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.

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