Shiawassee In Motion 1.0

Leadership can come from government, but more likely the initiative, commitment, and team effort that defines community leadership comes from citizens and the groups they are a part of. We have seen that in Owosso around the creation of a dog park, historic preservation of downtown, several community actions to promote bicycling, and many other initiatives (click on links to learn some of the specifics). Local government can play a role in convening citizen groups, adopting plans and policies to provide guidance, and by employing certain tools (ordinances, financing, grants) for community change. However, the leadership typically comes from residents with a passion for a cause, local organizations with the capacity to carry out a mission, and from change agents young and old, wise or brash.

Sub-Regional Planning is perhaps the most recent, comprehensive effort to coalesce leadership for community improvement. Championed by the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce and using the expertise of the the Land Policy Institute of Michigan State University, a group of citizens and leaders from throughout Shiawassee County have been meeting for the last year to learn more about our changing economy, to identify the assets and challenges of our County, and to develop a plan to guide local actions and advocacy. While governments, including the City of Owosso, were involved in this work, it was largely driven by leaders of local organizations and businesses and by interested and engaged citizens. As such, the final plan, entitled Shiawassee In Motion 1.0, is a well-articulated, and informed, statement of community desires.

Shiawassee In Motion 1.0 identifies six focus areas for action and lists several potential initiatives that can be undertaken by the public and/or private sector working in conjunction with local citizens. The focus areas are:

1. Improve Collaboration, Cooperation and Communication between Governments. This has been a goal of several of us on the Owosso City Council and this plan may open up avenues by which we might work with our neighbors and other local governments in Shiawassee County. We need to find ways to better, and more cost-effectively, provide municipal services, spur economic growth, and improve the quality of life for all residents of the County. The first step is the proposed creation of a Shiawassee Intergovernmental Collaborative to bring cities, villages, townships, and County government together.
2. Assist, Accelerate, and Attract Business and Support Innovation and Entrepreneurs. This goal builds on the work of the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) and the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce. Our educational institutions, including Baker College, will also be involved in this effort. An initial goal is to build one or more business incubators in Owosso and other cities.
3. Support, Develop, and Leverage our Green Infrastructure. Our natural resources, working agricultural lands, and several rivers form the basis of our green infrastructure that we as a community should use to promote recreation and a higher quality of life, build on our historic--but ever-evolving-- agricultural economy, and help define us a place. The City of Owosso has taken a first step by convening local governments to see where we might collaborate on parks and recreation.
4. Talent Creation and Retention is key to the New Economy of the 21st Century. We have strong schools, but we need to add components that help students develop technical and other career-related skills. Early childhood education is an important component.
5. Placemaking also helps recruit and retain talented individuals of all ages, but particular attention need to be paid to creating a place that appeals to those in their 20s and those starting young families. Specific placemaking initiatives include strengthening arts and entertainment opportunities, celebrating our train history to promote tourism, expanding mobility options not based on the automobile, and building youth activity centers including aquatic recreation facilities.
6. Market, Brand, and Promote the County as a Region with one Voice. Several participants in the process repeatedly identified the need for all of us in Shiawassee County to speak with a unified voice and to work with one another, and not against each other. A first step is to expand the role of the Shiawassee Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Owosso , other communities, and the County as a whole need to position themselves to take advantage of the New Economy that depends on talent, innovation, a global perspective, and entrepreneurialism. Mark Wyckoff, the planning guru from the Land Policy Institute, congratulated the citizen leaders of Shiawassee County on the cooperation and foresight shown by being just the fourth region in the state to adopt such a community-based plan. He noted our many assets, from the Shiawassee River to strong educational institutions, and stated that we as a community need to be forward thinking, welcoming of newcomers and talented immigrants, commit to lifelong learning, and create interesting places in which to live, work, and play.

As a local elected official, I feel compelled to read and respond to the recommendations of our citizens and community activists. This is where we will find leadership for, and to, the future. You to need to be involved. Call the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce (989-725-1621) to get a copy of the plan and to volunteer to be a part of moving our community forward. More information also at www.shiawassee.chamber.org

Disclosure: the planning process that led to the creation of Shiawassee In Motion 1.o was funded by the Cook Family Foundation, my employer.