EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

DATE: 2-4 p.m. Dec. 9, 2013.

EVENT: “Saginaw 2023: City of Saginaw Community Summit” will bring together community and state leaders to identify goals and strategies in economic development, entrepreneurship and new venture creation; housing and residential growth; safety; education; transportation enhancement; and arts, culture and entertainment.

The leaders will produce a blueprint for a grant proposal to the U.S. Department of Commerce for a long-range economic assessment and development of a strategic and implementation plan for the future of the Saginaw area.

Speakers will include Saginaw Mayor Dennis Browning, U.S. Representative Dan Kildee (D-MI, 5th District), as well as representatives from state agencies and other regional planning groups.

“Like many urban areas in the United States, Saginaw County has faced and continues to face challenges including low wages, elevated poverty levels, low levels of economic diversification and infrastructure concerns,” said Lawrence Molnar, associate director of the University of Michigan Institute for Research on Labor, Employment, and the Economy.

“Recently, new planning and revitalization initiatives have focused on development in the downtown area, growing the opportunities for business development, enhancing housing and transportation options, branding and improving cultural and entertainment assets of the region, and expanding parks, trails and greenways. The future scope of the work will include creating a comprehensive economic development plan to address these initiatives and seeking funding for specific implementation projects and programs.”

SPONSORS: City of Saginaw; New E.R.A. Community Group; University of Michigan Institute for Research on Labor, Employment, and the Economy; Morley Companies Inc.; and Fuss & O’Neill.

INFORMATION: Contact Molnar at kallen@umich.edu or (734) 998-6239.