance industry also provides additional billions of dollars of growth capital.

We cannot underestimate the importance of the knowledge economy workforce in our region’s economic development efforts. Human capital is one of the top site location factors for businesses today, and those regions able to attract, retain and grow top-notch talent are going to win while those regions that can’t will continue to see a declining and weakening economy.

Knowledge-based economy sectors including insurance accounted for 60 percent of the U.S. job growth from 2001-2007. The average wage in these knowledge sectors is close to $59,000 compared to about $33,000 in all other industries.

Insuring Greater Lansing’s Future will also tell the story of the enormous community contributions made by the insurance industry. These companies are among our most generous corporate citizens, boosting charities, sponsoring numerous events and assisting countless drives to better our communities. Insurance industry employees are dedicating thousands of hours of volunteer time to dozens of worthy causes.  

I hope you will work with us at the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and help us with Insuring Greater Lansing’s Future. I encourage you to visit our website, www.insuringlansing.com, to learn more. Sign up to receive important updates, recruit others to visit the website and promote the site within your company or organization.

We need to work together to make sure Greater Lansing remains an attractive location for insurance companies to invest and grow. Join with us as we lead the effort.

		Tim Daman is president and chief executive officer of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce.