MSA:Corkboard

Redevelopment Ready Workshops

Time is running out to register for the RRC Workshops! RRC certified communities and cities currently participating in the program can sign up for just $15 (per person per workshop).

Workshop 1

“Enhancing the Development Review Process to Attract Economic Development”

Thursday, February 15, 2007. 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Registration begins at 4:30.
Instructor: Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc.

Workshop 2

"Creating a Redevelopment Plan Strategy"
Tuesday, February 27, 2007. 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Registration begins at 4:30.

Instructor: McKenna Associates, Inc.

Both workshops include dinner and will take place at the Michigan First Credit Union at 27000 Evergreen Road in Lathrup Village. Click here for a map. Interested staff from RRC cities can visit our website or email Melanie Piana to register.

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Power Up

The first Mayors & Managers Policy Breakfast of 2007 will focus on strategies for energy efficiency that support our evolving economy. These quarterly gatherings are an excellent way to help shape our advocacy efforts, share new ideas and interact with local officials from across the region, so register today! Member cities receive 2 complimentary admissions and can email cooper@suburbsalliance.org to R.S.V.P. Those interested in sponsoring the event should contact Brittany Galisdorfer.

Mayors & Managers Policy Breakfast: Energy Efficiency
Thursday, February 22, 2007. 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Warren Valley Golf and Banquet Center
26116 W. Warren in Dearborn Heights

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Get the Word Out

Our annual Redevelopment Summit has become a showcase Suburbs Alliance event, drawing attendees from the government, development, real estate and nonprofit communities to learn about current best practices in redevelopment. This year’s Summit will focus on innovative marketing strategies for promoting communities and redevelopment sites.

Businesses and other organizations can now sign up to become vendors in the Redevelopment Marketplace. This bazaar-like atmosphere gives representatives from local government, development, real estate, finance, and nonprofits a chance to interact and converse while browsing the products, services and properties for redevelopment available throughout southeast Michigan. Click here to check out available sponsor packages and register for the event. Questions? Check out our website first, and contact Melanie Piana if they persist. General registration for cities will open soon!

2007 Regional Redevelopment Summit

"Placemaking: Marketing Your City for Redevelopment"

Friday, March 23, 2007. 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The Fairlane Club

5000 Fairlane Woods Dr.

Dearborn, MI 48126

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Shrinking Cities

Shrinking Cities, a project by Germany's Federal Cultural Foundation, the Kulturstiftung des Bundes, explores a form of urban development that has become a global phenomenon. Starting in 2002, local teams were commissioned in Detroit, Manchester/Liverpool (Britain), Ivanovo (Russia), and Halle/Leipzig (Germany) to investigate and document processes of urban shrinking. In more than fifty exhibition contributions, artists, architects, filmmakers, journalists, culture experts, and sociologists reveal and illuminate the changing realities of these cities. The Shrinking Cities exhibit is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and Cranbrook Art Museum until April 1. Read on for more info...


Volume 2 Number 9: February 2007
Photo courtesy of Hamtramckstar.com
On this Month's Corkboard... Director's Message: Q&A with the E.D. Project Updates: Revenue sharing gets a boost from the Governor In the News: Nominate stellar suburban leaders for an American County and City Award Upcoming Events: Eat food for green thoughts at our Mayors and Managers Breakfast
Hamtramck is counting down to Packzi Day
Executive Director's Message
This month, Conan returns to charm you all with his riveting stories. However, this time we're trying something new. Every week we seem to get a handful of questions from our various colleagues and friends about the work we do in the region's inner-ring suburbs. We've decided to share the answers with everyone. From now on, if you find yourself thirsting for more information about redevelopment, regionalism, revenue sharing, whatever - just ask, and Conan will answer! Power Outing Q. I recently moved here from California and one of the things I was so excited to leave behind was the constant brownouts. My power has gone out three times since I got here (not bad compared to L.A.), but I’m wondering what I can do to give my energy level a boost. - Matt from Pleasant Ridge A. Dear Matt, You’ve touched a wire with us at the Suburbs Alliance. We see this energy challenge as a central concern in moving our economy forward and reinvigorating interest in our cities as magnets for the creative class. There’s plenty of opportunity for economic and environmental progress in this arena and, well, we’re here to juice up the debate. Finish reading back to top

Project Updates
Hats off to the Guv'na In her State of the State Address on Tuesday evening, Governor Granholm proposed a 2.5 percent increase to revenue sharing. These new funds would be available only to cities that collaborate on service delivery. With FY 2007 revenue sharing estimated at $1.08 billion, that signifies approximately $27 million in new funds for collaboration! Read more about the Governor's proposal here. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ham-town's Countdown Hamtramck, the hub of Polish culture in Michigan, is gearing up for Fat Tuesday with an attempt to bake the world's largest paczek. On February 17, shimmy on down to Hamtramck's Countdown to Paczki Day event for free paczki, live music and entertainment. With a record-breaking paczek, it's bound to be even better than last year's. Call Erik Tungate for details at (313) 870-0294. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A little help from our friends? We are looking to recruit several helpers for our Mayors and Managers Policy Breakfast on February 22 and the Regional Redevelopment Summit on March 23. Volunteers receive complimentary admission in addition to our eternal appreciation. Email brittany@suburbsalliance.org if you're interested. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attention RRC Certified Cities: If you haven't already submitted your city's top five priority sites, do it today! We are putting together a listing for developers and can still accept sites if you send information to brittany@sububsalliance.org ASAP. back to top

In the News
Downriver communities are moving forward with plans for a regional fire authority. A recent study by Plante Moran found that consolidating the fire departments of Melvindale. Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Southgate and Wyandotte would result in better service and approximately 25 percent cost-savings over the next five years. Read the News-Herald article here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Metropolitan areas in the 21st century need urban policy that focuses on the assets and amenities of these areas rather than the deficiencies - according to The Brookings Institution's Bruce Katz, that is. And we wholeheartedly agree! From housing policy to improved access to market information of cities to innovative infrastructure investments, Katz offers a wealth of ideas for federal urban policy in his recent op-ed. Read it here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Suburbs Alliance welcomed several new members over the past month: Lathrup Village become our newest Charter Member, both Plante Moran and Burton-Katzman Development become Corporate Partners, and Julie Hales-Smith of MSHDA became a $2500 Citizen Advocate. We greatly appreciate all your support, and we're excited to work with you over the next year! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Know an outstanding local government leader? American City and County Magazine is accepting nominations for several awards, including Municipal Leader of the Year, Public Works Director of the Year, County Leader of the Year, as well as awards for city and county projects. Get your city leaders the props they deserve - make your nomination today! back to top

Upcoming Events
Redevelopment Ready Workshops Time is running out to register for the RRC Workshops! RRC certified communities and cities currently participating in the program can sign up for just $15 (per person per workshop). Workshop 1 “Enhancing the Development Review Process to Attract Economic Development” Thursday, February 15, 2007. 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Registration begins at 4:30. Instructor: Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc. Workshop 2 "Creating a Redevelopment Plan Strategy" Tuesday, February 27, 2007. 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Registration begins at 4:30. Instructor: McKenna Associates, Inc. Both workshops include dinner and will take place at the Michigan First Credit Union at 27000 Evergreen Road in Lathrup Village. Click here for a map. Interested staff from RRC cities can visit our website or email Melanie Piana to register. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Up The first Mayors & Managers Policy Breakfast of 2007 will focus on strategies for energy efficiency that support our evolving economy. These quarterly gatherings are an excellent way to help shape our advocacy efforts, share new ideas and interact with local officials from across the region, so register today! Member cities receive 2 complimentary admissions and can email cooper@suburbsalliance.org to R.S.V.P. Those interested in sponsoring the event should contact Brittany Galisdorfer. Mayors & Managers Policy Breakfast: Energy Efficiency Thursday, February 22, 2007. 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. Warren Valley Golf and Banquet Center 26116 W. Warren in Dearborn Heights ------------------------------------------------------------------- Get the Word Out Our annual Redevelopment Summit has become a showcase Suburbs Alliance event, drawing attendees from the government, development, real estate and nonprofit communities to learn about current best practices in redevelopment. This year’s Summit will focus on innovative marketing strategies for promoting communities and redevelopment sites. Businesses and other organizations can now sign up to become vendors in the Redevelopment Marketplace. This bazaar-like atmosphere gives representatives from local government, development, real estate, finance, and nonprofits a chance to interact and converse while browsing the products, services and properties for redevelopment available throughout southeast Michigan. Click here to check out available sponsor packages and register for the event. Questions? Check out our website first, and contact Melanie Piana if they persist. General registration for cities will open soon! 2007 Regional Redevelopment Summit "Placemaking: Marketing Your City for Redevelopment" Friday, March 23, 2007. 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The Fairlane Club 5000 Fairlane Woods Dr. Dearborn, MI 48126 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shrinking Cities Shrinking Cities, a project by Germany's Federal Cultural Foundation, the Kulturstiftung des Bundes, explores a form of urban development that has become a global phenomenon. Starting in 2002, local teams were commissioned in Detroit, Manchester/Liverpool (Britain), Ivanovo (Russia), and Halle/Leipzig (Germany) to investigate and document processes of urban shrinking. In more than fifty exhibition contributions, artists, architects, filmmakers, journalists, culture experts, and sociologists reveal and illuminate the changing realities of these cities. The Shrinking Cities exhibit is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and Cranbrook Art Museum until April 1. Read on for more info... back to top Sign Up for the Corkboard © 2006 Michigan Suburbs Alliance, All Rights Reserved

Hats off to the Guv'na

Ham-town's Countdown