The Michigan Municipal League today (June 6, 2012) launched three new blogs about city operations, digital innovations and the importance of private and public investment in communities. These blogs are part of the League’s key mission to serve as the one clear voice for Michigan communities.

Read a news release about the blogs here. The League’s Anthony Minghine, associate executive director and chief operations officer; will write a regular blog called “City Ops” about the practical things that cities deal with on a daily basis. The League’s Rob Ferrari, director of digital strategies, will write the blog “inKNOWvate” about how messaging and technology can generate stronger community engagement, identity and support. The blog “Communities Count” by the League’s Arnold Weinfeld, director of strategic initiatives and federal affairs, will focus on why it’s vital to invest in Michigan’s communities.

While these three blogs are new, the League has been blogging for years, including a legislative blog called Inside 208, and a blog about the eight assets to creating vibrant communities, called 21c3 (Center for 21st Century Communities.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. Reach him at 734-669-6317 and mbach@mml.org.

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - Michigan Municipal League CEO & Executive Director Dan Gilmartin will give the keynote address during the 3rd Annual Public/Private/Partnership (P3) Conference in Grand Rapids May 31. The event, taking place at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, is jointly sponsored by the Urban Land Institute of Michigan and the Michigan Municipal League. (Please note this event was originally scheduled to take place in April but has been rescheduled for May 31).

To register go here. This half-day event will begin at 8 a.m. with a breakfast and keynote address, and will continue through the morning with discussion panels, a case study, and the Metro Marketplace, where exhibitors from non-profit, development organizations, communities, and local governments can market their property listings, development plans, incentives, and services to developers and financiers, and the private sector can showcase their services to the public sector community.

The past two conferences in Rochester and Lansing have been overwhelming successes and attracted more than 450 of the state's leading real estate developers, investors, public officials, academics and professional service provider. Gilmartin will give the keynote address and discuss how to balance community wants with market realities. View the full agenda here.

"It's more important now than ever before that seemingly disparate groups find common ground to build communities that attract our young leaders to live, work, shop and play in Michigan."

Non-members of ULI can save $100 off membership when they register for this event at michigan.uli.org. For registration and sponsorship information, please contact ULI Coordinator, Shannon Sclafani at ssclafani@uli.org or (248) 807-1600. Click here for more details on registering for the event.

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

LANSING, Michigan - A Sustainable Communities Leadership Academy will take place June 7-8 at Michigan State University. The event is co-hosted by MSU Citizen Planner, School of Planning, Design and Construction and MSU Extension. The Michigan Municipal League also is a supporting partner in the event. Placemaking and Sustainable Community Planning have been hot topics for cities throughout Michigan. This workshop will provide in-depth information for the practical application of these concepts for municipalities throughout Michigan. For details and to register go here.

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

A message from the League's Chief Operations Officer:

The Michigan Municipal League has received numerous inquiries about the status of the League’s proposed natural gas purchasing program. We are pleased to report that we are continuing to make progress, and are targeting a summer 2012 launch of the program. At the present time we are assembling our consulting team, and will be seeking proposals from gas suppliers in the near future. Please watch our website (mml.org) for further updates as we will be seeking to collect additional information from members that are ready to participate in the program and save money on their energy purchases.

Anthony Minghine
Associate Executive Director & COO
Ph: 734-669-6360
www.mml.org

Posted by League communications director Matt Bach on behalf of Anthony Minghine.