We Love Where You Live

Economics of Place - Patrice Frey, President & CEO, National Main Street Center

Host: Dan Gilmartin, CEO & Executive Director, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Patrice Frey, President & CEO, National Main Street Center

Helping bring life back to downtowns has been the mission of the National Main Street Center for the past 40 years. Patrice Frey, the organization's president and CEO, sits down with Dan Gilmartin to discuss the successful 4-point process they've developed that helps cities identify their vision and assets and gets community members involved in moving a revitalization plan forward. She also talks about the effect of globalism on downtowns and how communities can use it to develop a more robust entrepreneurial landscape.

Michigan Politics, Huh? - State Rep. Mary Whiteford - Episode 11

Host: Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: State Rep. Mary Whiteford (R-Casco Township)

The Michigan Municipal League’s Matt Bach sits down with State Rep. Mary Whiteford, R-Casco Township, at a coffee shop in downtown Allegan. They cover everything from revenue sharing to auto insurance. They even get into the power of drag racing and the flute! It’s a fun, informal chat.

Limelight - Giving Tuesday 16/50 Project - Episode 6

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Services Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:

Gisgie Gendreau, President, Michigan Municipal League Foundation

Karen Lancaster, Finance Director, City of Ann Arbor

This episode focuses on MML Foundation’s #GivingTuesday campaign, which is raising money for the League’s 16/50 Project. Emily chats with MML Foundation President Gisgie Gendreau on what #GivingTuesday is, why they chose the 16/50 Project for their campaign this year, and the positive things the Foundation does for our members and communities. Emily also talks with Karen Lancaster, finance director for the city of Ann Arbor, about her role in 16/50’s Women’s Municipal Leadership Program, some of the specifics the current class of women have learned to help them become successful managers, and why these trainings are critical for women looking to get into the field.

Review Deja vu - Katharine Czarnecki, MEDC - Episode 11

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League

Co-Host: Luke Forrest, Director, Civic Innovations, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Katharine Czarnecki, Senior Vice President, Community Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Michigan Municipal League partners with Michigan Economic Development Corporation on a variety of projects. MEDC's Katharine Czarnecki shares her thoughts on the Public Spaces Community Places crowdgranting program and Redevelopment Ready Communities, MEDC's flagship program to get communities in a good position to accept new development. 

Michigan Politics, Huh? - Phil Power, The Center for Michigan - Episode 10

Host: Matt Bach, Communications Director, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Phil Power, Founder and Chairman, The Center for Michigan

Following a long career as owner of a variety of local newspapers in Michigan, Phil Power still wanted to make a difference in his state. Find out how he started and fostered The Center for Michigan based on sensible, rational, common sense political discussion.

SaveMICity - Why Michigan Didn't Get Amazon HQ2 - Episode 9

Host: Anthony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Khalil Rahal, Executive Director, Economic Development Corporation, Office of the Wayne County Executive

Michigan made a valiant effort to lure Amazon's second headquarters to our state, but we fell short. Khalil Rahal shares some of the reasons we lost out. Chief among them is the lack of a municipal finance structure that would enable us to provide adequate public transit, workforce development, and many of the other factors necessary to attract businesses and talent.

Economics of Place - Bruce Katz, urbanist author - Episode 6

Host: Dan Gilmartin, CEO & Executive Director, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Bruce Katz, author, "The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism"

Bruce Katz believes that cities are the engines of the national economy, so he has long wondered why American cities can't fund valuable services like infrastructure and early childhood education. On this episode of the Economics of Place podcast - and in his new book - Katz shares some of the lessons he has learned from European countries about unlocking public wealth.

Michigan Politics, Huh? - Marijuana Legalization in Colorado - Episode 9

Host: Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Charles Mitchell, Senior Assistant City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, City and County of Denver

Colorado was the first state to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana. In this episode, attorney Charles Mitchell shares some of the benefits, challenges, and legal issues that have arisen in Colorado since marijuana legalization, and lessons learned along the way. Mitchell was also a speaker at the Michigan Municipal League's 2018 Convention. View his presentation, HR up in Smoke: The Intersectoin Between Marijuana Legalizaton and Employment Law.

Limelight - Catherine Bostick-Tullius, 2017-18 League Pres - Episode 5

Host: Emily Kielizewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Catherine Bostick-Tullius, 2017-18 Michigan Municipal League Board President; Councilmember, Lapeer

Emily sits down with Catherine Bostick-Tullius, 2017-18 League Board President, to reflect on her experience as president and her hopes for the League moving forward.

Review Deja vu - 2018 CEA Winner Fraser - Episode 10

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Michael Lesich, Fraser Councilmember and member of Fraser First Booster Club
Christina Woods, Director, Fraser Parks & Recreation Department
Sherry Stein, President, Fraser First Booster Club

The city of Fraser was honored with the League's 2018 Community Excellence Award at our annual Convention in Grand Rapids. They won for McKinley Barrier-Free Park and Playground. Hear how a 12-year volunteer effort led by the Fraser First Booster Club transformed an underused park into a place that children and adults of all abilities can enjoy.