On Thursday, July 11 the Great Lakes Commission with MML and several other groups as co-sponsors will be hosting a workshop in Muskegon to discuss place based strategies for waterfront areas.

This workshop will focus on placemaking opportunities in coastal communities and illustrate examples of how leaders are leveraging Michigan's bountiful water resources to advance economic growth and build a higher quality of life in their communities.

This is an introductory workshop to the principles of placemaking and is intended for those involved in economic development, tourism, waterfront development, watershed management and coastal restoration.

Registration will be open shortly, so save the date and come back to this blog for further information.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail

Across the country, local governments have unleashed a new approach to anti-poverty work through the practice of municipal financial empowerment – collaborative community-based initiatives that connect residents with financial education and counseling, affordable financial products and opportunities to save.

On Tuesday, May 14 from 11 am to 12:15 pm a free webinar featuring Ingham County Treasurer Eric Schertzing, City of Lansing Treasurer Antonia Kraus and Megan Kursik from the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), is being offered as they discuss municipal financial empowerment in the Greater Lansing community and the new Lansing Financial Empowerment Center. Over the next three years, the Lansing Financial Empowerment Center will provide 4,000 individuals free, one-on-one financial counseling.

You will learn how your community can begin this work through a similar approach and with support from the Michigan Communities for Financial Empowerment (MCFE) network at CEDAM.

Learning Objectives:
1. What is municipal financial empowerment and is it an effective anti-poverty tool?
2. Deep dive: Financial Empowerment Center model
3. Support and technical assistance available to Michigan local governments from the MCFE network

Again, the cost of this webinar is free. Register here.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail

Opportunities are now underway to receive comprehensive placemaking training through the MIPlace Partnership Initiative.  

As noted in an earlier post the League, along with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the MSU Land Policy Institute, and other statewide organizations has launched the MIPlace Partnership Initiative. One element of the initiative is a ‘Placemaking Curriculum’ with the goal of helping Michigan communities learn more about and implement placemaking as a strategic economic development.  The six-module curriculum from the MI-Place Partnership can jump-start your community’s placemaking creativity.

Placemaking Curriculum Training is being offered right now by nonprofit placemaking partners such as Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) and Michigan Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA). Visit the MIPlace website at miplace.org and click on the events tab to learn more.

And remember, you'll have a chance at the League's upcoming Capitol Conference to learn more about the curriculum and learn what your community can do to help restore prosperity to Michigan and enhance the quality of life for everyone in your community.

Arnold Weinfeld is the Director or Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail

What defines a community? It’s the common ground where people gather – from housing, squares, streets and plazas to parks, green spaces and waterfronts.

The Michigan Municipal League believes that by revitalizing communities and rebuilding neighborhoods, we can strengthen the entire state. Together with our many partners, we invest in Michigan communities to enhance the quality of life of our residents – and to attract and retain businesses, entrepreneurs and workers throughout the state.

This approach is commonly described as creating a “sense of place” or just “placemaking.” It’s a simple concept really, based on a single principle – people choose to settle in places that offer the amenities, social and professional networks, resources and opportunities to support thriving lifestyles.

Michigan can attract and retain talent – especially young, knowledge-based talent – by focusing on how best to utilize our regional communities’ unique placemaking assets.Michigan is seen these days as leading the national movement for "placemaking". Downtowns and neighborhoods, cities, and regions see the importance of “place” to attracting talent, inspiring entrepreneurship, and encouraging business.

Recently, the League, along with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the MSU Land Policy Institute, and other statewide organizations launched the MIPlace Partnership Initiative and a companion ‘Placemaking Curriculum’ with the goal of helping Michigan communities learn more about and implement placemaking as a strategic economic development.  The six-module curriculum from the MI-Place Partnership can jump-start your community’s placemaking creativity.

At the League's upcoming Capitol Conference you'll have the chance to more about the curriculum and learn what your community can do to help restore prosperity to Michigan and enhance the quality of life for everyone in your community. For more information about the MiPlace Partnership Initiative and Placemaking Curriculum Training being offered in the spring of 2013 by nonprofit placemaking partners such as Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) and Michigan Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA) visit the MIPlace website at miplace.org.

Arnold Weinfeld is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or at aweinfeld@mml.org.