Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley to speak at Michigan Municipal League Capital Conference March 20 in Lansing.

LANSING, Michigan - Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley has taken the lead on the effort to reform the Michigan's personal property tax (PPT) and soon he'll be stating his case to municipal leaders whose communities could lose a lot if the PPT is cut without a guaranteed replacement.

Calley is the kick-off, keynote speaker for the Michigan Municipal League's 2012 Capital Conference taking place March 20-21 in Lansing. Calley is scheduled to speak 2:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20. The Michigan Municipal League and its members have maintained that repealing the personal property tax without replacing the revenues through a constitutional guarantee would be financially devastating to local governments across the state.

About Brian Calley: Before being elected to this position, Calley served two terms in the Michigan Legislature as a state representative. In that role, Calley served as minority vice chair of the House Tax Policy Committee where he worked with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Calley is committed to continuing this spirit of bipartisanship to bring an end to the bitter fighting and divisiveness that has held Michigan back for so long. Prior to his time as a state lawmaker, Calley worked 10 years as a community banker and small business lender. He was also elected to the Ionia County Board of Commissioners, serving from 2003 to 2006 as the vice chairman for all four years of his tenure there. Calley graduated from Michigan State University in 1998 with a B.A. in business administration and received his MBA from Grand Valley State University in 2000.

Read additional posts about the 2012 Capital Conference here:
- Michigan Municipal League Launches Mobile App for Capital Conference
- Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett to Discuss Placemaking at Capital Conference
- Energy, Environment, Transportation Policy: What's Ahead? Find out at Capital Conference
- Capital Conference General Session To Have Transportation Focus

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at mbach@mml.org or (734) 669-6317.

The Michigan Municipal League's Capital Conference is going mobile. Starting now, League members and others can get all Capital Conference related information from their smart phones and tablets for their Android and Apple devices. To get the Capital Conference app for your device, simply go to the Android Marketplace or Apple App Store and search for "Michigan Municipal League".

The apps are free and contain everything you'll need to know about the 2012 Capital Conference taking place March 20-21 in Lansing. By using this app for Capital Conference, you can view the full agenda of sessions, photos from the event, blogs written by League staff about the Conference, a map of the Lansing Center where the conference is occurring, a list of vendors participating in the annual expo, and much more. The apps even have a map of the expo hall showing where particular vendors will be set up.

The mobile apps for Capital Conference are part of a larger mobile application initiative by the League. We've also launched in the Android marketplace apps for "The One Clear Voice", "Economics of Place" and "Let's Save Michigan". These apps push our blogs and social networking feeds directly to users' mobile devices.

Through its Center for 21st Century Communities, the League has identified eight assets for making vibrant communities and restoring Michigan to prosperity. One of those assets is messaging and technology and this endeavor into mobile applications feeds into that asset, said Rob Ferrari, director of digital strategies for the League.

"The League has put an emphasis on creating technology solutions that will deliver up-to-date information to our members anytime, anywhere," Ferrari said. "We realize that smartphones and tablets are becoming more prevalent with our members and the public, and these platforms provide the League another opportunity to deliver information to our members where and when they want it."

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at mbach@mml.org or (734) 669-6317.

Oklahoma City has a canal through a part of the city to promote placemaking. Hear Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett speak during the League's annual Capital Conference March 21, 2012, in Lansing, Michigan.

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett has been at the forefront of the Oklahoma City renaissance. This revitalization has centered around "placemaking," which is a concept thoroughly advocated by the Michigan Municipal League. Cornett will be a guest speaker March 21 at the Michigan Municipal League's 2012 Capital Conference in Lansing.

With Mayor Cornett leading the way, Oklahoma City became a major league city with the arrival of the National Basketball Association. During his tenure, Oklahoma City’s economy has been one of the strongest in the nation. Standing for efficient government and responsible leadership, Mayor Cornett has worked to promote an inclusive and optimistic vision of Oklahoma City, fueled by bold ideas. Cornett's humble nature, intense work ethic and optimistic attitude have become emblematic of a city that, as Cornett says, "works hard and dreams big."

For details about his talk during the League's Capital Conference go here. To register go here (early bird rate ends Feb. 23). View additional speakers here. To get a glimpse of what Cornett will say during the League's Capital Conference listen here to a recent National Public Radio with Cornett about the placemaking effort in Oklahoma City.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 734-669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.

Energy, environment and transportation are some hot topics at the state and national level right now and the Michigan Municipal League has the latest information about these issues. Learn more during two highly topical sessions that will be featured at the Michigan Municipal League's 2012 Capital Conference, March 20-21 in Lansing.

Eye on the Environment: How Green is Our Government? Since taking office in January of 2011, Governor Rick Snyder has made sweeping changes designed to revitalize Michigan's economy. But how is Lansing supporting the burgeoning sectors of clean energy and green infrastructure? Join the conversation with some of the state's top experts including Michigan Environmental Council President Chris Kolb and Valerie Brader, Senior Policy Advisor for the Executive Office of Rick Snyder.

Transportation - Taking the Inside Track: Get on the inside track of Michigan's transportation future, and learn what's ahead and how it could impact your community. You'll hear the latest updates on where transportation legislation is headed in 2012 from Senator Tom Casperson, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee; and Representative Paul Opsommer, Chair of the House Transportation Committee. Troy Chamber of Commerce President Michele Hodges will talk about what transportation means to the business community. Let's Save Michigan advocate Sarah Szurpicki will offer insights on why transportation is so vital to Michigan's future.

This is just a sampling of what you'll find at the 2012 Capital Conference. Click here to see the agenda and register for the Pre-Conference Sessions.

Click here to register by February 23 to save with the Early Bird discount!

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.

A save our children educations ession is taking place at the Michigan Municipal League's Capital Confence March 20. Learn more.

During a single month in 2010, 13 Farmington Hills middle school students threatened or attempted suicide. It is the third leading cause of death for 15-24 year-olds nationally. By developing a local suicide prevention plan, municipal officials can help make our communities safer, more inclusive places where people want to live, work, and play. When people are included and valued, they have more tools to deal with adversity and don't feel as isolated.

Learn how to address this issue as a community during the "Saving Our Children-Community's Role in Suicide Prevention" education session taking place March 20 in Lansing at the Michigan Municipal League's Capital Conference. 

Sometimes it takes a community to save a child and attending the education session will include education experts and members of the Farmington Hills Area Suicide Prevention Task Force. The panelists will share what they've learned to help you confront this epidemic on your own home-front. Upon completion of this program, attendees will be able to: cite resources for their citizens and employees; organize a suicide prevention task force in their community; and recognize the importance of inclusion in suicide prevention.

Agenda: March 20, 2012: Check-in 9:30 am; Begin 10 a.m.; Adjourn noon. Cost is $35. Click here for the downloadable registration form. The session will take place in Lansing at the Lansing Center, 333 East Michigan Ave. Go here for more details.

Education sessions such as this suicide prevention seminar ties into the League's Center for 21st Century Communities initiative. Read more about the 21c3 program here and here.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at mbach@mml.org or (734) 669-6317.