Wayne County’s data center went from ‘Flintstones to Jetsons,’ according to a recent article on the Government Computer News (GCN) website. County officials are said to have “forged a unique partnership" with data center operator Secure-24 to "build a state-of-the-art facility" and “struck an innovated deal with a technology provider [OpenText] to help the county build an integrated platform that automates paper-driven processes and connects systems across agencies that support the delivery of essential services,” including web-based taxpayer services, according to the article. 

Wayne County had been using the same old paper-driven data services and business procedures for 50 years. Their system was generally out of date and their facility wasn’t in good shape (it was located in a basement with flooding problems). Wayne County CIO Tahir Kazmi didn’t find this acceptable and the county embarked on a successful effort to move into better facilities and adopt up-to-date technologies and procedures. 

The article outlines "5 steps to going from 'Flintstones to Jetsons,'" based on what Wayne County did to "turn around its IT systems." You can also read a related post about Wayne County's use of OpenText technology on GCN's website, which goes into greater depth about exactly how they are using it.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info.

The Michigan Good Food Charter is a widely supported initiative impacting current discussions about Michigan's food system. The statewide public policy initiative "outlines a vision for the food system in Michigan and 25 agenda priorities to move us towards it in the next 10 years," according to Michigan Good Food's website. The charter was developed by the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University, the Food Bank Council of Michigan, and the Michigan Food Policy Council with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Last Fall, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture showed support for the initiative by issuing a resolution.

A few of the major goals for 2020 are;

* By 2020, "Michigan institutions will source 20 percent of their food products from Michigan growers, producers and processors."

* "Michigan farmers will profitably supply 20 percent of all Michigan institutional, retailer, and consumer food purchases and be able to pay fair wages to their workers."

* "Michigan will generate new agri-food businesses at a rate that enables 20 percent of food purchases in Michigan to come from Michigan."

The assumption is that supporting more locally sourced food production and consumption will generate a large economic impact. We are nowhere near the proposed 20 percent marks described above. Instead consumption of locally sourced products constitutes closer to 1%-2% of our annual budgets (depending on where you live or what study you read). Keeping more of our money circulating in our own communities could mean more jobs and economic growth.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info.

The Michigan Main Street 2009-2010 Annual Report is available online. The report covers the major successes of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s (MSHDA) Michigan Main Street Program over the 2009-2010 reporting year and since the program’s founding in 2003. You’ll also find an explanation of the program’s “Four-Point Approach” and their “Eight Guiding Principals” to developing strong main street programs in Michigan downtowns. 

The report highlights the accomplishments of 13 Michigan downtowns who were “Active Master and Selected Level Communities” in 2009-2010. Read the report to find out what kind of downtown development and community initiatives are happening in “Master Level” communities - Boyne City, Calumet, Clare, Marshall, Niles, and Portland, MI - and “Selected Level” communities - Grand Haven, Howell, Iron Mountain, Manistee, Old Town Lansing, Owosso, and Scottville.

Since 2003, the program has generated $96,329,318 in private and public investment, according to the report. $24,439,644 of that was generated in 2009-2010. 169 new businesses have been created, since 2003, and 62 were created in 2009-2010. 117 existing businesses have been expanded, since 2003, and 30 of those were expanded in 2009-2010. 

Read the report or visit the Michigan Main Street Program online to find out more about the services and strategies this statewide program provides to Michigan communities. 

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info.

Come April, Detroit City Council plans to Skype their public meetings. According to the Detroit Free Press, "City Council plans to allow Skype users a chance to address members with a Web cam during the public comment period of regular meetings," Steve Neavling reports. Detroiters with a web cam or networked cell phone (e.i. iPhone, Android, etc.) can contribute comments to City Council meetings mobily. 

This could be an interesting development in the realm of messaging & technology, one of the Center for 21st Century Communities' (21c3)'s "eight assets" that make for vibrant communities. Many government agencies and public officials across the U.S. are getting more into social networking and web communications sites like Skype. I recently blogged about how Facebook changed its terms of service to make it easier for State and local governments to join. 

Council President Charles Pugh told the Free Press he "expects the technology to spur more interest in local government among young people, who rarely attend meetings and are the least likely group to vote," in Neavling's own words. Depending on how much the public ends up taking advantage of the option to comment through Skype, it could potentially encourage more Detroit residents to participate in City Council meetings - young and old. "In a city of 750,000 people, fewer than a dozen residents typically speak out during the comment period," according to the Free Press.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info.