Michigan State University has been awarded a $915,000 grant over five years from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to create a pioneering economic development center that focuses on new ways of generating businesses and jobs.

The MSU University Center for Regional Economic Innovation  will work to support research in economic development innovation in a collaborative manner through partnering with other colleges, local and regional governments, private businesses and other groups to produce or identify innovative ideas and practices that can be shared. 

The project will have a statewide focus, both urban and rural, and particularly in economically distressed regions. The center will seek opportunities to improve economic development in a variety of industries, such as information technology and the health and energy sectors.

To begin its work, the REI Center is asking for help in identifying innovative economic development tools, models, policies and/or practices that may create businesses and jobs in our state. Fill out the survey here. Suggestions may be featrued in webinars and presentations at the "Innovate Michigan! Summit, scheduled for Thursday, September 6, 2012.

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

Thirty-three communities along the I-69 corridor in Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, and Shiawassee counties and several in the Grand Traverse area have signed inter-local agreements to form trade corridors and become hubs for commerce and freight and logistics in their regions.

Both have initiatives have received a Next Michigan Development Corporation/Aerotropolis designation from the Michigan Strategic Fund.

As noted in a press release from the Prima Civitas Foundation, the goal of the I-69 initiative is to "enable the I-69 Corridor to market the region's collective strengths to businesses that are engaged in international multi-modal commerce as an alternative to the congestion occuring at other border crossings, rail shipping/receiving yards, and airports." As a region there are many such assets including Bishop Airport, major freeways, the Blue Water Bridge, CSX and Canadian National rails, and several water ports.

These regional collaboartive efforts involve not only local government but other public sector entities and the private sector as well.  Public/Private regional collaboration on economic development is a key element in creating the vibrant kinds of places emphasized in the League's Center for 21st Century Communities program.  

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

Technology is driving change at a fast and furious pace, altering our lives in ways that we could never have imagined only a short time ago. Now, in an economy of shrinking budgets and staff, emerging technologies are allowing the public sector to completely rethink how they function, deliver services, and engage their citizens.

Enter Civic Commons Marketplace, a recently launched app "store" that was highlighted in a Fast Company article. Developed by Civic Commons, a nonprofit organization that is helping the public sector navigate the tech world, this site is a place where governments can search for software, compare alternatives, and share the technologies that they are already using. Some of the exciting software includes DistrictBuilder program which allows for creating and editing redistricting plans (Detroit is one of seven cities using it in the country) and check out SeeClickFix, which encourages a more engaged citizenry to report non-emergency problems in their neighborhoods with one quick click.

This new app store is a resource that can spur the public sector to think outside the traditional parameters of operation and create more transparent and efficient governments.

Colleen Layton is Director of Policy Development for the Michigan Municipal League.  She can be reached at 734-669-6320 or by clayton@mml.org.

Governor Rick Snyder has released another of his policy driven special messages to the Legislature, this time on talent development.

The Governor's message is that Michigan must "reinvent the way in which we prepare children for fulfilling careers, reshape how Michiganders look for work and redesign the way in which employers obtain the skills they need. "Tomorrow's opportunities cannot be realized with yesterday's skills," the governor was quoted as saying.

And as part of that effort the Governor used the message to re-emphasize the importance of "enhancing quality of place" as a means of encouraging talent attraction and retention.

The Governor's message once again recognizes that investing in place-based strategies will create the kinds communities that people are seeking to live, work and play in. The League has been pushing for such policies for several years through our "Center for 21st Century Communities" program, and most recently with the publication of our book, "The Economics of Place".

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