Rep. Kildee Brings Together Michigan Mayors, City Managers and Local Officials for Conversation Focused on Creating Stronger Communities
Event Focused on Kildee’s Future of America’s Cities and Towns Initiative
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) today hosted a forum in Grand Rapids, Mich., with local mayors, city managers and other elected officials to discuss how to bring greater economic investment and opportunity to America’s older, industrial cities and towns. The conversation focused on state and federal policy that could especially help older, industrial communities, places that despite the ongoing economic recovery after the Great Recession continue to face unique challenges.
The forum is part of Congressman Kildee’s ongoing “The Future of America’s Cities and Towns” initiative to better align local, state and federal policies with the unique challenges facing many communities in Michigan and across the country. Kildee serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Urban Caucus and Vice Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee.
“We need more robust policy, at both the state and federal level, that helps to accelerate economic growth and opportunity in communities across Michigan,” Congressman Kildee said. “I am proud to convene over two dozen mayors, city managers and other elected officials for this important conversation because they all bring a great deal of knowledge from their local communities. Coming from local government, these leaders know first-hand the challenges associated with budget cuts and reduced support for cities that have hurt Michigan’s working families. I look forward to continuing to work with these local elected leaders and my colleagues in Congress to develop sustainable policy that helps to support cities and towns across Michigan and the nation.”
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) hosts Michigan mayors, city managers and local officials for a forum in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Attendees of the forum included:
- Battle Creek Mayor Mark Behnke
- Battle Creek Assistant City Manager Ted Dearing
- Bay City Mayor Kathleen Newsham
- Bay City Commissioner John Davidson
- Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly
- Dearborn Director Barry Murray
- Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss
- Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington
- Grand Rapids Legislative Manager Karyn Ferrick
- Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby J. Hopewell
- Lansing Mayor Andy Schor
- Lansing Director of Economic Development and Planning Brian McGrain
- Muskegon Mayor Stephen J. Gawron
- Saginaw Mayor Dennis D. Browning
- Saginaw Mayor Pro Tem Floyd Kloc
- Saginaw Council Member Brenda Moore
- Michigan Municipal League Executive Director Dan Gilmartin
- Michigan Municipal League Assistant Director, State and Federal Affairs John Lamacchia
- Michigan Municipal League Project Coordinator Danielle Nelson
- Lapeer City Commissioner Catherine Bostick-Tullius
- Ferndale Council Member Melanie Piana
- Martin Waymire Partner David Waymire.
The Future of America’s Cities and Towns is an initiative launched by Congressman Kildee to highlight the many challenges that cities and towns across the U.S. face regarding infrastructure needs, economic development, housing, blight and jobs in the modern economy. The initiative calls for a national strategy on how Congress invests in American cities and towns.
The first roundtable included Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), the Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, and focused on the unique challenges facing many older, industrial cities and towns. The second roundtable focused on economic and community development financing and included Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26), the Vice Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee. The third roundtable included Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-05), the Vice Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and focused on how Congress must make critical investments to improve America’s water infrastructure system, including replacing lead pipes to protect public health. The fourth roundtable took place in East Hazel Crest, Ill. with Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) and focused on extreme austerity measures that have led to cuts in public services like police and fire. The fifth roundtable focused on the newly-enacted Opportunity Zone program, which has the potential to expand capital investment in low-income and distressed areas through tax incentives.
Congressman Kildee also previously spoke at the TrustBelt conference in Des Moines, Iowa, and events hosted by the Urban Institute and the National Leagues of Cities in Washington, D.C., all on the need to focus on investing in older, industrial cities and towns.
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