Contact: Karen Gagnon
MSHDA Cool Cities
Telephone: 517/241-3203
Mary Lou Keenon
MSHDA Communications
Telephone: 517/373-0011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2008

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that Detroit will host the second International Creative Cities Summit in October.  This year's Summit "Creative Cities 2.0" will provide a next-generation look at how communities are integrating innovation, social entrepreneurship, arts & culture and business to make vibrant economies.  The Michigan State Housing Development Authority's (MSHDA) Cool Cities Team is a key organizer for the event.

"Michigan's greatest economic successes have always been tied to the creative and productive power of our cities," Granholm said.  "We are looking forward to hosting leading thinkers and practitioners from around the world to discuss the latest in creative community development."

The Summit will be held October 13-15, with topics to include place making, talent attraction and retention strategies and best practices for economic and social development.

"We are thrilled to bring this event to Michigan, in particular to Detroit, where these ideas are already underway," said Peter Kageyama of Creative Cities Productions, the producers of the event. "We saw this as an opportunity to use the metaphor of Detroit ? the epitome of the American industrial city that is creatively remaking itself in the 21st century."

The initial Creative Cities Summit held in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2004, was one of the first creative economy events in the United States .

"We want to showcase Michigan, not only to the world, but to ourselves," said Karen Gagnon, MSHDA's Cool Cities team leader.

For more information visit the conference Web site at www.creativecitiessummit.com.

MSHDA is a quasi-state agency that provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve safe and decent affordable housing, engage in community economic development activities, and address homeless issues.  MSHDA's loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds and notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. For more information on MSHDA programs and initiatives, visit the Web site at www.michigan.gov/mshda.