Inside 208

Sterling Heights City Manager Mark Vanderpool and CFO Brian Baker testify in Lansing Tuesday about the personal property tax. LANSING, Michigan – The first of two hearings on a plan to reform Michigan’s personal property tax had more questions than answers for lawmakers and a standing-room-only crowd in attendance. The...

The House Commerce Committee passed HB 5926, which makes changes to the Community Revitalization Program regarding which investments are eligible investments, who may apply for program incentives, and when grants and loans can be disbursed or transferred. The League was supportive of this legislation. This program was created last year...

The House Commerce Committee today considered SB 1210. This bill makes a number of changes to the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act. The League indicated support for this legislation. One of the major changes that it makes to the Act is to eliminate the sunset on the TIF portion of the...

The Michigan Vacant Property Campaign, in partnership with the League, will be hosting its final regional roundtable on Tuesday December 4, in Flint. The roundtable provides an opportunity for community members, stakeholders, and local leaders across sectors to learn about the MVPC and the technical assistance services the campaign offers...

With 2012 coming to an end in the next month and half, it is time to get the word out again about the League’s Legislative Committees. We hope that you will consider being a member of one (or two) of the committees for 2013. There are two levels of participation:...

The Microenterprise Network of Michigan (MNM) is a statewide association that supports entrepreneurship and microbusiness development in Michigan. Their member’s organizations provide entrepreneurial training, business technical assistance/consulting and microlending resources to diverse communities in every Michigan county. The MNM is dedicated to leading job creation, asset building, access to capital,...

The Michigan Main Street Center is taking applications for the Associate Main Street program now through November 2. The Michigan Main Street Center works with communities large and small, urban and rural, helping them to grow into thriving, innovative and creative centers of commerce for both people and businesses. The...

The Michigan Vacant Property Campaign will be hosting a series of regional roundtables across the state and is accepting RSVPs for the four events scheduled thus far. The regional roundtables will bring together community members, stakeholders and leaders across sectors, providing a forum to examine specific vacant property issues and...

The Michigan Foreclosure Task Force launched a free, online Community Foreclosure Response Toolkit  — a unique, user-friendly, one-stop-shop resource to allow community stakeholders like your constituents to easily find the basic information, resources, strategies and best-practice models they need to respond effectively to the ongoing foreclosure crisis in their area....

There is a MI Place Making Tools Workshop scheduled for November 7. Learn about the variety of economic development tools available from MEDC, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Quality, and MSHDA. The workshop will explore ways to connect community organizations and...