Michigan Development News, 10/26/08
Model D Media: Smart Ideas for Detroit from the Creative Cities Summit 2.0. In case you couldn’t attend the Creative Cities Summit, Model D has a great re-cap:
Municipalities as head-hunters. Mayors as talent scouts. City Councils as fun-makers.
Leaders who want their communities to succeed must take on new roles like these.
“Look at what we’re good at: building roads, sewers…We must be good at new kind of infrastructure,” Lou Musante, managing partner of Catalytix Consulting in Pittsburgh, told the audience attending “Retaining Talent” session.
He and Dan Gilmartin, president of the Michigan Municipal League, and Dr. Soji Adelaja, director of the Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University, shared tips and stories about local governments expanding beyond the traditional job duties of City Hall.
Cities are finding they can thrive by taking on efforts that once were the purview of business – talent retention, job recruitment and the understanding and promotion of how daytime and nighttime businesses make a city livable and workable.
Model D TV: What Does Your Creative City Look Like? Speaking of which, we thought we’d include this YouTube video from the Creative Cities Summit as well:
Michigan Energy Report: United Solar Battle Creek plant gets more state support. More 21st Century jobs on the way:
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced approval by the Michigan Strategic Fund board of a tax-free Renaissance Zone and a $10 million Community Development Block Grant to support United Solar Ovonic’s planned $220 million advanced solar manufacturing plant in Battle Creek’s Fort Custer Industrial Park. The new plant is expected to create up to 350 new jobs. The company also has the option to invest another $220 million and build a second manufacturing plant in Battle Creek with the potential for an additional 350 jobs.
Election on November 4: Remember to vote! The 2008 election is only nine days away. To see a sample ballot, request an absentee ballot, and find polling locations, visit Publius.org.
Michigan Development News
Grand Rapids Press: Foreclosure help is available, but ‘upside down’ homeowners can’t get into it. Help is out there for families facing foreclosure, but assistance programs aren’t taking off as some had initially hoped:
At the state level, officials recognize the two Save the Dream refinance plans are not for everyone.
While the effort succeeded as an awareness campaign and connected homeowners with state-approved credit counselors, only about 25 people have successfully refinanced.
“We, of course, hoped it would be higher,” said Mary Townley, director of the state authority’s Home Ownership Division.
Track records of other states with similar products show slow starts, too, she said. “Ohio had 12 loans in the first 12 months.”
Federal officials recently crowed that 380,000 families have refinanced through FHA Secure. But statistics show only a small percentage of those are expected to actually be lagging on payments.
Capital Gains: Williamston Reinvents Itself. And now for some good news. We especially like hearing things like this about one of our favorite borrowers, the Williamston Theater:
Williamston has long cultivated a reputation as one of the best antique markets in the U.S., but that also contributed to an aging image; a bit of a fading rose. Since the downtown’s resurgence and focus on unique venues and young professionals, perceptions have changed. Williamston is now beginning to have the appeal of popular tourist spots like Saugatuck or Northville.
The expanding business climate is part of stepped up efforts by the city to bring visitors into the area. Barbara Burke with the Williamston Chamber of Commerce says the city’s destination spots make Williamston more attractive to businesses and residents.
What Northville and Saugatuck have in common are unique venues and thriving pedestrian storefronts, a success Williamston has made a real effort to emulate in the last year.
The RiverHouse, Gracie’s Place, D & W Fresh Market, N’vious Fashions and the Williamston Theater have all increased the real estate market in downtown Williamston, giving residents access to unique amenities that attract people to a downtown.
MSHDA Press Release: MSHDA Offers Low-cost Loans for Home Improvements. We forgot to include this one in last week’s update:
Income eligible homeowners with no equity may borrow up to $25,000 from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to make energy-efficiency improvements to their home. With equity, homeowners can borrow up to $50,000.“Making simple improvements like increasing insulation or replacing an inefficient furnace or old windows can reduce your energy costs by up to 50 percent,” said MSHDA Executive Director Keith Molin.There are Property Improvement Program loans of up to $50,000 for single-family homeowners and $100,000 for landlords (up to $25,000 per unit). There are no income limits for landlords.
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