MI Residents & Local Government Officials Believe New Economy Strategies Important to State's Economic Success

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LPI Research

Michigan Residents and Local Government Officials Believe New Economy Strategies Important to State's Economic Success

Do you think that there would be any economic development strategies that close to 60% or more of Michigan residents and local government officials would both agree are important? If you answered "no" to this question, you would be wrong, according to a new report issued by the MSU Land Policy Institute (LPI). In fact, the general public and local officials are in broad agreement about six strategies that are important to Michigan's economic future. They include:

Developing sustainable economic development strategies around natural assets.
Having a diversified economy.
Local governments working across jurisdictional boundaries.
More Michigan businesses successfully connecting to the global economy.
Public support of entrepreneurs when they are just getting started.
Having a large portion of the Michigan population with a post-high school degree.

The report, Public Opinion of the New Economy, Placemaking and Economic Development Strategies for Michigan: A 2012 Survey of Residents and Local Government Officials, features the statements and questions, as well as the responses, from two surveys conducted by the MSU Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) and the Land Policy Institute in 2012.

In the first quarter of 2012, LPI asked Michigan residents to respond to nine statements and questions related to economic development, placemaking and the New Economy in the 61st State of the State Survey. The survey was conducted by IPPSR's Office for Survey Research. The Land Policy Institute also conducted an online survey of local government officials in the third quarter of the year that included these same statements and questions, as well as 10 additional questions about economic development and placemaking relating to their jurisdiction, with the intent of comparing responses between citizens and local officials.

Both groups believe that New Economy issues, such as those listed above, are important to the future economic success of Michigan.

Charles Ballard is an economics Professor at Michigan State University, and Director of the State of the State Survey. "Michigan's economy is in the midst of a historic transformation," Dr. Ballard said. "Our success in the future will depend on how well we can develop a New Economy that is more skilled, more diversified, more entrepreneurial, and more sustainable. These survey results suggest that both the general public and local government officials have a pretty good understanding of where we need to go. The challenge now is to find the right policies to get us there."

Overall, the general public and local officials had similar unusually high levels of agreement related to the common questions asked on the surveys. Some of the principal findings include:

Developing sustainable economic development strategies around natural assets
is important to 95% of the general public and 98% of local officials, with 73% of the public "strongly agreeing" and 22% "somewhat agreeing," and 54% of local officials "strongly agreeing" and 44% "somewhat agreeing."
Having a diversified economy is important to a majority of the general public at 96% (65% "strongly agreed" and 31% "somewhat agreed") and 100% of local officials (64% "strongly agreed" and 36% "somewhat agreed").
Ninety percent of the public and local officials agreed that support of entrepreneurs when they are just getting started is important. Among the general public, 42% "strongly agreed" and 48% "somewhat agreed," while 33% of local officials "strongly agreed" and 57% "somewhat agreed."
Almost 90% of the general public and close to 80% of local officials agreed that Michigan's future economic success depends on having a large portion of the population with a post-high school degree. Sixty-one percent of the general public "strongly agreed" and 28% "somewhat agreed," while 33% of local officials "strongly agreed" and 46% "somewhat agreed."

Similar levels of general agreement were also found for the statement that said young people choose places to live based on quality of life over job opportunities:

Just over half of the general public (59%) and local officials (60%) agreed with this statement, with 26% "strongly agreeing" and 36% "somewhat agreeing" for the public, and 19% of local officials "strongly agreeing" and 41% "somewhat agreeing."

There were two points, however, where the two groups significantly differed in their opinions: 1) What is the most important strategy to pursue for Michigan's economic success; and 2) Their familiarity with the term "placemaking."

Survey participants were asked to pick one strategy that they felt was the most important for Michigan's future economic success. Roughly 43% of respondents from the general public chose "helping people get degrees or specialized training after high school" as being most important. Among local officials, 41% said "assisting with business diversification so we are not so dependent on the automobile industry" was a top priority, while only 20% chose "helping people get degrees or specialized training." Among the public, only 25% chose business diversification. Essentially, the public and local officials' views were opposite on these points. The other two options included "helping entrepreneurs start new businesses" and "attracting and/or retaining highly educated workers."

Both groups were also asked about their familiarity with the term "placemaking." Here, it became apparent that more local officials are familiar with the term than the general public. Only 14% of the general public said they are "very familiar" (1%) or "somewhat familiar" (13%), while a majority (57%) said they are "not at all familiar." On the other hand, 27% and 30% of local officials said they are "very familiar" or "somewhat familiar" with the term, respectively, while only 14% said that they are "not at all familiar" and 29% were "not very familiar."

The survey results show that there was not a significant gap in perception of the New Economy between the public and their local officials. While there could be differences in why each group answered the way they did, both groups tended to agree that there are some New Economy- and placemaking-based economic development strategies that are important for Michigan's future economic success.

The State of the State Survey is a statewide telephone survey of a random sample of roughly 1,000 adult residents in the state. It was conducted between February 14 and April 15, 2012. The Michigan Townships Association and the Michigan Municipal League helped distribute an invitation to an online survey from LPI among their members. The survey of local government officials was conducted online between August 31 and September 28, 2012. The margins of error for the surveys were ±3.16% and ±4.99%, respectively. Both surveys were supported by a grant from the Michigan Applied Public Policy Research Program at IPPSR.

The full report, which summarizes and more fully analyzes these survey findings, is available on the Land Policy Institute's website at Public Opinion of the New Economy, Placemaking and Economic Development Strategies for Michigan Report.

Photo courtesy of the Michigan Municipal League.

LPI Events

Space Still Available for the Spring 2013 Zoning Administrator Certificate Program

The Land Policy Institute's Planning & Zoning Center at MSU is offering the Zoning Administrator Certificate Program in two locations. The certificate-based training is recommended for all new and current Zoning Administrators (ZA), along with private consultants and county planners who consult with their local ZAs. The training schedule is as follows:

Three-Days-in-a-Row Training: St. Ignace

Monday, February 18-Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Quality Inn, St. Ignace, MI

Four Days of Training: Oakland County

Tuesdays: February 26, March 5, 12 and 19, 2013

Oakland County Executive Office Bldg., Waterford, MI

The rigorous training (24 hours of instruction) requires a substantial time commitment, which includes completion of eight modules leading to a certificate for those who pass an exam associated with each module. The program also provides techniques for doing zoning administration in ways that reduce legal risks to the Zoning Administrator and their community. Module topics include:

Job Description, Responsibilities and Basic Ethics;
Legal Issues;
Reviewing Applications: Common Procedures and Use of Forms;
Reviewing Plot Plans and Site Plans;
Inspections and Violations;
Preparing Files, Reports and Record Keeping;
Interactions with other Professionals and Agencies, and Departmental Duties; and
Customer Service and Counter Behavior.

Here is some feedback from past program participants.

"I had high expectations for this course. Happy to say you FAR exceeded my expectations."
"I was presented with many practical ideas that I should be able to implement immediately."
"Knowledgeable instructors, excellent material!"
"Gave me a great idea of how to do my job, and how to keep myself and my community out of trouble. Definitely recommend this for all ZAs."
"The most experienced, open, honest, and knowledgeable instructors."
"This should be a state mandated program."
"You can learn about the pitfalls to avoid legal issues."
"Very targeted to what zoning administrators do--not esoteric information."

Registration for the training is now available. To be eligible for a certificate upon completion of this program, participants will need to have also completed MSU Extension's Michigan Citizen Planner program, either classroom-based or online, or be AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) certified and successfully pass a multiple choice examination. See the prerequisites section of the registration brochure for complete details. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve a seat today!

Future Training Opportunity

For those unable to attend the dates offered this spring, the series will be offered again in Spring 2014. Please let us know if you are interested in the 2014 program, so you can be added to the contact list.

To register and learn more, visit Spring 2013 Zoning Administrator Certificate Program.

Related News and Announcements

"Brownfield Has Been Backbone of Urban Development" (December 22, 2012) Grand Rapids Business Journal
"New Research Confirms Central-City Comebacks" (December 18, 2012) Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog

New Economy

LPI Events

ICE to Meet Wednesday, January 9, 2013: Bootstrapping - How to Get Started for Virtually Nothing

On Wednesday, January 9, 2013, the Innovation Club for Entrepreneurs (ICE) is hosting their next meetup from 6pm-7:30pm, at The Avenue Cafe' in Lansing (on the Michigan Avenue bus route). The January meetup topic will focus on "Bootstrapping: How to Get Started for Virtually Nothing" The discussion on idea generation will continue with guest entrepreneurs Malinda and Dave Barr, Co-Owners of Rayla House Beeswax Essentials. They will share their story about how they started their successful business with a kitchen candle-making kit they received as a gift. Marsha Madle, the ICE Coordinator, will facilitate the conversation. Join ICE for the conversation and bring your ideas and/or experiences to share on the topic.

The ICE meetup is open to all--those just starting to think about an idea, those who have taken some action on their idea, those who have started a business, and those who have been entrepreneurial for a long time, as well as those who have available resources to assist entrepreneurs at any stage. RSVPs are welcome and appreciated. Please sign up at ICE Meetup by clicking on the "count me in" button for the January meeting. Please send any questions about this month's meeting to ice@landpolicy.msu.edu.

Summaries from past meetings and more information about the Club are available at Innovation Club for Entrepreneurs. Be sure to check out ICE on Twitter and Meetup. For questions about ICE, contact Dr. Barb Fails Raftshol at fails@landpolicy.msu.edu or call 517.749.1974; or Marsha Madle at madle@landpolicy.msu.edu or call 517.575.9234.

The purpose of the monthly club is to provide a forum for innovators and entrepreneurs in the Greater Lansing area to share ideas in a positive and supportive environment, strengthen networks for collaboration and find resources to bring ideas to life. The ICE is a collaborative effort of the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute and the MSU Entrepreneurship Network (msuENet).

Spotlight on an LPI Partner

REI University Center is Searching for Co-Learning Plan Authors

The MSU Center for Community Economic Development, with support from the USDOC Economic Development Administration, established the MSU EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI) to support innovative economic development strategies that may yield high-growth entrepreneurship, job creation and economic innovation in distressed regions. The REI University Center is seeking Co-Learning Plans that are effective and innovative in bringing new knowledge to bear on economic development challenges. Those with experience in one or more of the topic areas listed below are encouraged to apply to write a Co-Learning Plan.

Developing a Creative and Innovative Culture;
Alternative Funding Mechanisms;
Community and Business Partnerships;
The Digital Literacy Challenge;
The Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture in Tourism;
Exporting and Foreign Direct Investment Development;
Public Infrastructure and Long-Term Planning;
K-20 Education and Workforce;
Regional Cooperation and Collaboration; and
Workforce Training: The Skills-Gap.

This is a great opportunity for experts working in entrepreneurship and business development, K-20 education, exporting, IT, policy-making, venture capitalism, scholarly research, civic leadership, urban and regional planning and economic development. Please consider sharing your expertise with the REI Network to help strengthen Michigan's economy. The findings and recommendations in these Co-Learning Plans, funded through this request, will serve as a resource for regions and communities across Michigan.

Applications and proposals are due by 5pm on Friday, January 25, 2013. Please contact Jennifer Bruen, Project Coordinator, at bruenjen@msu.edu or call 517.353.9555 with questions, concerns or to learn more about the submission process.

For more information on this year's co-learning topics, eligibility, selection criteria, application process, time-line and deliverables, visit Call for Co-Learning Plan Authors.

Related News and Announcements

Call for Transportation Projects

The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC) announces the Call for 2014-2017 Transportation Projects. Application forms are available online and are due by 5pm Tuesday, January 22, 2013. The TCRPC staff will review the projects and bring them to Project Selection Day, on Friday, February 1, 2013, for prioritization by the Rural Task Force and Surface Transportation Program Subcommittee of CARTS.

Those Act 51 agencies in the tri-county region with responsibility for a local road system, a transit property, a land use or resource agency with an interest in future transportation priorities, an economic development agency, Clean Cities Program office, representative of a tribal organization or those with an interest in the planning process are encouraged to apply.

Transportation projects, including roads, transit, non-motorized and others seeking federal funds, must be developed through a planning process that includes setting funding priorities by year. This is a call for projects proposed for the 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). It also asks for any other projects that may not fit into the financially constrained 2014-2017 project lists, but which could be placed on an illustrative list of unfunded projects for addition to the TIP if funding becomes available.

Learn more at Call for 2014-2017 Transportation Projects. Additional details are also available at Memorandum on Call for Projects.

"Land Policy News" is an e-Newsletter published bi-monthly by the Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University. This e-Newsletter is intended to be an informational tool. Information in the newsletter not directly about the Land Policy Institute does not necessarily reflect the Institute's views, but is, instead, included because of its relationship to the Institute's mission and work.

If you would like to provide feedback on any of its content, or send content for inclusion, please email Heidi Charron at charron@landpolicy.msu.edu. Submissions of presentations, publications, event announcements, job postings and news regarding activities related to land use and prosperity can be sent at any time.

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The MSU Land Policy Institute is affiliated with the School of Planning, Design and Construction. The Institute is supported by Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and MSU Extension programs.

Friday, January 4, 2013

In This Issue

Placemaking

New Economy

Funding Opportunities

Calendar of Events