Conference attendees got a mobile treat this afternoon as they crowded a Kalamazoo Metro Transit bus for a chance to visit a number of projects-in-the-making and finished products that are part of the success story behind Kalamazoo's revitalization.  Jerome Kisscorni, Executive Director for the Kalamazoo Economic Development Corporation,served as emcee and host as members were given an opportunity to hear about Kalamazoo's Brownfield Redevlopment Initiative and see their progress , up close and personal.  The tour allowed members a chance to see great downtown projects like the new Rave Theater and Miller Canfield building, in the heart of downtown...as well as viewing nearby industrial rehabilitations and the sites of new projects, in all phases of redevelopment.  Jerome shared his passion for these efforts and ideas for pulling projects together, from working with lenders and developers, to local and regional incentives and financing programs.  Members came away with a real sense of the potential that brownfield redevelopment can offer and a vision for how these projects can transform a city.

Here’s what today’s Lobbying 101 panel said about influencing lawmakers through effective communication . . . Whether it’s the first line in your email or the first words out of your mouth, be direct in your request  - “I’m asking you to oppose X bill, which cuts funding by X amount in my community. Dumb it down a notch and localize - “if this proposal passes it will literally cost us 10 police officers / 15 firefighters / 30 furlough days” (you get the drift). It’s too easy for legislators to say “I’m with you” only to vote the opposite - get a “yes” or “no” and get it in writing.  It’s accountability, it’s not personal - “look senator, I respectfully disagree and it’s my responsibility to let the people and media in our district know you voted against us.” Add “PR big mouth” to your job description. If they voted with you, say “thank you” IN PUBLIC. If they voted against you, say “you screwed us” IN PUBLIC (share thank you and disappointment letters with local media outlets so residents know what’s happening in Lansing – your position as a local leader makes it newsworthy). Don’t let inside jargon and regurgitated partisanship positions rain on your parade/take you off guard. You know local government. You are the BEST person to explain to legislators an issue and its impact on your community. Everyone I work with is a big nerd (dear conscience, just because my boss said it and I agree, should I blog it?) and so they are actually excited to help you understand the political process. Ask the lobbying staff anytime if you need a primer or just want to know where a bill stands before contacting your legislator – trust me, they’d love to help out. Drop a post to add your positive lobbying tips/experiences/things you learned today!

Dale Hein and Bill Schomisch from Kalamazoo Metro Transit joined us early this afternoon to talk about their efforts to merge out-county and city transit operations under one, county-wide umbrella.  The new transit authority has encountered numerous hurdles as they seek to move away from systems that have been operating as two separate authorities, many times offering similar services to identical constituencies.  This has been a long-term project that began shortly after the 2000 census and continues today.  While the failure of a unified millage proposal on the November 2008 ballot has set plans back slightly, this group is determined to find ways to integrate urban and rural service offerings and reduce inefficiency and duplication of effort.  One great example is the recent consolidation of two similar demand-response programs targeted at seniors and the disabled.  The city and county had both been offering this service to residents, to the point where each program may have been sending a separate van to the same location to pick up different riders.  Local officials recognized this duplication and this summer accepted a bid for a new combined, demand response system.  Opportunities for collaboration continue to be pursued as transit officials are partnering with Southwest Michigan First and other local business leaders to examine current service offerings and identify future service needs as a way to leverage regional transit as an economic development tool.  Attendees asked questions about Kalamazoo Metro Transit's experience with the differences in cost between fixed route and demand response services, their efforts to look long-term at connection opportunities with the neighboring communities of Battle Creek and Grand Rapids, and whether other constituencies within the county may be interested in collaboration.  These presenters offered a great opportunity for attendees to become informed of the long history involved in bringing these two systems closer together and to learn from Kalamazoo Metro Transit's experiences as they look within their own communities for opportunities to work together.