"Detroit Matters" - that’s the straight forward headline on the cover of the Michigan Municipal League’s most recent edition of the Review Magazine. The March/April 2013 magazine, available for free online here, is all about Detroit and why Detroit should matter to the rest of Michigan. The cover story focuses on John George and his Motor City Blight Busters program (pages 24-27).

Other highlights in the issue include:

• A column by League CEO Dan Gilmartin that explains how Detroit is Michigan’s beating heart (page 5);
• Q&A articles with people living in Detroit and why they chose to move there in recent years (pages 8-10);
• The revitalization of Clark Park (pages 12-14);
• A feature article on Recycle Here!, Detroit’s grassroots recycling program (pages 16-18);
• A look at several of Detroit’s social entrepreneurs, including Ponyride.org; GreenGarageDetroit.com; DetroitSoup.com; HatchDetroit.com (pages 19-21);
• A first-hand account of volunteering at Cass Community Social Services (pages 34-35);

"Our Review magazine often has articles related to Detroit, but this is the first time in recent history where an entire issue was devoted to Detroit,” said League CEO Daniel Gilmartin. “Our 2013 Convention is taking place in Detroit in September and we thought now would be a good time to highlight some of the positive people, places and things in our state’s largest city. This issue of the magazine gives our members and the general public a glimpse of what they might see if they come to our Convention in September or simply visit Detroit.”

So why does Detroit Matter? Gilmartin explains it best in his column at the start of the magazine. Here’s a segment: “Imagine your body without your heart. Sure, maybe some fancy life support machine could keep your arms, legs and gut technically alive. But you certainly won’t grow and thrive. … Detroit is the beating heart that’s big enough and strong enough to keep Michigan’s lifeblood flowing. A state’s major metropolitan area is also its calling card to the rest of the world. It is the magnet that draws people and business, the face of our cultural coin. … Help us make Detroit a place that matters, so that Michigan will matter, too."

The League’s March/April Review Magazine was mailed out to subscribers this week. The print version of this magazine goes to more than 8,500 municipal leaders – mayors, city council, city managers, municipal staff – as well as state and federal politicians, numerous state agencies, and others interested in community placemaking efforts. The bimonthly magazine also is posted on the web here.

Matt Bach is the League's director of media relations. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 and mbach@mml.org.

The Michigan Municipal League today (June 6, 2012) launched three new blogs about city operations, digital innovations and the importance of private and public investment in communities. These blogs are part of the League’s key mission to serve as the one clear voice for Michigan communities.

Read a news release about the blogs here. The League’s Anthony Minghine, associate executive director and chief operations officer; will write a regular blog called “City Ops” about the practical things that cities deal with on a daily basis. The League’s Rob Ferrari, director of digital strategies, will write the blog “inKNOWvate” about how messaging and technology can generate stronger community engagement, identity and support. The blog “Communities Count” by the League’s Arnold Weinfeld, director of strategic initiatives and federal affairs, will focus on why it’s vital to invest in Michigan’s communities.

While these three blogs are new, the League has been blogging for years, including a legislative blog called Inside 208, and a blog about the eight assets to creating vibrant communities, called 21c3 (Center for 21st Century Communities.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. Reach him at 734-669-6317 and mbach@mml.org.

LANSING, Michigan - The Twitterverse will be the virtual location for a unique statewide conversation on the need for a new transportation system in Michigan. Beginning at 12 p.m. on September 13, Let’s Save Michigan and the Michigan Municipal League will host a public forum on Twitter (using the hashtag #MiTransVision) as legislators and leading thinkers on Michigan’s economy, communities, and environment gather in Lansing. The event is intended to create a consensus of ideas and suggested solutions for Governor Snyder who has hinted that he will unveil a new transportation and infrastructure vision in October.

Our experts participating in the event include moderator Sarah Szurpicki of Let's Save Michigan; League CEO Dan Gilmartin; Robert Puentes, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution; Chris Kolb, executive director, Michigan Environmental Council; Rory Neuner, project coordinator, Transportation for Michigan (Trans4M); and Rich Studley, president and CEO, Michigan Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to Sept. 13, anyone can tweet using the hashtag #MiTransVision to have their ideas and questions included. During the event, live tweeting by @LetsSaveMich and @mmleague will give up-to-the-minute reports on the presentations and ideas presented. Media are invited to attend the event in person or by phone, but arrangements must be made in advance dditional details can be found at http://www.mml.org/newsroom/twitter-transit/index.html.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at mbach@mml.org.

BAY CITY, Michigan - Several Michigan Municipal League members were recognized during the recent Michigan Downtown Conference in Bay City in mid-September. The following Michigan Main Street communities were recognized for excellence:

• MMS Program of the Year – Boyne City Main Street
• MMS Manager of the Year – Lori Schuh, Clare
• MMS Volunteer of the Year – Joel VanSlambrouck, Portland
• MMS Four-Points Award (Economic Restructuring) – Business Retention & Recruitment Program, Niles
• MMS Four-Points Award (Organization) – Owosso Main Street Visioning, Owosso
• MMS Four-Points Award (Promotions) – Main Street Calumet’s CopperDog 150, Calumet
  
  Also recognized were the following Michigan communities:

• Green Project of the Year (Large Scale), "Thirty-Eight", Locus Development, Grand Rapids
• Green Project of the Year (Small Scale), Window Rehabilitation Training, City of Kalamazoo & Michigan Historic Preservation Network
• Living Downtown Award, "101 South Division Loft Apartments", Brookstone Capital, Grand Rapids
• Innovation (Large Scale), ArtPrize, Grand Rapids
• Innovation (Small Scale), Cops & Doughnuts, Clare
• Facade Rehabilitation (Small Community), City of Plainwell
• MEDC Brownfield Project of the Year (Population Under 50,000), One Water Street, Boyne City
• MEDC Brownfield Project of the Year (Population Over 50,000), "Thirty-Eight", Locus Development, Grand Rapids
• MEDC Local Partner of the Year, Jeff Radcliffe, Otsego County Economic Alliance

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.