Letter from the Executive DirectorThroughout 2013, CEDAM staff and board members had a wonderful time celebrating our 15th anniversary by giving back to our communities through charity drives as well as through our Annual Membership Event. Thank you to those of you who were able to join us during the Building Michigan Communities Conference and at the top of the Christman Building in downtown Lansing! We hope to see you again this year The BMCC is April 28-30, and the Annual Membership Event is the evening of April 29.

We had many other reasons to celebrate throughout the year. The 2013 Legislators Building Communities Program came to a close with wonderful projects throughout the state. Lansing opened the first Financial Empowerment Center as a result of a $1.5 million grant through Bloomberg Philanthropies. We have even more to share with you within this newsletter including a calendar full of of great training and events for 2014. We look forward to seeing you soon!

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN

CEDAM

December 2013

Letter from the Executive Director ....................... pg. 1 Staff List ............................................................... pg. 1 Policy Updates ...................................................... pg. 2 The Bright Side ..................................................... pg. 2 Program Updates ................................................. pg. 2-3 Calendar of Events & Training Opportunities ......pg. 4 Join a CEDAM Committee ..................................... pg. 4

In this newsletter:twitter.com/cedaminfo facebook.com/cedaminfo youtube.com/cedamvideo

VOICE: 517.485.3588 FAX: 517.485.3043 ONLINE: cedam.info

Jamie Schriner-Hooper Executive Director

Keith LambertMicroenterprise Network of Michigan Coordinator

Rachel Diskin

Michigan Foreclosure Prevention Corps Program Director

KristenClauder

Training Associate

Olivia Courant

New Media Associate

Grace Empie Michigan Communities for Financial Empowerment Intern

Ross Yednock

Michigan Economic Impact Coalition

Program Director

Jessica AcMoodyPolicy Specialist & Michigan Rural Council Coordinator

Hannah RodriguezMichigan Rural Council Intern

Brian McGrainAssociate Director & Chief Operating Officer

Tracie CoffmanMichigan Foreclosure

Task Force Coordinator

Megan KursikMichigan Communities for Financial Empowerment Coordinator

Liv Hagerman

Events Associate

Lisa BenckCommunications & Training Specialist

The Michigan Rural Council wrapped up the year with a webinar addressing rural healthcare and what changes to expect because of the Affordable Care Act. Topics that our quarterly meetings will cover in 2014 include placemaking in rural areas, rural education and an update on broadband access in rural areas.

In partnership with Rural Partners of Michigan, we also awarded another round of community grants in August. Projects awarded included purchasing equipment for a community kitchen, the restoration and maintenance of the original one-room rural school in the Besser Museum and bringing educational and counseling services in Fremont, Michigan to those who are transportation bound.

We are currently busy planning the 10th annual Michigan Small Town and Rural Development Conference which takes place April 14-16 in Thompsonville, Michigan. Don’t forget to save the date for this can’t-miss event!

MichiganRural Council

Michigan Rural Council (MRC) rural.cedam.info

Policy

Our 2013 Legislators Building Communities (LBC) project wrapped up with a ceremony at the Capitol and a tribute read on the Senate floor by Senator Jansen and Senator Warren.

As part of LBC, approximately 70 legislators participated this year in service projects around the state that strengthened neighborhoods in their district. The LBC is a great way for CEDAM members to begin or strengthen their relationship with their legislators by having legislators work directly with their organization. We have already begun planning for 2015 and look forward to even more legislative engagement. To read more stories about projects that took place this year, visit legislatorsbuildingcommunities.org.

Follow: @CEDAMPolicy

Michigan Communities for Financial Empowerment (MCFE) mcfe.cedam.info

BRIGHTthe

TELEVISION SHOWSIDE

This year, we are looking forward to a lineup of new episodes featuring community economic development topics such as food, foreclosure, youth, rural, financial empowerment and a special episode on placemaking in Detroit. As the quality of The Bright Side has grown and viewership is up to about 335,000 individuals across eight cable stations in Michigan, we are also introducing a new “Season 2” opening sequence for the show.

CEDAM members are encouraged to join The Bright Side review committee or suggest projects and programs to be featured on video. Contact Olivia Courant at courant@cedam.info.

The Bright Side brightsidetv.com

The Lansing Financial Empowerment Center opened its doors in March, providing free, professional, financial counseling to Lansing residents. Over the course of the year, the Lansing Financial Empowerment Center provided one-on-one financial counseling to more than 1,000 consumers, helping them to reduce their debt by more than $250,000 and increase savings by more than $75,000. CEDAM

continues to support the Lansing Financial Empowerment Center through in-kind staff support.

In October, MCFE launched the Michigan Financial Empowerment Initiative Grants Program, which provides funding and in-kind technical assistance to local governments in Michigan to implement the Financial Empowerment Center model. Through a competitive process, CEDAM selected the City of Grand Haven, Oakland County and the City of Taylor for its first round of grants. These communities will work with CEDAM to create Financial Empowerment Centers in 2014.

Michigan Communities for Financial Empowerment

MCFE

Photo: LBC Wrap Up Event

Photo: Working With a Financial Counselor at the Lansing Financial Empowerment Center

The Microenterprise Network of Michigan (MNM) wrapped up its Small Business Technology Taskforce project, which helped four rural communities develop a workgroup to support local businesses in incorporating web technologies through awareness-building and tailored technical assistance. In June, the MNM and its project partners hosted a packed legislative luncheon event in Lansing and also released a resource toolkit designed to assist entrepreneurs and communities leaders alike in business technology adoption. The MNM and its

membership also got more involved with the FDIC’s Money Smart for Small Business curriculum, with effort being put toward creating a virtual model for practitioners to utilize to expand their reach and impact.

In the Fall, the Network welcomed its 100th member, a testament to the value that so many organizations and individuals place in microbusiness development. Along that same vein, the MNM worked to develop and support a resolution to declare October Microenterprise Month in Michigan, passed unanimously in early October. Around that time, the MNM also cohosted the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference in Marshall, Michigan, which boasted breakout sessions within local businesses and nearly 100 participants representing 38 communities across the state. The Network is excited to hit the ground running in 2014 with its annual member meeting on January 23 in Lansing!

Microenterprise Network of Michigan

MNM

Microenterprise Network of Michigan (MNM) microenterprise.cedam.info

Michigan Foreclosure Task Force (MFTF) foreclosure.cedam.info

Michigan Foreclosure Task Force

MFTF

Michigan Economic Impact Coalition (MEIC) meic.cedam.info

Michigan Economic Impact Coalition

MEICEach year, tens of thousands of Michigan taxpayers rely on volunteer income tax preparation services to help them file their federal, state and local taxes. We estimate that last year more than 95,000 Michigan taxpayers saved in excess of $11.6 million in tax preparation fees. This savings by free tax preparation clients was used to help pay local property taxes, purchase clothes for their children and get caught up on utility bills, rent and other basic needs. In addition to keeping more money in the pockets of taxpayers, free tax services also helps to save state and local governments money through increased compliance, greater efficiency and e-filing and reduced fraud.

Every volunteer at a free tax site, like those operated by MEIC members, are trained, tested and certified by the IRS annually on their knowledge of the tax code and preparation skills. This ensures that every MEIC member client receives high-quality services that meet their specific needs. And this year again, thanks to generous support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Consumers Energy, MEIC member clients who agree to share their story will be given the opportunity to win one of ten $100 gift cards.

For more information or to find a free income tax site near you, go to MichiganFreeTaxHelp.org.

On July 3, 2013 Governor Snyder signed into law new foreclosure legislation. This package of bills ended the 90 day pre-foreclosure law as of January 10, 2014. It also changed homeowners’ rights during their redemption period, giving sheriff sale purchasers the right to conduct unannounced interior inspections. Additionally, on November 11, 2013 Governor Snyder signed another package of bills granting the opportunity for some disabled veterans to be exempted from their homesteaded property taxes. These two pieces of legislation will have a significant impact on Michigan homeowners in 2014.

The Michigan Foreclosure Prevention Corps ended it’s fourth program year in October 2013. During this year, members served 10,627 homeowners through intake and triage. An additional 13,153 individuals were reached through community outreach, mailings and presentations. The fifth year of the program began on October 3, 2013. The 20 MFPC members hit the ground running and have already served more than 2,700 clients. Members attended MFPC orientation in October and Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Celebration in November and are looking forward to regional training in February!

Photo: 2013-2014 Michigan Foreclosure Prevention Corps Members at Orientation in October held at the Kettunen Center Tustin, Michigan.

Photo: 2013 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference in Marshall, MI.

CEDAM 2014 Calendar of EventsFebruaryCEDAM Training: Plan // Design // Manage Professional Development Day February 19-20 Lansing, MI cedam.info/training

AprilMFTF Membership Meeting April 28-30, 1 - 3pm Lansing, MI Contact us if interested in joining the MFTF

Michigan Rural Conference April 14-16 Thompsonville, MI

Building Michigan Communities Conference (BMCC) April 28-30, 9am - 4pm Lansing, MI buildingmicommunities.org

CEDAM Annual Membership Event April 29 (during the BMCC) Lansing, MI cedam.info/annual-event

Opportunities to ParticipateCEDAM has five committees that work to serve our members. If you are a member and interested please let us know!

Public Policy Committee Directs CEDAM’s advocacy efforts

Training & Technical Assistance Committee Works with partners to plan, coordinate and evaluate training opportunities for members

Membership Committee Directs CEDAM’s membership efforts

Communications Committee Guides CEDAM’s print, online and multimedia communications

The Bright Side Advisory Committee Develops ideas and content for CEDAM’s television show, The Bright Side

For more information: cedam.info/committees

1118 South Washington Avenue Lansing, Michigan 48910-1647

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN CEDAM

VOICE: 517.485.3588 FAX: 517.485.3043 ONLINE: cedam.info

MayNational Main Street Conference May 18-21 Detroit, MI mainstreet.org

SeptemberCEDAM Training: Placemaking Module 1: People, Places and Placemaking September 24, 9am - noon Lansing, MI cedam.info/training

Placemaking Module 2: The Economics of Place September 24, 1 - 4pm Lansing, MI cedam.info/training

OctoberReal Estate Development Boot Camp October 15-17 Tustin, MI cedam.info/training

Check online for the most updated Connect & Share: Lunchtime Webinar schedule. Live webinars and recordings of past webinars are available for FREE for CEDAM members. cedam.info/connect-and-share