Inequities continue to weaken Michigan's capacity to respond quickly and effectively to crises, both natural and human-made. Minority and low-income populations, already disadvantaged, suffer the burden of the inequitable social, environmental, and economic injustices that have culminated in previously unacknowledged levels. Since 2011, the…

Just as good community colleges pivot to mirror the needs of their local communities, the multistate Auto Communities Consortium (ACC) continues to evolve to counteract the challenges encountered by employers in its service region. Established in 2010 to address pervasive economic losses faced by communities whose major employers were auto…

In 2005, Kalamazoo, Michigan launched a bold and innovative economic development strategy, The Kalamazoo Promise (KP), which guarantees tuition to every high school graduate in the district. Since KP inception, high school enrollments are up and college attendance has increased, creating national attention. This paper analyzes the benefits and…

Vulnerable children in Michigan face intersecting disparities, with race, class and geographic location often combining to limit access to health, education and economic security. Addressing this reality requires reliable and comprehensive data that can guide thoughtful action within communities and among institutions alike. To this end, the W. K.…

"Linking Workforce Development to Economic Development: A Casebook for Community Colleges" is a compilation of best practice examples, which illustrate what it takes for community colleges to achieve their goal of helping people acquire education and skills, helping employers, supporting communities, and building the nation. The book is…

Although Detroit is not a centre of global finance, and plays a declining role in global production, it nevertheless participates in the present remediation of the relationship between cities and the globe. Manoeuvring to reposition the city as the global hub of mobility technology, metropolitan Detroit's neoliberal leadership advances particular…

While public demand for education and job training--two consequences of a down economy--are at an all-time high, community colleges, many of which face record enrollments, are forced to do more with less. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 39 states report shortfalls for FY 2010; 36 reported cuts to higher education across…

While other studies of local efforts to promote small town growth have generally shown negative results, this study of 88 small northwestern Michigan towns during the 1970s focused on external ties and contacts of local influentials and tended to support the growth machine hypothesis. Extensive metropolitan contacts increased population/program…

A considerable literature exists documenting the migration movements of individuals. For example, James Jasper (2000) has written that Americans "change our residence... more often than any other culture except nomadic tribes". The average American moves every five years, making this compulsion to move an important part of the culture.…

As the concept of community is changing, emphasis in community analysis is changing from a geographic focus to examination of interest clusters within a geographic location. Village communities are declining while town-country communities are becoming more numerous. The suburban community is a recent development, and although it develops its own…

In the past decade, economic development experts have moved away from traditional approaches to economic development that have relied upon recruiting or attracting large businesses with offers of tax breaks, financial incentives, and other subsidies. Increasingly, communities are focusing their economic development resources on supporting the…

This manual represents an educational program designed for public officials, interested citizens, and professionals interested in improving the economic climate of the municipality or region. Its purpose is to teach economic development skills, thus enabling participants to develop community economic growth plans. Focus is on four essential…

Considers the community services divisions of Michigan's community colleges vital elements in economic recovery. Highlights Schoolcraft College's efforts to attract new businesses and assist existing companies through training and retraining programs. Discusses state support for economic development projects and the participation of community…

The Lake Superior State University Economic Development Survey gathered information to guide the university in deciding how it might most effectively expand its involvement in economic development efforts in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Fifty key officials and business people assessed the university's past and potential helpfulness in…

This booklet highlights the role of Michigan's community colleges in meeting the state's economic development and job training needs. First, background information is presented on the state's 29 community colleges, investments in the colleges, enrollments, the changing student profile, and program areas in which students are enrolled. The next…