Discovering and applying new and innovative economic development tools, models, policies, and programs
Creating Jobs and Wealth in Distressed Michigan Communities
Welcome to the 2025 project year! The MSU U.S. EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI) funds several types of projects: Co-Learning Projects, researched and written by professionals; Co-Implementation Plans, led by Innovation Fellows; and Student-Led, Faculty-Guided Technical Assistance projects, researched and written by student teams at Michigan universities and colleges. Please visit the Completed Projects page for examples of these types of work. You may also view the application page for project timelines and to apply for REI funding. Submitted projects will receive priority if they serve Asset Limited-Income Constrained-Employed (ALICE) populations living within Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRCs) and/or Opportunity Zones (OZs). Projects are encouraged to focus on one of four foci areas, including: resiliency planning, financial resiliency, circular economies, or 21st century communications infrastructure.
Within these foci, please select 1 of the 7 topical areas for the 2025 project year (or 'other'). Not sure if your project fits? Please send questions to Jenan Jondy at jondyjen@msu.edu.
1. Workforce Transition and Economic Adaptation
As the economy evolves, workforce transition support is essential. Training programs should be designed to help individuals shift from traditional jobs to digital-based roles, such as remote work, freelancing, or online business ownership. What effective models/programs exist or need to be created that can provide these needed skills and create opportunities for online revenue-generating businesses. What advocacy and/or training is necessary to engage these learners in this economy? Are there models that are particularly effective in serving rural communities and small towns?
2. Fair Share Affordable Housing Linked to State-Supported Economic Development
A fair share affordable housing policy distributes the responsibility for affordable housing across all municipalities within a region, rather than concentrating it solely in lower-income areas. This type of policy could be tied to state-supported economic development investments, where regions receive funding for infrastructure, business incentives, and workforce development only if they implement fair share housing practices. Are there examples in other states or metropolitan regions in the U.S., where state support for affordable housing/and state supported economic development investments are based on a region adopting a fair share affordable housing policy? If such examples do not currently exist, what might a model program look like, and what would be the potential advantages and disadvantages of adopting this type of housing and economic development policy?
3. Encouraging Large Companies and Public Institutions to Procure from Local Businesses
How can large companies and public institutions be motivated to procure goods and services from local businesses? What incentives currently exist to foster these types of agreements, and what mechanisms are in place to support a directory of local suppliers that also offer capacity-building assistance? Understanding these factors could help in assessing the opportunities and challenges associated with strengthening local business participation in larger procurement networks.
4. Addressing Agricultural Workforce and Infrastructure Shortages through Innovation Centers
The shortage of agricultural workers and food processing infrastructure presents significant challenges in many communities. What support mechanisms are available for the development of agricultural innovation centers aimed at promoting advanced farming techniques, 21st Century processing facilities, and agribusiness? Do these centers provide training in sustainable practices, emerging technologies, and value-added processing to enhance the capabilities of local agricultural producers in both urban and rural settings?
5. Community Economic Impacts and Feasibility of Developing Renewable Energy Sources
What are the community economic impacts of building renewable energy sources, and how can solid data be gathered to share with local stakeholders? Over time, does the community experience measurable growth in terms of job creation, reductions in unemployment, new business attractions, or increases in the local tax base?
6. Assessing the Capacity of Economic Development Professionals for Community Benefit Plans and Agreements
Community Benefit Plans and Agreements are emerging as an important component of economic development activities in Michigan that utilize public investments. This co-learning plan should assess the current capacity of economic development professionals across the state to develop and implement effective community benefit plans and agreements and identify needed training and technical assistance to improve their capacity.
7. Assessing Businesses Concerns in Adopting Community Benefit Plans and Agreements
Community Benefit Plans and Agreements are emerging as an important component of economic development activities in Michigan that utilize public investments. This co-learning plan should identify the concerns businesses have in communities in adopting community benefit policies.
8. Other