Discovering and applying new and innovative economic development tools, models, policies, and programs
Creating Jobs and Wealth in Distressed Michigan Communities
Webinar Series
Circular Economies Institute
Panel 1: Circular Economy, Bio-Based Solutions & Research
Panel 2: Circular Economy, Transportation Systems & Mass Timber
Panel 3: Sustainable Packaging Systems & Polymer Science
Panel 4: Sustainable Supply Chains & Battery Technology Research
Panel 5: Chemical Exposures and Synthesis of Chemical Building Blocks
Rural and Small Community Recycling and Waste Reduction Project
Session 1
Session 2
Dr. Jennifer Hodbod's Resiliency Series
Session 1: Principles of Resilience
Session 2: Resilience Assessment
Session 3: Climate Adaptation
Session 4: Infrastructure
Session 5: Infrastructure
Session 6: Hazards
MSUE Resiliency Planning Webinar Series
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5
Session 6
2019 Student-Led, Faculty-Guided Projects Webinar
Presenter: Rex LaMore and Jennifer Bruen, MSU Center for Community and Economic Development
The director and the project coordinator of the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development explain our Student-Led, Faculty-Guided projects for this year in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes, and Energy.
REI Webinar Introduction
Presenter: Rex LaMore, MSU Center for Community and Economic Development
The director of the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development takes some time introduces the Regional Economic Innovation project and the webinar series.
2015 Webinars
Establishing an Entrepreneurial Friendly Region 
Presenters: Saurabh Lall, Research Director, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs; Michael Forsyth, Detroit Economic Growth Association, REVOLVE Detroit; Angela Barbash, Reconsider; & Amanda Blondeau, Northern Initiatives
Date: Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 2:30pm
This webinar will look at the elements of entrepreneurship ecosystems and provide insights into specific elements that are of interest to the Great Lakes region. Beginning with national and international frameworks for assessing entrepreneurial ecosystems, we will then take a closer look at the role of scale and setting in determining critically-needed infrastructure and services for entrepreneurs. At the end of this webinar, you will be equipped with new ideas and case studies to help you facilitate and guide entrepreneurial growth and success in your region. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer. View the agenda here.
Family-Owned Business Database for the Great Lakes Bay Region
Presenters: Dr. Rama Yelkur, Saginaw Valley State University
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 2:00pm
Family businesses remain a vital force for innovation, job creation, and community development in Michigan. The Saginaw Valley State University Family Business program proposes to create a comprehensive database of family-owned businesses in the Great Lakes Bay Region and surrounding counties. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer.
Impact Assessment of Pollution in Southwest Detroit
Presenters: Dr. Phillip Olla, Madonna University.
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 2:00pm
This project was an impact study of the health and economic costs of pollution in Southwest Detroit. The main objective of the study was to apply existing knowledge and evidence about health impacts in Southwest Detroit to specific social and community contexts. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer.
2014 Webinars
Action Plan for a Detroit Employment District: Mt. Elliott Industrial District
Presenters: June Manning Thomas, Ph.D., Eric Dueweke, Ph.D., and Student Researchers, University of Michigan
Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 10:00am
This webinar focuses on creating an employment center in Detroit’s Mt. Elliott industrial district. The main goal is to implement strategies that align investments and encourage industrial business development while engaging the local community. Several student researchers from the class also participate in the webinar: James Carpenter, Cassie Dewitt, and Colin Dillon. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Afterhouse
Presenter: Steven Mankouche, Ph.D., University of Michigan
Date: Thursday, May 8, 2014 at 2:00pm
Rather than demolishing another irreparable house in Detroit, a motivated group has been actively working to deconstruct and reuse the foundation to builda semi subterranean passive geothermal greenhouse. This greenhouse will be able to dramatically extend the growing season and expand crop possibilities without using additional energy and help supply Detroit with fresh, local, affordable produce. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Engaging Michigan Community Alumni Networks as Catalysts for Development
Presenter: Elizabeth Garlow, Michigan Corps and Mayor Dayne Walling, Flint Club Founder
Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at 2:00pm
This webinar focuses on how Michigan expatriates can play a role in revitalizing Michigan's urban economies. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Expanding Economic Literacy by Using the Money Smart for Small Business Curriculum
Presenter: Amanda Blondeau, Northern Initiatives
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 2:00pm
In this webinar, Amanda Blondeau proposes to develop training videos based on the 10 training areas of the FDIC Money Smart for Small Business program. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Improving Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Transparency and Accountability: A Consolidated TIF Database for Michigan
Presenter: David Bieri, University of Michigan
Date: Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 2:00pm
This webinar addresses the implementation of a database to track the effects of TIFs, as Dr. Bieri points out; there is an "absence of standardized information for making meaningful fiscal comparisons" in Michigan. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Montcalm Business Incubator
Presenter: Davia Downey, Ph.D., Grand Valley State University
Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at 2:00pm
This webinar focuses on the initial data gathering process to identify economic development trends in Montcalm and Ionia counties. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Operation Above Ground: Improving Licensing for New Food Businesses to Promote a Stronger Detroit Food Economy
Presenter: Rebecca Baylor, Devita Davinson, Jess Daniel, and the Operation Above Ground Team, FoodLab Detroit
Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 10:00am
This webinar summarizes research conducted by the Operation Above Ground team, a grassroots project by FoodLab and allies to understand and map the licensing process for Shared Use Kitchens and other alternative models of food business to take the first step in removing a significant barrier to the emergence of a more diverse, thriving, healthy, and innovative food economy in Detroit. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Promotion of Cooperative Enterprises in Distressed Urban and Rural Communities
Presenter: Edward Lorenz, Alma College
Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 2:00pm
This webinar discusses bringing the Mondragon model into the realm of higher education by educating students in the value of building a cooperative approach to community entrepreneurship. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Site Selector Data Collection and Website Development in the Upper Peninsula
Presenter: Jennifer James-Mesloh, Ph.D., and Student Researchers, Northern Michigan University
Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 10:00am
This collaborative project tasks community partners, faculty and graduate students to gather data for a marketing program that will attract businesses to the 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula region. The Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP) and the Upper Peninsula Collaborative Development Council (UPCDC) are participating partners on this project. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Youth Entrepreneurship - A Call to Action
Presenter: Cheryl Peters and Ocie Irons, Generation E Institute
Date: Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 2:00pm
This webinar discusses how to implement the Generation E model, a five step approach to developing youth entrepreneurship education in your community. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
- Watch recorded presentation (Part 1)
- Watch recorded presentation (Part 2)
- Watch Part 1 on YouTube
- Watch Part 2 on YouTube
2013 Webinars
A Creative and Innovative Culture
Presenter: Kimberly Kleinhans, Wayne State University
This webinar presents Kleinhans' research on the exploration of the meaning of innovation in the context of economic development and discusses a summary of best practices. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Digital Literacy and Inclusion: Further Developing Michigan's 21st Century Workforce
Presenter: Eric Frederick, AICP, LEED AP, Connect Michigan
This webinar is an examination of the ICT skills or "digital literacy" skills gap and its relationship to workforce and economic development in Michigan. The plan explores the definition of digital literacy, its relationship to workforce development, and the current state of digital literacy in Michigan, while suggesting an engagement model for increasing digital literacy locally. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Eastern U.P. Exports
Presenter: Ralf Wilhelms, Lake Superior State University
This webinar presents Wilhelms', in coordination with students from Lake Superior State University's examination of a rural regional cluster in terms of geographical setting rather than in terms of the common industry categorization. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Educational Attainment as an Economic Driver for States, Regions and Communities
Presenters: Larry Good and Jeannine La Prad, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce
This webinar discusses their research, which builds on national educational attainment and economic growth and offers an analysis of Michigan efforts to promote investments in education and training that leads to sub-baccalaureate credentials tied to business and industry needs. It includes strategies for increasing alignment between economic diversification and growth, educational investments, and outcomes. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Makerspaces: Supporting an Entrepreneurial System
Presenters: Cristina Benton, Lori Mullins, and Kristin Shelley, City of East Lansing & East Lansing Public Library
This webinar introduces participants to the concept of Makerspaces and provide an overview of the Makerspace programs in public libraries with several examples from around the U.S. and Michigan. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Michigan Garage and Basement Inventors Advancing Michigan's Economy
Presenter: John Hopkins, Michigan Inventors Coalition
This webinar focuses on interviews with Michigan's garage-basement inventors, taking a revealing look at several processes that inventors may utilize when bringing an invention from idea to market and how inventors can advance Michigan's economy or visit the project page.
Online Postsecondary Education for Workforce Development: Net Smart States and Students
Presenter: Steven Weiland, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Open Educational Resources are a rapidly growing feature of our online world. This webinar explores their potential role in workforce development. Learn more about what role free online courses can play in economic and workforce development as well as how Michigan universities and colleges might organize and recognize course participation and completion. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Skills Gap or Training Gap?
Presenter: Carolyn Hatch Ph.D., Michigan State University
This research focuses on the skills gap in the Michigan (MI) manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on how producer firms can play a role to address workforce development obstacles by collaborating with institutions and actors in their local supply chains and industrial clusters. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
The Innovation 5 Project: Advancing Economic Development through Entrepreneurship, STEM Promotion and Fostering Innovation and Collaboration, Impression 5
Presenters: Thomas Deits, Ph.D. and Katie LaCommare, Ph.D., Impression 5
This webinar discusses The Innovative 5 Project, a co-learning effort of students and faculty from Michigan State University and Lansing Community College to develop a plan for a community-oriented rapid prototyping facility integrated with the Impression 5 Science Center in Downtown Lansing, MI. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Student-Led, Faculty-Guided Presentations (2013 Project Year)
H.E.R.O.E.S. Project
Presenter: Forrest Samuel Carter, Michigan State University: Eli Broad College of Business
This webinar highlights the HEROES Project, an effort to establish a collegiate chapter of the Lansing Black Chamber of Commerce in order to impact the number of entrepreneurs among members of urban and distressed communities. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer.
Socioeconomic Impact of Urban Gardening Documentary
Presenter: Julie Pulgini, Madonna University
This webinar highlights the documentary created by students and faculty of Madonna University. The documentary explores urban gardening in Detroit and its impact on the surrounding residents and communities. For more information see the webinar flyer or visit the project page.
State of Emergency
Presenters: Kendrick Jones and Andrew Morton, Shop Floor Theatre Company
This webinar highlights the original play inspired by the state takeover and appointment of an Emergency Financial Manager to the City of Flint in November 2011. The script was based on interviews with residents of Flint and the Emergency Financial Managers Team. For more information on this webinar, view the event flyer or visit the project page.
Tourism Development Strategy for Idlewild, Michigan
Presenter: Nathalie Winans, Public Policy Associates, Incorporated
This webinar presents the work of Michigan State University Urban and Regional Planning students in collaboration with the Idlewild Community Development Corporation to assistant the historic community of Idlewild achieve community and economic prosperity by researching and creating a tourism development strategy that leverages Idlewild's cultural and natural assets to attract year-round visitors or visit the project page.
2012 Webinars
Building a Strong, Green, Community-Based Economy Through Cooperation
Presenter: Deborah Olson, Attorney at Law, Community Based Enterprise
Deborah Olson brings her personal experience with coops to explain how Detroit can follow previous models, both national and international, to create a new community-based economy. For more information, visit the project page.
Food Innovation Districts
Presenters: Kathryn Colasanti, Michelle Leppek, Nick Dansby, Kirstie Sieloff, and Sarah Lucas
In another student based project, check out the idea of Food Innovation Districts which link local producers and consumers to each other to help promote the creation of a regional food system and further economic development in the area. For more information, visit the project page.
Internship Programs for Distressed Communities: Connecting engaged college students with grassroots internship opportunities in distressed communities
Presenter: John L. Kaczynski, Saginaw Valley State University
This presentation introduces new knowledge in the area of internship programs in distressed communities, and builds upon the relationship created between the "Lansing Living Leadership Program (L3)" at SVSU and the South Lansing Community Development Association (SLCDA). For more information, visit the project page.
Microenterprise Development in Michigan: Assessing Coverage, Access and Outreach
Presenter: Claire Glenn, Coordinator for the Microenterprise Network of Michigan (CEDAM)
This presentation showcases newly-developed maps detailing the current availability and coverage gaps in microenterprise resources across the state as well as strategies for expanding and improving access to these resources. For more information, visit the project page.
On-Site Technology Training for Small, Rural Michigan Businesses
Presenter: Eric Frederick, AICP, LEED AP, Connect Michigan
Technology adoption and use is critical for a business to sustain and grow in a global economy. Michigan's rural small businesses (those with fewer than 20 employees) adopt and use broadband and related technologies at a lower rate than other Michigan businesses. This webinar explores the opportunity for hands-on, on-site technology training for Michigan small businesses and suggest a model for local implementation. For more information, visit the project page.
Open Educational Resources: What are they and what roles can they have in workforce development?
Presenter: Steven Weiland, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Open Educational Resources are a rapidly growing feature of our online world. This webinar explores their potential role in workforce development. Learn more about what role free online courses can play in economic and workforce development as well as how Michigan universities and colleges might organize and recognize course participation and completion. For more information, visit the project page.
Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship
Presenter: Joel Rash, Red Ink Flint, Flint Local 432
Michigan's challenging financial situation has reenergized efforts to reinvent our economy. Flint has developed a unique program that brings together diverse community stakeholders to support youth entrepreneur-ship. This webinar will appeal to educators at the K-12 and collegiate level, economic development professionals, and those interested in grassroots community initiatives. For more information, visit the project page.
Small Scale Urban Developers as Agents of Real Estate-Led Economic Development
Presenter: Rayman Mohamed, Ph.D., Wayne State University
This webinar reviews recent development trends in Midtown, Detroit and attempt to connect these trends to incentives to encourage employees of anchor institutions (Wayne State University, Henry Ford Hospital, and the Detroit Medical Center) to move to Midtown and to challenges facing small developers. For more information, visit the project page.
St. Martha's Commons Community Vision
Presenters: Richard Wooten, Patrick Crawford, Michael French, Chris Hughes, and Melinda McIntosh
Take a look at a new development plan put together by students at Michigan State University for St. Martha's Commons and the surrounding area in Detroit. See the possibilities that surround the property and the Ford family cemetery. For more information, visit the project page.