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Hi. I'm State Representative Terry Brown. Welcome to my weekly update, "Talking With Terry."

My top priority is creating good-paying jobs as we turn Michigan's economy around. Part of that mission involves attracting major employers, especially in emerging industries such as renewable energy. We must be aggressive about bringing high-quality companies to Tuscola and Huron counties.

At the same time, we need to keep nurturing our homegrown talent and making it possible for residents to start their own businesses. Many people don't realize that small businesses are actually the heart of our state's economy. In fact, small business entrepreneurs make up 98 percent of all Michigan employers. Many experts say that if they had to pick one factor that is most essential to Michigan's recovery, it is developing a stronger culture of entrepreneurship.

Being an entrepreneur doesn't mean having a lot of money, or even being smarter than everybody else.  It simply means having a vision, having a plan to make that vision a reality and working hard every day to make that happen. America was built on entrepreneurs – people willing to take a risk and go for it.

The U.S. Marine Corps uses a decision-making approach called the 70 percent solution to manage the reality of risk. The Marines act as soon as they have a plan with a good chance of success because they know that waiting for the perfect plan means never acting at all.

New businesses are like seedlings. Some will take root and grow and some won't make it. But the seeds that aren't planted have no chance at all. We're fortunate to have two innovative local resources to help entrepreneurs succeed. In Huron County, we have one of the state's few business incubators.

This kitchen incubator at the Huron Area Technical Center gives folks access to a state-licensed kitchen to start their business. And Tuscola County is the only place in the state offering the Enterprise Facilitation Project, which provides free business coaching services in connection with the internationally known Sirolli Institute. The project helps residents who want to start their own business or expand it.

If you want to know more about starting your own business, I encourage you to contact the Huron or Tuscola county Economic Development Commission.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions that you have. You can call me, toll-free, at (888) 254-5284. Or, you can e-mail me at terrybrown@house.mi.gov. You can also visit my Web site to keep updated on the work I'm doing.

The address is house.mi.gov/tbrown. I am here to serve you and your family and represent your interests at our state Capitol.

Thank you for listening to "Talking with Terry."

Make it a great day!