Michigan Prosperity Initiative to Offer Sessions Throughout State

BESSEMER, MI - Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - Michigan State University will lead 100 training programs in 60 days throughout the state. The Michigan Prosperity Initiative (MPI) is an important partnership between Michigan State University, the State of Michigan, regional councils of government and Michigan’s local governments to better prepare Michigan to compete in the global New Economy.

Trainings will start April 19 and conclude June 16, 2010, and will be held, free to everyone, in more than 50 locations across the state, including one session in Gogebic County.

NEW ECONOMY 101, 201, 301

There are three separate training programs: New Economy 101, 201 and 301. Each is progressively more complex, with 101 being intended for general audiences.

NE 101: Fundamentals of the New Economy for anyone with an interest in how Michigan got into its current economic circumstances and what it will take to get out. This session is two hours in length.

NE 201: A 4-hour workshop on Place-Based Regional Economic Planning for those that attended NE 101, professionals and representatives of key stakeholders who want to learn how to develop regional economic development strategies that are based on unique place-based assets.

NE 301: Strategies to Bridge the Gap for those that attended NE 101 and 201, and planning and economic development professionals who value training on underutilized economic analysis tools and how to apply them to concrete actions we need to take locally and regionally to improve prosperity in Michigan. This is a 6-hour session.

New Economy 101 will take place at the Mill Street Garden of Community Action Agency in Bessemer, from 4:00-6:00 PM CST on Monday, April 19. Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP, Professor and Director of the Planning & Zoning Center at MSU in East Lansing, will facilitate.

There is no charge for the workshop, but registration is required to reserve a place. Reservations can be made by visiting www.landpolicy.msu.edu/MPI , by calling Gogebic County MSU Extension at (906) 663-4045, or e-mailing county Extension director Lucia Patritto, at patritto@msu.edu.

The Michigan Prosperity Initiative (MPI) is an innovative effort by Michigan State University, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Association of Regions, the Michigan Municipal League, the Michigan Townships Association, the Michigan Association of Planning and Michigan State University Extension to help return economic prosperity to the state. The MSU Land Policy Institute (LPI) is leading this effort.