Welcome to Bridging 96, an e-newsletter designed to share the best ideas for improving the state’s economy and quality of life.

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Why would Michigan’s two leading business publications join hands to create a new e-publication?

“This is the biggest media collaboration concerning business in the State of Michigan. We hope this collaborative effort will result in a positive impact on Michigan’s economy,” said Grand Rapids Business Journal Publisher John Zwarensteyn. “The Bridging 96 audience represents the top business minds in the state.”

The inaugural edition was timed to the conclusion of the first-ever West Michigan Regional Policy Conference that concluded Friday in Grand Rapids. The two-day conference was created by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, in concert with chambers from throughout West Michigan.

“The policy conference concept has been discussed for the past 20 years and is finally accomplished,” Zwarensteyn said. “Attendees heard similar statements about the need for East–West collaboration from Detroit Renaissance leaders William Clay Ford Jr., Domino’s CEO David Brandon and Amway co-founder Richard DeVos. This opportunity comes only once in a generation. We look forward to this unique partnership with Crain’s Detroit Business.”

Zwarensteyn and Grand Rapids Business Journal Editor Carole Valade were besieged with comments and curiosity about the inaugural edition of Bridging 96.

Attendees from all areas in Michigan – and participating policy analysts from out of state – were pleased that such an effort was under way and requested subscriptions to continue to keep abreast of state issues.

Crain’s Publisher Mary Kramer grew up in Grand Rapids and worked as a reporter at the Grand Rapids Press until 1982. She was the city editor of the Kalamazoo Gazette for three years before moving to Detroit to work at Crain’s in 1989.

"When I moved to Detroit, well, let’s say the reaction from friends and colleagues on the West side of the state was puzzled at best and, at worst, incredulous," Kramer said.

"Twenty years later, I describe myself as “bicoastal.” I feel like I have two hometowns — Grand Rapids and Detroit. I see the strengths of both sides of the state — and some of the shortcomings, too.

“But more than anything, I see a state with two major metro areas that share some economic challenges and common problems, whether it’s trying to improve public K-12 education, trying to attract 'millennials' to live and work, finding new options (and funding) for public transit or even coping with diversity and race-relations issues."

A lot of people, companies and organizations have signed on as sponsors of this new effort.

One of them is DTE Energy Co. Paul Hillegonds, senior vice president of corporate affairs at DTE, lives in metro Detroit but once served West Michigan in the state House of Representatives.

Hillegonds recently told a reporter from the Grand Rapids Business Journal: “My message to anyone I speak with is the two regions ought to be figuring out what the common gaps are, what the common challenges are, and working toward having those addressed to the extent that state and federal government have a role.”

Grand Rapids Business Journal Publisher John Zwarensteyn, can be reached at jzwarensteyn@geminipub.com. Mary Kramer can be reached at mkramer@crain.com.