Thanks to a MLGMA Professional Development Scholarship, I was able to attend the Small Town and Rural Development Conference held at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Michigan this spring. The conference is hosted by the Michigan Rural Council, a division of the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan. This two-day conference was full of enlightening sessions tailor-made for administrators from small towns and rural communities.
The Michigan Rural Council brought in a wonderful mix of presenters who shared practical tips that the attendees could implement in their communities. Among the most attended sessions were those featuring speakers from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and USDA Rural Development offices. These officials pointed us to specific funding resources that benefit small and rural communities.
The best session I attended was one that educated attendees on how to “breathe new life into downtown buildings” using a variety of state and federal assistance programs. In a small town, the redevelopment of just one key building can have a transformational impact on our downtowns. To generate the biggest impact, we were encouraged to think of buildings holistically so that potential funding could be used to create a mix of residential, commercial, and public spaces. The session concluded with an interactive brainstorming session where we looked at real-life examples of redevelopment-ready buildings and the mix of programs that could be used to breathe new life into these buildings.
The conference also provided ample opportunities to network with the speakers and fellow attendees. The attendee list featured a wide range of professionals, from state and federal officials to regional economic development directors and municipal officials. Since this conference, my city has hosted state officials to explore funding of two community development projects based on information learned in the sessions. I would highly recommend this conference to any manager looking to learn about development opportunities geared toward small and rural governments. I am grateful to the Professional Development Committee for providing me the opportunity to attend this conference.
Corey Schmidt, City Manager
City of Marlette
Corey Schmidt assumed the role of Marlette city manager in January 2016. Previously, he had been assistant city manager and finance director for Loveland, Ohio for three years. Schmidt is originally from Linden, Michigan. He is a graduate of Oakland University and received his Masters of Public Affairs from Indiana University.