Summary

This Co-Learning Plan examines ecosystem-based economic development models that prioritize shared ownership, democratic finance, and community-centered investment over extractive, single-entity ownership, with a focus on ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) households. Using Ecorse, Michigan as a case study—a community that aligns with Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) principles and includes Opportunity Zone tracts—the project will assess how models such as community land trusts, cooperatives, and place-based investment ecosystems can stabilize small businesses, retain jobs, and build long-term local economic resilience in distressed communities. The analysis will synthesize policy research, practitioner interviews, and on-the-ground data to produce practical tools, strategies, and recommendations for Michigan economic developers and policymakers seeking equitable, scalable approaches to revitalization. Final deliverables include an ecosystem framework for shared ownership models applicable to small Michigan communities, a practitioner checklist for economic developers considering CLTs and cooperatives, and policy recommendations aligned with Michigan’s housing and economic development goals. 

Author Information

Angeline Lawrence is a Detroit-based producer, urban planner, and community economic development strategist, and the Producer and Executive Producer of the documentary No Place Like Home: A Detroit Story of Loss, Learning, and Land Justice. She is the founder of Entrepreneur Exchange Group, where she consults with entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and community-based organizations to develop business and strategic plans and growth strategies. With over 25 years of experience in land use planning, economic development, and entrepreneurial education — including serving as Director of Entrepreneurial Education at TechTown Detroit and as a municipal planning leader — Angeline brings a rare blend of policy expertise, on-the-ground community engagement, and storytelling. Her work centers on community wealth building, cooperative economics, and innovative housing models. After experiencing displacement herself during Detroit’s foreclosure crisis, Angeline began exploring community land trusts as a pathway to housing stability, collective ownership, and neighborhood resilience. No Place Like Home documents her personal journey and the lessons she’s learned from community leaders, nonprofit housing developers, and national experts working to reimagine land ownership and equity. Through her films, workshops, and consulting, Angeline is helping communities move from housing insecurity toward long-term stewardship and shared prosperity.