Techniques, Tools and Resources to Advance Placemaking in Waterfront Areas

Save the date for the upcoming placemaking workshop scheduled for 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 11, 2013 in Muskegon, Michigan. The exact location will be announced closer to the event. The workshop will introduce placemaking as a strategy to fuel economic growth and community revitalization. The workshop will focus on placemaking opportunities in coastal communities and illustrate examples of how local leaders are leveraging Michigan’s bountiful water resources to advance economic growth and build a higher quality of life in their communities.

Who Should Attend
This is an introductory workshop intended both for planning professionals and others working on economic development, tourism, waterfront development, watershed management and coastal restoration. More detailed training workshops will follow later to build on this initial introduction.

About Placemaking
Placemaking is the process of creating quality places that people find desirable for living, working and recreating. Strategic placemaking is a targeted process for creating places that attract new businesses and talented workers who will create jobs and help grow vibrant, economically healthy communities.

Placemaking in Michigan
Michigan leads the national movement for placemaking and substantial resources are being devoted to advancing both local and regional placemaking strategies. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the Michigan Municipal League, the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute, and other statewide organizations have launched the MIplace Partnership Initiative (http://miplace.org/) to help Michigan communities learn about and implement placemaking as a strategic economic development initiative.

Workshop Partners
The workshop is sponsored by the Statewide Public Advisory Council for Michigan’s Great Lakes Areas of Concern Program, Michigan Office of the Great Lakes, Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the Michigan Municipal League, the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute, Michigan Sea Grant, West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission, Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership, White Lake Public Advisory Council and the Great Lakes Commission.

Registration
A website for online registration will be available shortly.

For more information, contact:
Matt Doss, Policy Director
Great Lakes Commission
(734) 971-9135 or mdoss@glc.org