On this month's Corkboard...

• E.D. Message: Change is good- if you can adapt
• Project Updates: Welcome metro Detroit's first "redevelopment ready" cities
• In the News: One-fifth of the nation lives in inner 'burbs
• Upcoming Events: Gear up for next week's gubernatorial visit

Message from the Executive Director

State of the Art Regionalism

If you've never picked up a newspaper, listened to the radio or turned on the television, you might have missed the crisis facing our state. Evidenced by enormous government budget deficits, all too frequent plant closings and increasing social tensions across our region, it is clear that Michigan is in a process of profound change.  It is deeply rooted in both demographic and economic changes that are steadily transforming the way Michigan citizens conduct their lives.

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Project Updates

Redevelopment Ready Communities

After a year of hard work, the pilot cities have achieved RRC certification.  Next week, Governor Granholm will present them with awards at a ceremony at La Casa Hotel in Hazel Park. (Click here for more info.)  Their experiences and input have helped the RRC Committee revise the program best practices, which will be released at the ceremony.  Applications for the 2006 program will also be available starting next week, so be sure to check www.redevelopmentready.com and download yours.
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Affordable Housing

The MSHDA Land Use Workgroup has completed its final recommendations for a 5-year action plan to implement land use strategies that address affordable housing.  Their recommendations have gone through several public forums, as well as months of their own revisions and are now waiting on the final approval of MSHDA's top board of affordable housing leaders.  You can click here to learn more about the workgroup and their initial recommendations, but you'll have to wait until MSHDA's annual affordable housing conference in early June for the unveiling of the finalized plan. 

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Municipal Finance

Final recommendations from all three subgroups of the Governor's Task Force on Local Government Services and Fiscal Stability are in, and the full report will soon be released.  The recommendations will be a featured discussion topic at MML's Legislative Conference this month.

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The City of Harper Woods, the most recent addition to the Suburbs Alliance, deserves a belated welcome.  For those of you who don't know, Harper Woods became a member city in November.  City Manager Jim Leidlein, Mayor Kenneth Poynter, and other Harper Woods city staff have already become very involved in the Creating Collaborative Communities program.  We're excited to have them on board! 

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In the News

The Brookings Institution is zeroing in on inner suburbs.  A couple of weeks ago, it released One-Fifth of the Nation: America's First Suburbs which analyzes the challenges facing our communities and others like us around the country.  It also emphasizes the importance of unity among inner suburbs and highlights 8 coalitions at work in the Midwest - including the Suburbs Alliance.  How 'bout that? 
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Policy Link, a research and advocacy organization that works to advance regional equity, recently published Shared Prosperity, Stronger Regions: An Agenda for Rebuilding America's Older Core Cities. The report, which the Suburbs Alliance contributed to, examines how innovative economic development, land use, transportation, neighborhood revitalization, and housing policies are bringing about significant economic and social revitalization in Detroit and 4 other cities and explores new solutions to inequitable regional development patterns.  Read it here.

 

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Upcoming Events

RRC Certification Ceremony

Join area developers, planners, elected officials, city leaders and others in supporting the pilot cities as they receive their official RRC certification awards from Governor Granholm.  The 2006 program application and the revised best practices will also be released.  Don't miss it!  RSVP to Melanie if you're planning to come.

Wednesday, March 8.  9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
La Casa Hotel

1 W. Nine Mile Rd.

Hazel Park

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CLOSUP Conference
The Center for Local, State and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) at the University of Michigan is bringing together Michigan leaders from a variety of backgrounds to develop a broadly acceptable, far-reaching economic policy agenda for the state.  The conference format includes expert papers on key policy areas followed by short commentaries by panelists. Break-out groups will consider and recommend policy goals through a structured and interactive process to get the greatest value out of everyone's participation. A closing session will summarize the ideas generated during the breakout sessions and consider next steps.  Click here for registration information.

Where do we go from here? 

An Agenda-Setting Conference for the Economic Issues Facing Michigan

 

Monday, March 14
Michigan League

Ann Arbor

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The RRC Committee will reconvene the week following the certification ceremony to begin planning for the next round of cities.  People involved in all aspects of redevelopment are welcome to stop by and join us! 

Friday, March 17.  8:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Council Chambers at Ferndale City Hall

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Michigan Municipal League (MML) Legislative Conference

This annual event will kick off with a presentation from the Governor's Task Force on Municipal Services and Fiscal Stability.  It's a great opportunity to discuss their final recommendations, so register soon!

Wednesday, March 22. 

Lansing Center

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Planning for Prosperity Land Use Summit
Michigan State University's annual land use summit is around the corner.  It's open to local community leaders (mayors, elected officials, county clerks, township supervisors, etc.), land use stakeholders, community program funders, university faculty, policymakers, school personnel (administrators and board members), real estate stakeholders (builders, realtors, and developers), and groups can submit proposals for a local community revitalization project or other land use project, education or awareness initiative, or land use workshop that they want funded.  Grants will be awarded at the summit.  Click here for more information on the event.

Monday, March 27
Kellogg Center at MSU

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Save the Date!
Yes, it's already that time of year again...so clear your morning May 19 for the Suburbs Alliance annual meeting.  Our Board of Directors is up for reelection in May, so in the next several weeks, member cities should expect to receive nomination materials in the mail.  The event is sure to feature an engaging speaker, interesting new business, and – at the very least – a delicious breakfast, so make sure you're there.  Stay posted for details.

Michigan Suburbs Alliance Annual Meeting

Friday, May 19.  8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Southfield Public Library

 

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