I am really excited about the work being done in Michigan around re-energizing our economy through quality place-based strategies and practices. Cities, as we know, play an enormous role in establishing a sound economy.
One of latest projects from the Michigan Municipal League is called PlacePlans. The work is outlined as follows:
Successful placemaking is a dynamic, strategic approach to community development and economic revitalization based on an individual community’s strengths within core “quality of life” areas. With a comprehensive understanding of a community’s place-based assets, and the tools and strategies to best leverage them, a successful “PlacePlan” can develop. PlacePlans is a joint effort between Michigan State University and the Michigan Municipal League, funded by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) through the MIPlace initiative, to help communities design and plan for transformative placemaking projects.
The PlacePlans process is customized to each project and community, but each involves an intensive community engagement strategy, including a public visioning session, several public meetings to provide specific input and feedback on plans and designs, and direct work with key community stakeholders along the way. The PlacePlan projects will positively impact each community’s ability to leverage their place-based assets as economic drivers, and will provide lessons large and small for communities across Michigan. Please visit again to see the work in progress, and follow along through our placemaking blog, and the League’s social networks – Twitter and Facebook.
Eight communities were selected from a list that includes more than 60 applicants. Work will be done in Detroit, Cadillac, Holland, Flint, Jackson, Marquette, Midland and Kalamazoo. I can’t wait to see the results.
Also, the League’s latest podcast installment on Detroit’s bankruptcy is here if you have a few minutes to listen.