Metropolitan Affairs Coalition

Programs: Gateway fishing pier access facility - mac was awarded a grant to construct a fishing pier and boardwalk with monies received from the great lakes fishery trust.

building one community and shining light awards - mac promoted efforts that encourage and strengthen regional cooperation to make southeast michigan a more cohesive, globally competitive, and prosperous region. Activities included the following:shining light regional cooperation awards:mac partnered with the detroit free press on the 11th annual shining light regional cooperation awards. Through the public nominating process and selection committee, mac recognized three people who have exhibited regional leadership, courage, and community/civic engagement in three award categories: exemplary leadership, unsung hero, and future leader. Mac continued to promote and feature the event, honorees, and people for whom the awards are named. Approximately 400 guests attended the event, held in dearborn, michigan on october 5, 2017. The program was used as a vehicle to encourage regional cooperation and to highlight mac and its mission. Civic partnerships:mac shared information and collaborated with other civic organizations (such as the detroit regional chamber, the citizens research council, and semcog) on issues of common interest and importance to southeast michigan.

principles for michigan's prosperity - mac continued to focus on public policy issues related to economic revitalization, government effectiveness and efficiency, and environmental, infrastructure, and education needs of the region and state. In line with the 2017-2018 state and federal public policy platform, activities included the following:election reforms:in an effort to promote good and effective government and citizen engagement, mac communicated with media regarding mac's position to eliminate or greatly extend term limits. Public health task force:a group of experts from mac member organizations, including county public health directors, convened to address issues that have an impact on the region's quality of life and developed policies shared with the governor's office and legislative leadership on mental health reforms, in response to the lieutenant governor's mental health reform task force. Mac also participated in a drinking water quality forum hosted by semcog's water resources task force and endorsed recommendations on water quality issues. Local government finance:mac co-hosted with semcog a forum on local government finance featuring wayne county executive warren evans. Mac began recruiting for a task force that will convene in early 2018. Infrastructure task force:mac convened a group to review and develop recommendations based on the governor's 21st century infrastructure commission, with semcog, the michigan department of transportation, business leaders for michigan, and others providing background and guidance. To date, recommendations in support of the following have been drafted, pending approval: asset management, coordinated infrastructure planning, creation of a state infrastructure council, need for additional transportation infrastructure funding, and semcog pilot project on underground utilities. Public policy platform:the platform was updated to include language in support of building a new soo lock, based on its importance to the state and national economy. Reimagining transportation - reinventing southeast michigan:mac partnered with semcog to host a conference on autonomous and connected vehicles. Mac board organizations, including ford motor company and macomb county community college, served as content experts and presenters. Mac also partnered with semcog to host a gathering to share regional information and resources with new legislators from southeast michigan. Federal budget priorities:mac shared federal budget priorities with the southeast michgan congressional delegation and michigan senators, in line with mac's platform. Pulse of the region survey:mac conducted a pulse of the region survey, promoted through media and civic organizations, to gather citizen input on issues related to economic development and quality of life issues, including bicycle and pedestrian safety, as well as autonomous vehicles. Transit and transportation funding:mac collaborated with semcog and the regional transit authority of southeast michigan's staff in ongoing efforts to support transit and transportation funding in southeast michigan.