The word is getting out

The amount of coverage being devoted to urban living has just been incredible. I previously mentioned the wall street journal article. There was also a story on good morning america as well as msnbc. One thing is clear about those cities that are attracting people, they all have options when it comes to getting around; specifically a good mass transit system. So let's here it for Crains Detroit and there support for state legislation, House Bill 6114, that would provide incentives for development projects around transportation. As Crains notes, the bill is being promoted by the Michigan Municipal League. Good for them and good for Rep. Marie Donigan of Royal Oak for introducing the bill. Its time for people to rally around this idea, being used in cities and states across the country. Michigan needs to get "on board".

Invest, invest, invest

Interesting piece recently in the Lansing State Journal about revenue sharing. That's the money the state is supposed to share back to communities to help pay for essential services such as police and fire protection. As noted by the State Journal, the state has been stiffing locals for years now. It notes that the City of Lansing has lost $21 million in revenue sharing since 2001. If the state would live up to its obligation, Lansing and cities across the state wouldn't be facing nearly the budget issues they do now. Its time for lawmakers to hold up their end of the bargain and understand that its the quality of life in each of our communities that will drive Michigan's economic turnaround. As the Michigan Municipal League notes....its time to have a different conversation.

Its Catching On...

My last blog entry commented on how the idea that "place" matters is making its way now to various traditional media. Well you can't get more traditional than the Wall Street Journal which just a ran a story with much of what I and others have been saying. That in an ever increasing mobile society, with gas at a consistent $4 a gallon, we must make investments in creating vibrant cities connected by public transit.

Spreading the word......place.

More and more it seems as if folks are getting it. Business leaders are getting it as evidenced by the recent goings on from the Mackinac Policy Conference. And this past weekend, another editorial page joined the ranks. In a piece titled "Imagine downtown Kalamazoo of the future", the Kalamazoo Gazette related the findings of Downtown Kalamazoo as it puts together a new comprehensive plan for the downtown. The conclusion from the discussion among 23 focus groups was that a healthy urban center is a must for a vibrant region where people want to live.

Its All About Place

This past week the Grand Valley Metro Council held its annual Growing Communities conference. The focus was on moving forward in west michigan with building the kind of communities that attract young talented workers. A variety of topics was covered by experts in urban planning, transit and entreprenuers. But it was the keynote speakers that struck the same theme... place matters. One them, Dan Gilmartin, executive director of the Michigan Municipal League spoke on how a new survey of Michigan college graduates shows that nearly half are leaving the state and of those half are doing so without a job. Gilmartin's conclusion is that a new economic development model is needed, one that is focused on place. Policy makers ought to be listening closely to folks like Gilmartin if they want to revive Michigan's economy.

From the mouths of babes

I'll giive the Greater Detroit Chamber an ounce of credit for inviting young professionals from SE Michigan to this year's Mackinac Policy Conference, but just an ounce. That's because they weren't invitied to join the show until Friday with a program on Saturday when nearly all the attendees including legislators and old line business types had gone home. So instead of talking to a group of 1000, they were mostly talking to themselves. Hopefully next year, they'll be folded right in to the regular programming. That said, one of the attendees was Ashley Aidenbaum a recent UM grad who now works for the state's Cool Cities program. One of the organizations that's willing to give these millenials a front and center seat is the Michigan Municipal League who featured Ashley recently in their weekly blog.

Place Rules at Mackinac

Well, the Greater Detroit Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference is over and done with.... a week over and done with actually. And although there are those that deadpan the event, there are others, such as myself, who find it a unique opportunity to get business done with political, government and business leaders from across SE Michigan all in one place. The agenda and discussion among conference goers this year was permeated with the talent/place based agenda and it actually seems as if business leaders from SE Michigan are getting it. The governor's remarks in particular to a session ending question about place was all about the importance of place in attracting and retaining young talented professionals.