I’ve written before about what I see as the resurgence of Detroit, focused on the idea that Detroit’s health is indicative of the potential health of other cities in our state.

But our state isn’t just urban.

The natural beauty of the Upper Peninsula and lakeshore areas are complemented by the cultural experiences offered by our cities.

It’s not a competition. Our diversity gives us strength. The recent “Why Michigan” video represents this diversity for a national audience.

Indeed, our governor, Rick Snyder, has made strong statements about how we have to stop acting like a state divided, and be inclusive: recognizing east side and west side, Upper Peninsula and lower, and I couldn’t agree more.

As a lifelong Michigan resident, I care how Michigan is seen on the national stage, and I want our state to succeed.

As a Michigan business owner, our state’s success is critical to the continued growth of our company. The perception of the state affects our ability to attract and retain the highly educated work force that our business demands.

Our ideal and current employees are in strong demand nationally. They can live wherever they want; they choose to live here.

Grand Rapids’ recent LipDub video exemplifies the gumption of Michiganders.

Funded by local donors, the video was produced in response to a Newsweek article declaring Grand Rapids to be a “dying city."

Grand Rapids could have simply grumbled and moaned about how unfair that was, but instead residents responded and have continued to put the city on the national stage. Grand Rapids, like Detroit, is doing a lot of things “right.”

While the rest of the country lamented the recession, Grand Rapids invented ArtPrize, a community-wide, democratized art competition that has been wildly successful in bringing notice to the town.

Although it didn’t win the contest, Grand Rapids also united for the Google Fiber initiative, rallying 38,000 Facebook fans.

I’m left wondering if the organization around these initiatives has helped unite the community, simplifying the organization of other things, like the LipDub video.

This positive attitude in the face of negativity is something we can emulate throughout the state. It does make a difference.

The new president of General Motors-North America seems to agree.

In recent comments at the Detroit Regional Chamber’s annual policy conference on Mackinac Island, Mark Reuss explained that all of the state’s residents and companies bear responsibility in how the state fares, that he’s tired of being ashamed of where he lives. And he wants to engage others as well.

He announced that GM will re-engage philanthropically, and provide avenues for its employees to participate. At events like this, business leaders often leave the conference energized and empowered to bring big ideas back to their organizations — and their leadership around those ideas can turn them from talk to reality.

Our state is going to sink or swim together. Cooperation and united efforts will deliver a healthy economy where businesses thrive.

Positive messages from all of our regions, including Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and the Upper Peninsula will spread this news. I’m looking forward to what Michigan will do next!

Dianne Marsh is co-founder of SRT Solutions, an Ann Arbor custom software development firm that specializes in using newer technologies to build effective software.