The Prosperity Agenda

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SHOW 6: Rightsizing Cities

June 23, 2010 1:03PM CST

This month's Prosperity Agenda show talked about one of Michigan’s biggest challenges – population decline in metropolitan areas. The city of Detroit lost around 1 million citizens in the last several decades. The city’s infrastructure was built to serve twice as many people as it now serves. This has resulted in the city’s move toward what Time magazine referred to as “what might be the most ambitious urban makeover in American history.” Other cities in Michigan have experienced similar issues. Prosperity Agenda host Dan Gilmartin is joined by co-host John Gallagher, Business Writer at the Detroit Free Press. Guests include Kurt Metzger, director of Data Driven Detroit, Dan Kildee, co-founder and president of Center for Community Progress, and Linda Smith, executive director of U-SNAP BAC (United Streets Networking and Planning: Building a Community).

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SHOW 5: Attracting and Retaining Young and Talented People

May 26, 2010 11:43AM CST

This month's Prosperity Agenda show talks about one of the most substantial economic challenges facing Michigan – the state’s brain drain. Studies show Michigan’s college graduates are increasingly choosing elsewhere to live and work. As we transition from a manufacturing-based economy to a knowledge-based economy, it is vital we attract and retain talented young people. These young graduates often choose where they want to live before they look for a job. This month's show talks about how we attract and retain a young and talented workforce here in Michigan.

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SHOW 4: The New Urban Neighborhood

April 28, 2010 8:00PM CST

This week's show talks about the emergence of the new Michigan urban neighborhood. Michigan’s future success is hinged on the vitality of its neighborhoods. Millennials and boomers alike seek urban settings where buildings go up rather than out.

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SHOW 3: Cultural Economic Development

March 24, 2010 8:00PM CST

This week's Prosperity Agenda features Michigan Municipal League Dan Gilmartin and guest co-host Paul Schutt, co-founder and CEO of Issue Media Group. Michigan can retain our local talent and recent college graduates by creating communities where they will want to live and work. During the show, we hear from cities like Austin, Texas, and what they are doing there, but we'll also discuss the exciting things happening right here in Michigan—from Detroit to Kalamazoo.

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SHOW 2: Talking Transit

February 24, 2010 8:00PM CST

During our Feb. 24 show, The Prosperity Agenda discussed the importance of public transportation in our state. Transit experts, developers and government and business leaders from Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor shared their stories and views on transit. View the news advisory about this show. Read more from the League about transit.

Audio Clips from Latest Shows

Dan Gilmartin Listen

Rightsizing Cities: Dan Gilmartin

June 25, 2010

Dan Gilmartin, executive director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League, explains the large population losses experienced in some of Michigan’s largest cities and what community leaders are now trying to do to improve their cities.

John Gallagher Listen

Rightsizing Cities: John Gallagher

June 25, 2010

John Gallagher covers urban and economic development for the Detroit Free Press where he has been a reporter since 1987. He is working on a new book, Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining and American City, due to come out in the fall.

Kurt Metzger Listen

Rightsizing Cities: Kurt Metzger

June 25, 2010

Kurt Metzger is a demographer and director of Data Driven Detroit, the organization that recently completed a plot-by-plot analysis of the city of Detroit. After speaking for 30 years about the need for coordinated data collection and delivery in Southeast Michigan, Kurt was selected by the Skillman and Kresge foundations in October 2008 to develop and direct a new foundation-funded regional data indicators system.

Dan Kildee Listen

Rightsizing Cities: Dan Kildee

June 25, 2010

Dan Kildee is co-founder and president of the Center for Community Progress. Prior to founding the Center, Kildee served as Genesee County Treasurer from 1997-2009. Before his election as Treasurer, he served for 12 years as a Genesee County Commissioner, including five years as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

Linda Smith Listen

Rightsizing Cities: Linda Smith

June 25, 2010

Linda Smith is executive director of U-SNAP BAC Non-Profit Housing Corporation, a position she has held since 1995. U-SNAP BAC is a consortium of community and business organizations that work together to provide safe, decent and affordable homes for low-to-moderate income families. She has implemented a comprehensive Neighborhoods Housing Strategy Plan for her community which includes the construction of both affordable single-family houses and rental townhouses.

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The Prosperity Agenda Radio Show challenges listeners to help make Michigan a better place to live, work, and play by creating vibrant and prosperous local communities. Upcoming discussions for the show will focus on Michigan transit, entrepreneurship, green initiatives, cultural and economic development, walkable communities and other topics. If you have questions, thoughts or comments about any of these issues or other topics related to Michigan development, tell us here.

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