Not every economic development plan need be "trendy" or "hip". Mike Cox welcomes any economic development that creates jobs for the Michigan economy. One underutilized area is logistics and intermodal transportation. Our geography is an important ally in the development of this emerging sector. Michigan is located on the international border with Canada with Detroit and Port Huron ranking as the 1st and 3rd largest border crossings as measured by economic activity. Southeast Michigan lies in between Chicago and Toronto, between Chicago and New York. Two major national transportation arteries run through Michigan: the east-west I-94 and the north-south I-75. Michigan cities are also major seaports because of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway which provide us further access to international waters and markets.

Our workforce's skill set provides a nice marriage with our geography to make Michigan an international player in logistics and trade. We have tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of citizens in Michigan - many former employees of the Big 3 - who have training and experience in inventory and logistics management.

Mike Cox sees the creation of a intermodal transportation and trade zone that stretches from Port Huron west to Flint and Lansing along I-69, south to Jackson and east to Detroit. This zone would encompass the Aerotropolis project championed by Wayne County CEO Ficano and the ideas of Oakland County CEO Brooks Patterson to create synergies across wide swaths of Michigan that increase trade and economic activity in the transportation, logistics, supply chain management, and manufacturing sectors of Michigan. The direct and indirect benefits of developing Michigan into a major international trade zone would spread out across I-94, I-75, and I-96, and through every Michigan seaport to literally touch every region of Michigan.