There’s a huge national event happening next week in which the Michigan Municipal League is playing a major role. The League is heavily involved in the upcoming national Infrastructure Week (May 13-17) and there are still seats available for the Michigan event happening related to this on May 14 in Lansing.
Infrastructure Week is an annual event that aims to raise the awareness about the importance of community infrastructure and, more specifically, how the infrastructure across the nation is deteriorating and needs more support. The event is promoted by the Infrastructure Week non-profit organization. The National League of Cities plays an active role as well.
This year, they are having four regional summits during the week and Lansing is the host of the Midwest Summit taking place 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. May 14 at the Lansing Brewing Company (518 E Shiawassee Street, Lansing, MI 48912). The other three summits are in D.C., Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. View the full calendar of events here: https://infrastructureweek.org/calendar/.
The Lansing event is free to attend and it will be well worth your time. There are a few seats left for the event that includes breakfast and lunch. You can register here: https://infrastructureweekmichigan.eventbrite.com.
Speakers at the Lansing event include Dan Gilmartin, League CEO and Executive Director; Governor Whitmer; former U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater; and Mayors Andy Schor, Bobby Hopewell and Karen Weaver. Specifically, Dan Gilmartin will lead a panel on placemaking as it relates to infrastructure. The placemaking panel also will feature business leaders from Rock Ventures, AARP and Delta Dental.
The League will be doing a ton of social media about this event so we’d greatly appreciate you helping us spread the news through your social media networks as well. All the posts about the event will be using the hashtag #BuildForTomorrow.
Michigan Municipal League CEO and Executive Director Dan Gilmartin
As Dan outlined in a recent Crain’s Detroit Business op-ed piece, quality infrastructure plays a pivotal role having vibrant communities and a vibrant Michigan necessary for attracting today’s talent. When the League talks about the importance of investing in infrastructure, we’re talking about “community infrastructure” – not just roads and pipes. Here’s an excerpt from Dan’s recent op-ed that explains it well:
“Businesses and communities agree on the need for a strong economy in Michigan, because we recognize our futures are inextricably linked together. You can’t have strong communities without strong businesses, and you can’t have strong businesses without strong communities.
Much recent conversation in Michigan centers on the need to invest in Michigan’s infrastructure. The League fully agrees about that need — but it can’t be just about pipes and roads. A community’s infrastructure is also the park we want our children to play in; the senior center that meets the needs of that growing population; walking, running and biking trails; the first responders who keep us safe; and the ambulance that gets us to care. A community’s infrastructure is the backbone of assets and services we expect as taxpayers.
Our Michigan business community is in a worldwide competition for talent and the talent goes to the best places. Simply put, places that have invested in their community infrastructure services are winning the global competition for talent, in the United States and around the world. As the new Legislature and Governor begin to chart a course for Michigan’s future, now is the time for new policies to open the door for our cities to invest in the infrastructure needed to attract the best and brightest – and by doing so, for our state to grow.
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and our new Legislature can be agents of change in this vital area by recognizing that investment in community infrastructure doesn’t just mean roads. It means better and smarter police and fire protection, improved sewer and water systems, better street lighting, vibrant parks, and all public transportation modes.
Communities want strong partners in the business community and in our Legislature to fix Michigan’s broken municipal finance model and free our cities to grow in ways that will bring prosperity to the entire state. Learn more at savemicity.org.”
Here are some additional details about the upcoming Infrastructure Week event happening in Lansing, May 14:
Key links: https://infrastructureweek.org/event/infrastructure-week-2019-midwest-summit/ and https://infrastructureweek.org/
Details on the Midwestern Summit:
What: Infrastructure Week Midwestern Summit
When: Tuesday, May 14, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: The Lansing Brewing Company (518 E Shiawassee Street, Lansing, MI 48912)
Who: The Honorable Bobby J. Hopewell, Kalamazoo, Michigan; The Honorable Andy Schor, Mayor, Lansing, Michigan; The Honorable Karen Weaver, Mayor, Flint, Michigan; Paul Ajegba, Director, Michigan Department of Transportation; Paula D. Cunningham, State Director, Michigan AARP; Dan Gilmartin Executive Director & CEO, Michigan Municipal League; Mike Nystrom, Executive Vice President/Secretary, The Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association; Rodney Slater, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs and Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation; and more
Register: https://infrastructureweekmichigan.eventbrite.com – REGISTRATION IS FREE.
Topics to be discussed include developing a regional strategy for economic success, the future of funding and financing infrastructure, and enhancing regional connectivity.