News Advisory

Contact:

Matt Bach
Director of Media Relations
Michigan Municipal League
(734) 669-6317; C: (810) 874-1073
mbach@mml.org; www.mml.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2017

Funding Michigan Cities: The Path Forward panel set for Chamber Policy Conference

What: Local communities are the state’s economic drivers, with metropolitan areas accounting for 89 percent of the state’s jobs and 88 percent of gross domestic product. Yet cities are facing unprecedented fiscal stress created by a broken municipal finance system.

As Michigan looks to create greater economic opportunities, we need to assess how our system of municipal finance impedes or accelerates a thriving economy. This panel will provide historical context of how – and why – Michigan got here and how creating stronger, more vibrant communities will help attract the best talent, improve infrastructure and increase access to employment, housing and health care.

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is sponsoring the panel.

Who: Ridgway White, president of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, will introduce the session, which will be moderated by Ron Fournier, publisher and editor of Crain’s Detroit Business. Panelists will include:

Rosalynn Bliss, mayor, Grand Rapids
Anthony Minghine, associate executive director and COO, Michigan Municipal League
Joshua Sapotichne, associate professor, Michigan State University

When: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.

Where: Brighton Pavilion in the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI

For additional information contact the Michigan Municipal League’s Matt Bach, director of communications, at (734) 669-6317 (office) and mbach@mml.org.

Michigan Municipal League is dedicated to making Michigan’s communities better by thoughtfully innovating programs, energetically connecting ideas and people, actively serving members with resources and services, and passionately inspiring positive change for Michigan’s greatest centers of potential: its communities. The League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington, D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. Learn more at mml.org.

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