Public Policy Associates has been at the center of efforts to create and improve public policies in order to foster economic revitalization.
PPA's work with public and private clients has included a nationally recognized Small Business Barometer that gathered data from hundreds of small businesses, which was used to better understand the business climate and help shape policy. PPA has also provided leadership and research skills to rethink economic development strategies, expand opportunities for young people of color and develop strategies for creating vital regions and communities where people want to live, work and do business. The work is led by PPA President Jeffrey D. Padden, who served as deputy director of the Michigan Department of Commerce and director of the Governor’s Human Investment Project. The firm's policy research and development made a substantial contribution to Michigan's current focus on economic gardening.
Here are selected projects we've worked on to help strengthen states and communities:
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation recognized the need for a diverse and competitive workforce skilled in technical fields. It asked PPA to identify opportunities for young students of color to obtain the educational credentials needed for jobs in the new knowledge-based economy.
read more »The Michigan Sense of Place Council was created to improve the state's quality of life and economic competitiveness by creating vibrant regions, downtowns, and neighborhoods where people want to live, work, and open businesses. The Council retained Public Policy Associates, Inc. to help it realign its goals and set a direction for future activities.
read more »With Michigan at an economic and political crossroads, the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) retained PPA to undertake a policy-building process surrounding the need to implement a new economic development strategy: economic gardening.
read more »