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Registration is now open for the 2026 Innovate Michigan! Summit, where leaders from across Michigan will come together to explore and discuss community-engaged approaches to economic development. We encourage you to secure your spot early and join us for a full day of learning, connection, and shared strategy.
A featured session this year, From Systems to Strategy: Building Economies That Work, will bring together leaders working across housing, childcare, and health - systems that directly shape economic outcomes in communities across the state. This panel will move beyond siloed approaches to explore how stronger alignment across these sectors can support more effective and sustainable economic development.
We are pleased to highlight panelist, Emily Laidlaw, Deputy Director for Early Education at the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). In her role, Emily leads statewide efforts to expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early education, an essential foundation for workforce participation and long-term economic stability. With nearly two decades of experience in education policy, advocacy, and government affairs, including serving as Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Director of Policy and Education Advisor, Emily brings a strong systems-level perspective to this conversation.
The panel will highlight the work each speaker is leading while also examining how economic development does not happen in isolation. Panelists will reflect on what is already underway across Michigan, where gaps remain, and how a more coordinated, holistic approach can better address shared challenges and opportunities. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how these interconnected systems influence economic outcomes and how they can engage with and support this work moving forward.
Additional speaker announcements and agenda details will be shared in the coming weeks.
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