On this month's Corkboard...

• E.D. Message: Get an edge in the competition for that redevelopment dollar
• Project Updates: Is your city ready? Redevelopment Ready?
• In the News: The walking doctor prescribes smart growth for good health
• Upcoming Events: Help us build the metropolitan agenda!

Message from the Executive Director

More Than Just Building Buildings 

At the beginning of March, nearly a hundred southeast Michigan leaders gathered with Governor Jennifer Granholm to celebrate the certification of our first Redevelopment Ready Communities. The energy in the room was palpable as municipal leaders, developers, university researchers and citizens shared in a renewed sense of hope and promise for our mature communities. Clearly, the RRC program is a small but critical part of our cities' sustainable future. 

The financial crisis facing Michigan cities requires multi-fold action. Most pressing, of course, is the need for state policy reforms, including a restoration of revenue sharing and a mitigation of the Proposal A and Headlee interaction. Locally, our communities are striving to deliver government services more efficiently through regional collaboration - enhancing mutual aid, cooperating on planning services, combining administrative functions, and so forth. The third piece of the puzzle is redevelopment. We must improve our cities' ability to attract new investment and improve the quality of life for residents. Finish Reading

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Project Updates

Redevelopment Ready Communities

Hats off to Ypsilanti, Eastpointe, River Rouge, Southfield and Hazel Park, the first cities in Michigan to become Redevelopment Ready certified! The 2006 program is about to kick off, and Suburbs Alliance member cities can submit applications until May 3. Go to http://www.redevelopmentready.org/ to download the application.
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UniverCities Connection

Attention students!  We will be increasing our staff this summer with 2 interns.  We may be a bit biased, but we're not lying when we say the Suburbs Alliance is a great place to work!  Check out our internships online and apply soon. Contact Brittany with any questions.

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2006 Annual Meeting

Suburbs Alliance city managers and elected officials: remember that nominations for the Board of Directors are due Friday, April 21.  Fax them to Cooper Holoweski at (248) 546-2369.

 

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In the News

Check out some of the press on the RRC certified cities!

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Five Suburbs Alliance communities have been selected by Governor Granholm as "Centers for Regional Excellence" designees:  Hamtramck and Ferndale will work with Detroit and Royal Oak on establishing cooperative transit systems.  Allen Park, Lincoln Park and Melvindale along with Trenton and Wyandotte will use their grant to implement a Public Services Mutual Aid Authority.  These groups and 5 others will receive $25K over the next 2 years for their projects.  Congrats!
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You've heard it from us, but now you'll hear it from the walking doctor- smart growth makes healthier, safer communities!  Visit Michigan Now to hear what Dr. Ashok Gupta -widely known as the "walking doctor,"has to say about the importance of pedestrian-friendly communities to good health.

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Eric Lupher, Director of Local Affairs at the Citizen's Research Council, has been appointed to the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Committee (GASAC), which is broadly responsible for oversight, administration, and finances of both the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).  Kudos, Eric!

 

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Upcoming Events

Annual Meeting 2006 - Building the Metropolitan Agenda

The necessity of regional cooperation to the current and future welfare of our region is undeniable. Our 2006 annual meeting will mark a pivotal point for southeast Michigan. We would like to invite our members, partners and supporters to come together to produce a single, focused policy platform that integrates the research and energy of the Michigan Land Use Leadership Council report, the Governor's Task Force on Local Government Finance recommendations, MSHDA's strategic plan for land use and other emerging resources with the needs and interests of our cities, businesses and residents. This discussion will determine our prescription for legislative action, which we, the Suburbs Alliance, will pursue in collaboration with our allies. Doug Rothwell of Detroit Renaissance, Dr. Robin Boyle of Wayne State University, and State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith will be joining us, and we hope you will be, too!  Space is limited, so register today. 

Friday, May 19.  9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Southfield Public Library

Breakfast and registration begin at 9:00

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Police Sharing Services Workshop
The next workshop in the Creating Collaborative Communities Series will investigate resource sharing in the realm of police service.  These interactive gatherings are a great forum for city officials, financial staff and public safety officers to gain knowledge and share their experiences and ideas about collaborative projects.  Event details are on the way.

Monday, June 8
Location TBD

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The Road to the 2010 Census

Implications for Congress and the Economy

The Brookings Institution is holding a series of 3 briefings on the importance of census data to our economy and government. The first of these seminars, held this morning, targeted the accuracy of census statistics and its effect on Congressional redistricting and apportionment, federal fund allocation and business decision-making. 

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Small Cities Conference

This fall, members of the academy, government, nonprofit and business community will attend Wilkes University's 16th Small Cities Conference to address downtown development. Workshops will discuss the application of research to downtown development, regional economic development, regional partnerships, and/or improving the effectiveness of local government. Click here for more info.

October 15-17, 2006 

Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, PA

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