SEMCOG: Region Ahead

We talked all things Trails Week with Andrea LaFontaine, Executive Director of Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance and Jonathan Jarosz, Executive Director of Heart of the Lakes.

We talked to Flagstar Bank CEO, Sandro DiNello and Mount Clemens Mayor, Laura Kropp about SEMCOG's Economic Development Task Force and their roles as co-chairs, as well as what they're doing in their respective positions to adapt to the pandemic. Kevin Vettraino, SEMCOG's manager of Economic And Community Vitality begins the show and talks about the planning process.

We talked with Dan Carmody, President of the Eastern Market Partnership, about what Eastern Market looks like these days and how they've adapted to the COVID-19 crisis.

We talked to Amanda Shreve, Executive Director of The Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIMFA) about how farmers markets are adapting to maintain safety during COVID-19.

We talked with Lee Graham, the Executive Director of labor management and education for the Operating Engineers 324, about opportunities in skilled trades for people in Southeast Michigan.

We sat down with economists Gabriel Erlich, PhD; Donald Grimes and Daniil Manaenkov, PhD of the University of Michigan to learn about what the future may hold for the economy of the United States, Michigan, and the seven-county SEMCOG region.

We sat down with Southeast Michigan Community Alliance CEO Greg Pitoniak to talk about how they are assisting people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We sat down with Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Burnett about how he's handling the COVID-19 pandemic in his community.

We sat down with this years Taubman Fellows, Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones and Canton Township Supervisor Pat Williams, along with SEMCOG Deputy Executive Director Amy O'Leary to discuss their experiences in the program.

We sat down with Doug Smith, Executive Director, Government & Community Relations for Oakland Community College along with Naheed Huq, SEMCOG's Talent & Economic Development Manager, to talk about our new report, Future Skills: Preparing for the Changing World of Work.

We sat down with SEMCOG's new chair, Don Hubler, to talk about his background and the year ahead at SEMCOG.

SEMCOG recently adopted a Parks and Recreation Plan for Southeast Michigan, so we sat down with Amy McMillan, Director of Huron-Clinton Metroparks to talk about all things parks. Kevin Vettraino, SEMCOG Manager of Economic And Community Vitality, along with Tyler Klifman, the SEMCOG planner who leads much of our work on parks and trails, also join in the conversation.

SEMCOG planners Christina Ignasiak and Trevor Brydon walk us through SEMCOG's recently adopted 2045 Regional Transportation Plan.

Kathleen Lomako, Executive Director of SEMCOG and Vice Chair of the Michigan Infrastructure Council (MIC), and Jessica Moy, Executive Director of the MIC, explain exactly what the MIC is and what they're doing to ensure the future success of the infrastructure in Southeast Michigan and the entire state.

Kevin Vettraino, Manager of Plan Implementation for SEMCOG, talks us through the region's Economic Development Strategy.

Xuan Liu, Research Manager for SEMCOG, talks us through the 2045 Regional Forecast for Southeast Michigan.

The Michigan Lottery revenue was originally intended to support schools when the lottery began in 1972. In the ensuing years, the situation changed and evolved. SEMCOG Government Finance expert Bill Anderson talks with us about this compelling story.