Michigan State Housing and Development Authority Community Assistance Team (CATeam) Provides technical assistance related to Brownfields, Cool Cities, MainStreet, and Blueprints. Administers MSHDA Community Development Block Grant Initiatives comprised of downtown infrastructure and planning studies, as well as the competitive downtown facade, signature building, and land assembly programs.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority, established in 1966, provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income Michigan residents.

The Economic Development Area of Expertise (ED-AOE) team is comprised of MSU Extension Specialists and county-based educators working in economic development education. The ED-AOE team educates and assists businesses, communities and organizations including public and private leaders in the planning and implementing of successful economic development programs.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the State of Michigan 's one-stop resource for businesses seeking to grow in Michigan. Whether it's an expansion, a relocation, or even a concern with another agency of state government, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation can help. From site location assistance to job training grants, from help with permits to tax abatements, we're the state's economic development corporation.Mbr The official Michigan Tourism Industry eNewsletter
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The Michigan Department of Agriculture’ mission is "to serve, promote and protect the food, agricultural, environmental and economic interests of the people of Michigan."

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quallity is dedicated to protecting human health and to preserving a healthy environment.

The Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL), created in 2001, works to to enrich quality of life and strengthen the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity. The department includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Historical Center.

Department of Labor and Economic Growth Governor Granholm created DLEG to promote job creation and economic growth in Michigan by centralizing and streamlining the state's job, workforce, and economic development functions under one department.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use, and enjoyment of the state's natural resources for current and future generations

Department of Transportation The primary functions of the Department of Transportation are the construction, improvement, and maintenance of the state highway system

The Transportation Enhancement (TE) program is a competitive grant program that funds projects such as nonmotorized paths, streetscapes, and historic preservation of transportation facitlities, that enhance Michigan's intermodal transportation system and improve the quality of life for Michigan citizens.

The MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) was established in Spring, 2003 with funds from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and Michigan State University Extension to improve economic opportunities in the Michigan agriculture, food and natural resource sectors. The Product Center can help you develop and commercialize high value, consumer-responsive products and businesses in the agriculture and natural resource sectors.

The Land Policy Institute leads the way to a better quality of life for Michigan's citizens through effective science-based solutions to land use challenges. They promote collaborative efforts among MSU land use researchers, other institutions of higher learning, policymakers, and community organizations to address critical local and statewide land policy concerns. The Land Policy Institute encourages and supports sound, practical land use decisions through considering social, economic, environmental, and equity issues.

The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development CenterSM (MI-SBTDCSM) network provides a full range of services for a variety of small businesses that are emerging and growing throughout Michigan - including new venture companies, existing small businesses, expanding businesses, new technology companies, and innovators.

The Heartland Center for Leadership Development is an independent, nonprofit organization developing local leadership that responds to the challenges of the future. Heartland Center activities focus on leadership training, citizen participation, community planning, facilitation, evaluation, and curriculum development. Programs and publications stress the critical role played by local leadership as communities and organizations build capacity for sustainable development. Each year the Heartland Center works with people from approximately 300 communities, and is recognized internationally as an innovator of creative strategies for community revitalization.

Creative Clusters is an independent policy conference examining the growth of the creative economy. We are interested in initiatives from around the world that are designed to have an impact in both cultural and economic terms. Creative Clusters believes that creativity is the key factor driving development. Across the world, enterprises based on individual creativity are booming. Furthermore, knowledge and culture-based activities now play a central role in the activities of all businesses. This is the era of the creative economy.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) was established under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. § 3121), as amended, to generate jobs, help retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas of the United States. EDA assistance is available to rural and urban areas of the Nation experiencing high unemployment, low income, or other severe economic distress.

Energizing Entrepreneurs This Web site is a way of sharing what has been learned about creating supportive environments for entrepreneurs in rural places. While our focus is on rural, much of what we have learned may have value to those of you working in urban places. You will find rich content, useful tools and specific strategies to help you chart a course toward a new, sustainable future for your community.

Culture Shapes Community recognizes and encourages neighborhood based arts and cultural organizations as unique stakeholders in poor neighborhoods experiencing economic and demographic shifts. This is accomplished through programs that search out and make use of neighborhood identity and public space, that promote social integration among mixed-income and mixed-race residents, that offer opportunities for upward economic mobility and that empower all to have a strong voice for fair and equitable neighborhood change.

National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship NFTE’s mission is to teach entrepreneurship and help low-income young people become economically productive members of society by improving their academic, business, technological, and general life skills. The program has a proven track record of success. It is frequently used as a model for other programs to teach business knowledge and the resulting business formation.

American Institute of Graphic Arts AIGA, the professional association for design, is committed to furthering excellence in design as a broadly-defined discipline, strategic tool for business and cultural force. AIGA is the place design professionals turn to first to exchange ideas and information, participate in critical analysis and research and advance education and ethical practice

MapMuse Find places to live, learn, work and play. MapMuse is the best way to find your favorite brands and interests, all brought together on a single interactive map!

The Edward Lowe Foundation champions the entrepreneurial spirit by providing assistance to not-for-profit organizations that work with second-stage business owners.

Cultural heritage tourism is traveling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present. It includes historic, cultural and natural attractions. This site has been developed as a resource for organizations and individuals who are developing, marketing or managing cultural heritage tourism attractions or programs.

Helpful Web Sites

The following links lead to Web sites that could be helpful to those communities and organizations looking for strategies to help develop a cultural economic development plan and or programs.

"CULTURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A Practical Guide for Communities" "This Guide is written for anyone who is interested in bringing together arts and cultural interests with economic development interests to build livable, culturally vibrant and economically strong communities? This guide is intended as a general road map and is based on practical experience and lessons learned from those engaging in this rapidly expanding field of work."

Cultural Heritage Tourism This is the Web site for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's four basic steps for success in cultural heritage tourism.

"Cultural Tourism Itinerary Building Blocks: Creating a Michigan experience tour" This document provides an outline for "museums, convention & visitors bureaus, and other tourism organizations to develop self-guided, themed tours of Michigan."

Ideas for Strong Rural Communities This is a list of seven ideas of what sort of tools or mind set rural communities should have when thinking of economic development.

"Revised Plan of Action for International Cooperation on Tourism Management in Heritage Cities" This article provides initiatives that could be implemented for any community looking to develop a plan for cultural economic development or a cultural destination looking to attract tourists.

Updated 12/5/2006

Cultural Economic Development, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
Contact cculha@michigan.gov with your question or comment about this page.