That Happened Fast: 2022 Highlights

2023 will be very exciting in Southeast Michigan. This week, SEMCOG is hosting a series of 2050 Regional Forecast Open Houses at three locations:

• January 9, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Green Oak Township Hall
• January 11, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at King Road Event Center – Brownstown Township
• January 13, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Parks & Recreation Community Center – Sterling Heights

In these sessions, we are sharing draft 30-year forecasts for population, households, and jobs for each county and community in Southeast Michigan. These drop-in meetings provide opportunities to review and give feedback on the draft forecast for each community and to explore key regional trends, including population and employment growth; a transforming economy; structural changes in demographics; shifting labor force; impacts of public policies; and implications for municipal services, education, workforce development, and infrastructure planning.

We are also looking forward to finalizing a new regional plan for transportation safety and updating our water resources plan with a focus on water infrastructure. Our recently launched GREEN (Growing our Resilience, Equity, and Economy with Nature) Task Force will examine some of the region’s most significant challenges related to climate resilience, flooding, community health, and more.

SEMCOG’s November GREEN Task Force meeting.

In this work with Southeast Michigan communities, we look forward to hosting the annual conference for the National Association of Regional Councils this June. This will be an opportunity for us to talk with other regional councils and to highlight some of the innovative, successful things our region has been able to accomplish together.

Before I get too carried away with all the excitement of 2023, I want to share some of SEMCOG’s highlights, achievements, and initiatives from 2022. Our momentum from last year is very real, and it starts with our team. We have continued to grow our staff with both professional development and by adding to our team. We look forward to welcoming a couple more “Coggers” soon to help us with the essential task of ensuring that Southeast Michigan maximizes the generational funding opportunities now at stake.

Our New Look

The early results of our most recent Membership Survey reflect that SEMCOG members are very pleased with the service and assistance we provide. To ensure we can continue to operate fluidly between in-person and virtual environments, we officially began our new hybrid work plan with a fully revamped office space earlier this year.

Across from our welcome desk, photos of Southeast Michigan people and places to bring SEMCOG’s vision (All people of Southest Michigan benefit from a connected, thriving region of small towns, dynamic urban centers, premier educational institutions, diverse neighborhoods, active waterfronts, and abundant agricultural, recreational, and natural areas.) to life.

We reduced our office space by 50% while maintaining the capacity for our full staff to work in person on the same day when needed. Some of our new artwork features photos (thanks to those who helped us find the perfect pictures!) of a few of the people and places that bring SEMCOG’s vision to life. We have also replaced a static map with a new interactive touchscreen monitor to explore our data and planning resources. Additionally, we added an installation – “Southeast Michigan Through the Years” that helps to tell the story of Southeast Michigan’s growth and development since 1900 and indicates each community’s greatest period of growth. These are just a couple of the ways we hit “refresh” on our space to inspire regional collaboration and meet the needs of today.

This Southeast Michigan Through the Years installation at SEMCOG’s office conveys the evolution of our region through mapping, a timeline of population growth, and historical images of significant places in our region.

We are grateful that this renovation was possible thanks in part to SEMCOG’s effective finance practices. Led by our finance team, the collective efforts of our staff to be responsible stewards of Southeast Michigan’s resources have resulted in a streak of clean audits and continued security of future funding. If you have not visited our office since the update, I look forward to seeing you back in a welcoming and efficient place for our staff, members, and guests to meet!

Sharing Data and Resources

One of my favorite parts of 2022 was the number of diverse and quality workshops and trainings hosted by SEMCOG staff – both in-person and virtually. In total, we hosted 23 SEMCOG University workshops covering topics from all aspects of our work. We discussed transportation funding opportunities, community fleet electrification, how to utilize our data for successful implementation, and much more.

Our Data Analysis team launched or updated 25 maps or applications this year. We also processed over 320 data requests and conducted 146 meetings with communities to capture planned development of 815 sites, a key input for the 2050 local forecast. We have implemented a new, improved UrbanSim model, used to generate 2050 Regional Development Forecast totals including population and employment.

Developing and Implementing Regional Plans

With the guidance of the SEMCOG Water Infrastructure Task Force, we have developed water infrastructure policies. Currently, in draft, this work also features estimated investment needs for the region and an interactive planning guide. We worked with members to prepare more than 50 green infrastructure plans and estimate construction costs of over $30 million to manage 57 acres of urban runoff and restore over 2 miles of coastline.

Environment and Infrastructure staff performing Coastal Resiliency field work in Trenton, MI

We further enhanced the nationally recognized Southeast Michigan Electric Vehicle Resource Kit and Planning Hub. We supported many communities in preparing SPARK applications for parks funding and continued to be the region’s leading voice on the importance our parks and trails play in our quality of life and economic competitiveness. In November, we kicked off a series of workshops dedicated to improving the region’s commercial corridors, including our vibrant downtowns, main streets, and activity centers. We partnered with the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) to identify strategies and assets to support Michigan’s leadership in the mobility industry.

Workshop: The Main Street Approach^® to Commercial District Revitalization

Southeast Michigan’s Transportation Safety Task Force worked on guiding the development of the region’s updated Safety Plan, to be finalized in the coming months. We assisted our members, MDOT, and additional transportation partners in major modeling and planning projects including I-94, I-375, the Blue Water Bridge, Woodward and Michigan Avenues, and more. After a year of beta testing in partnership with MDOT, we fully deployed a Multimodal Tool, which was lauded nationally and received an MTPA award.

Recording: SEMCOG/MDOT Multimodal Tool (June 2, 2022)

Collaborating for Future Mobility

In 2022, we developed and approved the FY23-26 Transportation Improvement Program, which included over $4.2 billion of transportation projects that maintain and enhance the system. By working with the region’s eight federal aid committees, we ensured that an additional $21 million recently allocated to the SEMCOG region could be effectively utilized. Guided by the Regional Review Committee, SEMCOG supported development of nearly $10 million in Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) projects that provide enhancements to our transportation network for all users – especially those most vulnerable and those who walk or bike.

We launched the Carbon Reduction Program, awarded $9.4 million for FY23, and announced funding and emphasis areas for FY24-26. We coordinated and awarded $74 million in funding for the FY23-26 CMAQ program on projects that improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion. We collected and released the pavement condition for the region’s roadways and developed key findings and ways to ensure continued asset management.

Legislative Policy

Our team had a very busy year advocating in Lansing and Washington for the local and regional issues important to SEMCOG, with a significant focus on sharing priorities for the state’s use of a historic budget surplus. We also worked with MAC as they engaged on the issue of mobility and supported Michigan ballot proposals 2022-1 and 2022-2, both of which were successful.

Starting in July, we convened the SEMCOG Legislative Policy Platform Task Force, while also supporting the work of MAC’s Platform Committee. Both organizations approved their 2023-2024 legislative platforms in December. With these new platforms in hand and the results of the midterm election finalized, we began strategizing with our partners in Lansing and Washington on how to best implement these new policies.

Local Issues

SEMCOG also provided training and informational content to our local government members, including a webinar on benefits audits and resources for local governments on the myriad of federal and state funding streams made available as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recording: Reducing Costs and Confusion with Benefits Audits (May 4, 2022)

We look forward to increasing these efforts in 2023. As local governments face new and difficult challenges each day, we continue to engage with our member communities to ensure needs are understood and addressed.

Engaging Southeast Michigan

To support regional collaboration and the success of SEMCOG’s various planning initiatives, we work to share the right information at the right time with our various members, partners, and stakeholders. Regional Update, our newsletter, brings timely and relevant content to your inbox every other week. To implement the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and support our regional economy, we have produced more than 20 Shop Local videos.

Shop Local installation: Wayne County

We implemented the Walk.Bike.Drive. Safe program, including two “blitzes” to encourage safe habits, and One Water to provide education and good habits for water resources. We highlighted the impact of innovative planning with the 2022 Regional Showcase Award.

Regional Showcase Award 2022: Sustainable Investments in Natural Areas Preservation Program – Washtenaw County

This is a small sampling of the progress we made in Southeast Michigan the past year. There are victories to be found in cities, villages, townships, counties, roads, parks, and more all over this region. This is thanks to the quality of the people working each day to enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives here. Whether you are an elected official, a dedicated local government worker, or a concerned resident, I thank you for all your efforts. As we head into an exciting new year filled with opportunities to lay a strong foundation for the future of Southeast Michigan, do not forget the impact you make!

SEMCOG’s September Member Meetup in Detroit. Events like these bring together SEMCOG members to network with peers; provide input into regional strategic planning; showcase regional successes; and highlight various quality-of-life amenities of Southeast Michigan. We hope you can join a Member Meetup in 2023!