Metropolitan Affairs Coalition

Economic development - implementing southeast michigan's 2021 comprehensive economic development strategy ("ceds") and baseline research for the 2025 ceds, mac and semcog coordinated the development of southeast michigan's regional economic development strategy, increasing shared prosperity for a resilient economy, based on the three pillars of talent, place, and business. Since approval in 2021, the focus has been on implementation of the six strategies, 22 policies, and 99 actions by semcog, mac, and other economic development stakeholders. See schedule o for additional information about this program.in 2023, semcog was officially designated as the economic development district ("edd") for southeast michigan. Edd's are focused on driving a regional economic development planning process that engages the public, private, and non-profit sectors to establish a strategic blueprint. Edd's prepare and maintain a region's ceds, assist with implementation, and provide technical assistance to local governments and economic development organizations. As a result of this designation, mac will partner with semcog in expanding its economic development focus. This will include preparing for a semcog/mac economic development task force in 2025.mac is also supporting the following economic development priorities:- continuing "implementation of broadband in southeast michigan: expansion, engagement and equity", a regional framework for broadband approved by semcog and mac in 2022, which focuses on increasing availability and access to high-speed internet in southeast michigan by connecting with internet service providers, as well as state and federal governments, on policies and priorities, developing resources for communities, and providing technical assistance to help improve expansion of infrastructure and access to affordable and reliable internet, as well as addressing digital literacy and the digital divide- continuing to support the mobility industry by collaborating with workforce development agencies to help create the necessary workforce, to educate local governments on resources to support the transition to electric vehicles for fleets, and to support regional initiatives such as the detroit regional partnership on implementation of the global epicenter of mobility initiative, working with the michigan department of labor and economic development office of future mobility, michauto, and policy makers to align effortsmac will also continue to promote labor force participation and equity in education and workforce development. This includes promoting support services to help students and workers overcome barriers, preparing the workforce for the changing nature of jobs, and supporting the governor's 60/30 initiative, reskilling and upskilling workers for high-growth occupations, increasing awareness and access to training and education, and promoting innovative hiring practices. Mac will also implement the strategies identified by the healthcare task force related to addressing challenges in attracting, training, recruiting, and retaining the healthcare workforce through a career pathways campaign, articles, and other efforts. This will help stabilize and strengthen the healthcare ecosystem and increase economic opportunities and jobs.

Building one community - mac continued to promote efforts that encourage and strengthen regional cooperation to enhance the vitality and economy of southeast michigan. See schedule o for additional information about this program.the shining light awards ceremony was held on october 15, 2024. This year's honorees included the following:- the neal shine award for exemplary regional leadership honoree was huel perkins, news anchor, wjbk fox 2 news (retired).- the eleanor josaitis unsung hero award honorees were andrea cole, president and chief executive officer of the ethel & james flinn foundation, and ashley lowe, chief executive officer of lakeshore legal aid.- the dave bing future leader award honoree was jazmine danci, economic development administrator of the downriver community conference.mac received great board support, with many members in attendance. Detroit free press editor nicole avery nichols opened the program, and mac president amy o'leary highlighted mac's goals. These two, along with congresswoman debbie dingell and thom linn, appeared in the introductory video talking about the importance of the awards to promote regional cooperation and leadership.mac increased its number of sponsors to 15, with board members dte energy, flagstar bank, itc holdings, the michigan regional council of carpenters, and consumers energy at the $5,000 program sponsor level, and barton malow, comcast, corewell, ford motor company, the laborers' international union local 1191, the michigan economic development corporation, the international union of operating engineers, plante moran, smart, and walbridge serving as $2,500 award sponsors. Wjbk fox 2 news anchor roop raj promoted the event and served as a presenter, along with carol cain, host of the sunday news program michigan matters and columnist for the detroit free press. As part of civic partnerships, mac shared information and collaborated with other civic organizations (such as the detroit regional chamber, the citizens research council, and semcog) on issues of common interest and importance to southeast michigan.