Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Growing Michigan Together Council, the team Whitmer tasked with finding ways to turn around the state’s sluggish population growth, has released its final recommendations to some praise and some condemnation.

Among the council’s recommendations:

— Pilot new incentives — such as help with down payments on a new house, paid workforce training, or tax credits for student loans — to attract targeted workers to the state.

— Offer two years’ tuition-free college.

— Develop regional public transit, such as a passenger rail line between Grand Rapids and Detroit.

— Invest in “regional innovation districts.”

The full report can be found online at GrowingMichigan.org.

The council did not address how it would fund its recommendations, which Republican legislative leaders say could cost billions of dollars.

Now, it’s up to the Legislature — currently controlled by Democrats — to figure if and how to craft the council’s recommendations into policy and put money behind the plan.

And that means it’s time for you to talk to your lawmakers, dear Michiganders.

The state has definitely seen bad trendlines in population, ranking as one of the slowest-growing states in the nation according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Fewer people means less tax revenue for the state and local governments and schools, fewer customers and fewer employees for local businesses.

If trends continue, the state could lose a congressional seat when seats are next divvied up after the 2030 census. And that means Michigan would have less of a voice in Washington and less of a say in the Electoral College.

So we have to grow our population if we want to remain competitive.

But how we do that is important. If we craft the wrong policies, we could drive people away at the worst and waste taxpayer dollars at the least.

So lawmakers need to hear from you. Do you support the council’s recommendations? Would you tweak them in some way? Would you throw out the recommendations all together and come up with some other plan?

Let your lawmakers know, Michigan.

Whitmer’s office can be reached at 517-335-7858. State Sen. Ed McBroom, who represents the Upper Peninsula, can be reached at 517-373-7840 or SenEMcBroom@senate.michigan.gov. State Rep. Jenn Hill, who represents the 109th District that includes much of Dickinson County as well as Marquette County, can be reached at 517-373-0498 or JennHill@house.mi.gov. State Rep. Gregory Markkanen, who represents the 110th District that includes Iron and western Dickinson County, can be reached at 517-373-0850 or GregMarkkanen@house.mi.gov.

Make your voices heard.