MIchigan Counties

Client: Genesee Institute, working with six counties in Michigan: Berrien, Calhoun, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Jackson.

Team of experts: Lisa Mueller Levy, Local Initiatives Support Corporation; Daniel Kildee, Genesee County Land Bank and Genesee Institute; Amy Hovey, Protogenia Group; Peter Goodstein, Attorney at Law; Robert Beckley, Genesee Institute; and Jennifer Rigterink, Genesee Institute

Description of work:

Working as a consultant to the Genesee Institute, which is leading the Michigan work, the Campaign has helped organize and implement a six-county technical assistance program that is assisting these counties to create local land banks, following the model of the Genesee County Land Bank. The Genesee Institute exists to research land bank impacts and help educate counties around the state about this important community revitalization resource, which was authorized by state legislation in 2004.

The TA team is conducting visits to each of the counties and helping local stakeholders to understand and implement the policy and procedural requirements to establish their land banks. This initial effort is funded by the C.S. Mott Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and will be completed in mid-2006.