Michigan Prosperity Agenda: Town-Gown Partnerships Between Cities and Universities Helping to Move State Forward

Michigan Prosperity Agenda: Town-Gown Partnerships Between Cities and Universities Helping to Move State Forward

Program Explores How to Make a Better Michigan

The Michigan Prosperity Agenda is a monthly radio show that challenges listeners to help make Michigan a better place to live, work and play by creating vibrant and prosperous local communities. It has aired on News/Talk 760 WJR at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month since 2010.

The hour-long radio program is hosted by Dan Gilmartin, CEO of the Michigan Municipal League (the League). The show is sponsored by the League and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The show’s topics center around the concept of placemaking. To learn more about placemaking go to Dan’s blog: The Economics of Place, the state’snew placemaking resources website, Miplace.org and check out our book, The Economics of Place: The Value of Building Communities Around People, available on Amazon.com.

THIS MONTH’S SHOW airs at 7 p.m. March 27 on News/Talk 760 WJR, and you can listen now by clicking the links below. We’ll talk about the concept of “Town Gown” and how cities and higher education institutions can work together to improve the economic vibrancy of the whole community.

View past radio shows here.

Listen to the full show: (37:51)

	Dan Gilmartin Dan Gilmartin, executive director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League. Listen to Dan explain what this show is about: (1:16)
	Marjory Raymer, Co-host Marjory Raymer is the news director of the Flint Journal and has worked in Flint since 2000. She discusses the cooperative work happening between the city and its universities, as well as the highlights of relocating the Flint Journal offices to the downtown area. Listen to Marjory talk about the excitement happening in downtown Flint. Just how many beers on tap can you find in downtown Flint these days? (7:02)
	Chris LaGrand Chris LaGrand is deputy director of housing for the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority. He discusses pending projects in downtown Grand Rapids that are expected to lure thousands of college students and young professionals who desire an urban lifestyle. LaGrand discusses the various mixed use developments drawing students, special needs residents and others to Grand Rapids. “The secret in Grand Rapids is it’s not just one strategy it’s a whole bunch of different strategies that happen to work synergistically to create an environment that everyone benefits from.” (9:14)
	Tony Bosbous Tony BosBous is mayor of Sault Sainte Marie and he discusses the city’s collaboration with the university leaders at Lake Superior State. This project has allowed the community to meet their goal of “evolving from simply a town with a university into a true university town.” Mayor Bosbous explains that his city and Lake Superior State University are geographically separately by a large hill, but leaders with both organizations are now developing a plan to work more closely together. (10:04)
	David Lossing David Lossing is mayor of the city of Linden and the president of the League. He discusses the League’s emphasis on the relationship between communities and cities and how it will help move Michigan into the knowledge based economy. Mayor Lossing says the shifting focus in Michigan from manufacturing-based economic to a knowledge-based economy is vital our state’s future and Town Gown relationships are key to making that happen. (9:44)