Detroit Renaissance moved last week to extend its reach statewide, becoming the latest effort in Michigan to try to erase regional business boundaries.

Now Ann Arbor has to determine how it fits into that evolving picture.

Detroit Renaissance already has some connections to Ann Arbor: CEO Doug Rothwell makes the city his home, and Vice President Sabrina Keeley used to run the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce. Sitting on the Detroit Renaissance board are Chairman David Brandon, CEO of Domino's Pizza, Albert Berriz, CEO of McKinley, and Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Michigan.

The mission of the group for over 40 years has been to promote the Southeast Michigan region by including Detroit in its growth and redevelopment efforts. Yet its number one goal already focuses on statewide concerns: Improve Michigan's economic competitiveness.

Ann Arbor's role in that comes as this region carries one of the few state flags of success. This city, along with Grand Rapids, is frequently cited as one of Michigan's "bright spots" in the down economy.

Yet we're also not immune to the challenges facing this state. Even economic development efforts are being tested in new way as the vast amounts of cheap space in Metro Detroit now attract real attention from companies seeking to either locate or expand here.

But those concerns still pit Ann Arbor interests against "outside" communities.

And what really seems to be happening in Michigan today is this push - of which Detroit Renaissance is just a part - to erase geographical boundaries and promote all of Michigan.

It's called "open-source economic development" at Ann Arbor SPARK, according to Mike Finney.

"We try to be much more regional in our thinking and approach," Finney said. That includes being resources and supporters of other economic development efforts.

The driver in all of this is a version of the "rising tide lifts all boats" mentality. A benefit to one city in Michigan will lift the state, and that benefit is higher-order than looking community by community.

It's a sentiment that seems to be building momentum. Other statewide efforts that we've seen over the past year include elements of the West Michigan Policy Conference, the Mackinac Policy Conference (organized by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce), and the University Research Corridor.

Detroit Renaissance isn't talking further about its plans - it's deferring information requests until September.

What's clear today about that is that furthering the state is going to be the goal of many groups in 2010, and Michigan stands to benefit - as long as there's some cohesion and shared vision as that takes shape.

The danger for Michigan is that the efforts will remain fractured across region or geography - which also can mean politically, thanks to the divide between Southeast Michigan and West Michigan.

Ann Arbor historically hasn't fit in either region - and that's suited this community for many years.

Yet U-M's role as a statewide economic driver, along with Ann Arbor's other attributes for business development, mean that the city could emerge as a leading voice in any drive toward statewide unity.

Whether the Detroit Renaissance effort has the steam to make that happen will evolve over time.

In the meantime, that effort - like the others in Michigan - deserve the attention and participation of the Ann Arbor business community.