Our 2024-2025 fiscal year was characterized by ongoing progress as well as new challenges and opportunities. I am grateful to SEMCOG’s member communities and the local elected officials and staff who continue to provide local leadership while also contributing at the regional level. The following sections summarize some of our major accomplishments throughout this year.
I encourage you to learn more from watching our Year in Review highlight video and learning more in the Year in Review summary.
By the Numbers: Growth in Membership and Engagement
We reached an all-time high with 185 SEMCOG members this year, a clear sign of growing regional cooperation. Two new Vice Chairpersons were elected ahead of the June 2025 General Assembly, and SEMCOG hosted numerous events to support knowledge-sharing and professional development.
Across workshops and training sessions, hundreds of participants joined us to build capacity and spark dialogue. We also held nine new outreach and engagement events, while nearly 200 attendees participated in 14 quarterly task force and implementation team meetings. Internally, 14 SEMCOG staff members took part in our mentorship program, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing future leaders.
Our work was powered by data-several new and updated tools were made available on our website this year:
NEW: Wetland Mapper Tool
NEW: Location and Visitation Analysis Tool (Placer.AI)
UPDATED: High-Frequency Economic Dashboard
UPDATED: Pavement Conditions
SEMCOG officers at our Executive Committee meeting in January 2025. Macomb Township Supervisor and SEMCOG Vice Chair Frank Viviano, Washtenaw Community College Trustee and SEMCOG Vice Chair Diana McKnight-Morton, SEMCOG Executive Director Amy O’Leary, Oakland County Commissioner and SEMCOG Chairperson Gwen Markham, Canton Township Supervisor and SEMCOG Vice Chair Anne Marie Graham-Hudak, and City of Farmington Mayor and SEMCOG Vice Chair Joe LaRussa
Investing in Transportation and Mobility
A major milestone this year was the adoption of the 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) at our April 25, 2025 Executive Committee meeting. This $3.1 billion investment will support 600 projects focused on safety, accessibility, resilience, and system efficiency.
To improve public access and transparency, we launched a NEW TIP Projects Interactive Map, helping residents visualize and understand the transportation priorities across the region.
Additional Highlights:
Hosted 3 Freight Task Force meetings, including a Rail Facility Tour
Recognized by USDOT’s Allies in Action for Safe Streets and Road Safety Audit programs
Earned 6 commendations during federal certification review
Awarded 16 Local Road Safety Audit planning grants, with 8 already completed
74 complete mobility technical assistance projects
Encouraged sustainable commuting: 124,000 travel miles reduced during the Commuter Challenge
Government Affairs and Regional Advocacy
In the policy space, SEMCOG remained an active voice at all levels of government. Our 33-member Legislative Policy Platform Task Force adopted 113 policies. To support advocacy efforts, we developed 5 new policy one-pagers and created 4 new bill tracking dockets for the upcoming legislative cycle.
This year, we celebrated a significant $1.5M allocation in Michigan’s budget for water quality monitoring in the Huron-to-Erie corridor. SEMCOG engaged regularly with state and federal lawmakers-hosting 13 meetings with members of the U.S. Congressional Delegation and engaging 27 state legislators at our legislative reception.
We also expanded our public policy presence through:
Monthly legislative updates
Quarterly legislative roundtables
A national “Regions Lead” video and campaign
An op-ed highlighting the importance of tax-exempt municipal bonds
Supporting Environment and Infrastructure
Through our Healthy Climate Task Force and Green Infrastructure Grant Program, SEMCOG worked to enhance environmental health and community resilience. A major achievement was the launch of a comprehensive Wetland Inventory, giving communities better tools to manage and protect sensitive natural resources.
- GREEN Initiative: Secured $500,000 from the Erb Family Foundation to expand the GREEN initiative with deeper stakeholder engagement, updated data analysis, and improved tools on the GREEN Dashboard.
- Green Infrastructure Grant Program: 5 communities implemented projects that incorporate GSI to treat more than 1,370,860 gallons of stormwater each year.
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure: SEMCOG held 9 public engagement sessions across the region to collect input on climate action priorities.
- Parks and Recreation: Advocated for recreation grant funding, and saw more than $13 million awarded from the DNR to improve 19 parks in the region.
Guiding Investments in Local Projects
SEMCOG continued to support local planning and infrastructure with substantial funding programs:
13 Planning Assistance Program Awards totaling $480,000.
Examples: Monroe’s Orchard East Trails Plan ($40K); Scio Township’s Jackson Road Safety Plan ($40K)
14 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Awards totaling $13.2M.
Examples: Southfield’s Nine Mile Greenway ($1M); Van Buren’s Tyler Road Trail ($1.3M); Grosse Pointe Park’s Streetscape Project ($1.8M)
29 Carbon Reduction Program Projects totaling $29.6M.
Examples: St. Clair Shores’ LED streetlight conversion ($577K); Ann Arbor’s signal modernization ($840K)
42 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Awards totaling $83M.
Examples: Troy’s Coolidge/Square Lake Roundabout ($1.4M); LETS bus replacements in Livingston County ($1M)
SEMCOG General Assembly display
Strengthening Economic and Community Vitality
The Economic Development Committee welcomed 65 members this year and led forums engaging 137 participants. In an effort to reach all parts of Southeast Michigan, four county outreach meetings engaged 113 attendees from rural communities.
We also introduced a workshop series on Main Streets and Placemaking, attended by 110 participants. Our magazine, What’s Our Edge?, lays the foundation for the region’s upcoming Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), set for adoption in 2026.
Engaging and Educating Across the Region
Community engagement remained a cornerstone of SEMCOG’s mission. We hosted member meetups in Howell, Trenton, and St. Clair Shores and debuted a new “Experience Downriver” video.
Public Education Campaigns:
Safe Streets: Garnered two Telly Awards and one Michigan Emmy nomination; distributed over 34,000 safety items across 112 partners
One Water: Distributed 28,000+ educational materials with 86 community partners
We also continued our Experience Southeast Michigan video series featuring Milan, Southfield, Belleville, Brighton, and more.
Our Locals Lead Initiative included 18 blog articles, 8 community events, and a video showcasing a transformative project.
Finally, the Vision RTP Video Series brought attention to important regional projects like the Gordie Howe Bridge, Macomb Roads, and the Wixom Airline Trail.
Recognizing Leadership and Impact
SEMCOG Member Meetup at the Michigan Central Station in Detroit
The 2024 SEMCOG Member Survey returned a satisfaction score of 77-surpassing national averages and our 2022 benchmark. This year, one project earned our Regional Showcase Award, two individuals were named Regional Ambassadors, and two local leaders were selected as Taubman Fellows to attend Harvard’s summer leadership program.
As we reflect on a successful year, we’re energized for the future. The progress achieved in 2024-2025 reflects the strength of regional collaboration, and SEMCOG remains committed to working alongside our members to create a more connected, resilient, and prosperous Southeast Michigan.
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