Podcasts
Growing a Well- Functioning Homebuyer Ecosystem for Low-Median Income Detroiters- David Palmer
CCED's research assistant, Emma Gilbert, has a conversation with David Palmer about his project "Growing a Well- Functioning Homebuyer Ecosystem for Low-Median Income Detroiters". Palmer addresses specific systems failure in the City of Detroit, and leveraging the tools and building upon the work of others to develop solutions not currently available in the marketplace.
Exploring Communal and Cooperative Investment Models for Lansing- Tony Willis
CCED's research assistant, Emma Gilbert, has a conversation with Tony Willis about his project "Exploring Communal and Cooperative Investment Models for Lansing". Willis discusses Equitable Economic Development and how it unlocks the full potential of the local economy by dismantling barriers and expanding opportunities for low-income people and communities of color.
Wayne Country Land Bank Practicum Project- Jake Parcell
CCED's research assistant, Emma Gilbert, has a conversation with Jake Parcell about his project "Wayne Country Land Bank Practicum Project". Parcells discusses how he will help create strategies for the Wayne County Land Bank to return vacant and abandoned property to productive use. The research will uncover which of the land banks’ existing programs are the strongest based on how they address community needs, the number of properties returned to productive use, and how well they fit the Land Bank’s mission.
Creating Circular Economic Opportunities through Localizing the Food Cooperative- Dr. Stephen Gasteyer
CCED's research assistant, Matthew Emery, has a conversation with Stephen Gasteyer about his project "Creating Circular Economic Opportunities through Localizing the Food Cooperative". Gasteyer discusses the focus of his project, which is how food cooperatives and local community organizations can help create a circular food economy that would not only improve local food access and security, but also help local food producers improve their own future prospects.
Regional Tax Base Sharing- Ashley Bellant
CCED's research assistant, Emma Gilbert, has a conversation with Ashley Bellant about her project "Regional Tax Base Sharing”. She discuses the goal of her project is to aim at stimulating the implementation of regional tax base sharing in the Lansing, East Lansing metropolitan area so that residents, advocates, and policymakers in financially strained localities make better informed decisions.
Flint Center for Community and Economic Development
Bob Brown, director of the CCED in Flint talks to Pastor Tommy about issues with the Help Centers in Flint along with other ongoing problems still faced everyday by the residents of Flint. Also, Pastor Tommy gives his reaction to the Governor's comments to the Mayor of Flint where the Governor told the people of Flint to "get over it."
Underground Economy
Rex LaMore, director of the CCED, and Jennifer Bruen, REI Project coordinator talk to Rita Fields, an REI Innovation Fellow about her research project on the Underground Economy in Detroit. Her research examines the barriers for people that keep their businesses "Underground" rather than on the books.
Electric Cooperatives and the Digital Divide: Helping Connect Rural Americans to 21st Century Opportunity- Mitchell Shapiro
Expert telecom industry analyst Mitchell Shapiro joins the show to discuss his Co-Learning Plan on bringing high speed internet to rural areas in Michigan. We discuss the reasons why a technology largely taken for granted has been so slow to reach these areas, and why the timing is just right for fiber-optic expansion to rural Michigan.
Marrying Community Benefits and Development Practice- Sam Butler
Jeffrey Franklin, REI Undergraduate Research Assistant is joined by Sam Butler, the Executive Director of Doing Development Differently in Metro Detroit (D4). Butler is an author of one of REI's 2019 Co-Learning Plans regarding best practices for implementing community benefit agreement mechanisms in the development process. Community benefit agreement mechanisms are an inclusive process that allow residents to become involved in the cultivation of their built enviroment.
Bring Opportunity Zones and Local Investors Together in Your Community - Mary Zumbrunnen and Chris Miller
REI Research Assistant Jeffrey Franklin sits down with Chris Miller and Mary Zumbrunnen representing the City of Adrian to discuss a new federal investment tool called Opportunity Zones that could bring major benefits to small rural communities in Michigan.