The Downriver Summit was developed three years ago by Congressman John Dingell. Its mission is to be a catalyst for the public and private sectors; to develop a comprehensive vision for the future and to find solutions to challenges the downriver area faces in terms of quality of life and economic development.
The focus this year was on Quality of Life, Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Infrastructure in Southern Wayne County. The morning began with a speech from Doug Rothwell, Executive Director of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
The two breakout sessions that followed were: Workforce Development and Infrastructure. The Workforce Development breakout session consisted of a panel of area high school students that focused on mentoring programs, job shadowing, training and skill needs in the current workplace, and demand occupations.
The infrastructure breakout session topics included telecommunication infrastructure, movement of goods and people and other infrastructure issues that affect business location decisions.
Congressman Dingell (center) took a moment during the Downriver Summit to congratulate students Lauren Hultz (left) and Michelle Sakala (right) for their excellent presentations for the Workforce Development breakout session.
Quality of Life focal points were Downriver linked greenways, waterfront redevelopment projects, and a demonstration of Geographic Information System (GIS).
The GIS presentation exhibited mapping procedures for cataloging and developing Downriver quality of life features.
The Regional Economic session drew attention to the following topics: regional cooperation, strategic positioning, and project identification. The objective of these topics is to prepare the Downriver region to efficiently broker the new economy.
The subject matter of each of the breakout sessions was developed with the input of community leaders who attended the Downriver Summit Fall Leadership meeting in November of last year. This year’s Fall Leadership meeting will take place on November 16, at MASCO in Taylor. For registration information, please visit www.downriversummit.org/register.htm.
(left to right) DCC Executive Director, Jim Perry; SEMCOG Director Paul Tait; and the opening speaker Executive Director of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Doug Rothwell.
This year the polling questions were asked during lunch. The purpose of the polling questions is to get a feel for the issues that concern the people of the downriver region. To view the results of this year’s, as well as the last two year’s polling questions, please visit our website at: www.downriversummit.org/pollingresults.htm.
Detroit River Navigator, John Hartig spoke at the Downriver Summit.
McDonough, former Dean of the University of Virginia School of Architecture, is a leading supporter of smart growth and sustainable development.
His recent award-winning projects for Gap Inc., Nike, Herman Miller, and Oberlin College have set new standards for design quality, environmental sensitivity, and functional effectiveness.
His inspiring presentation at the Downriver Summit included a look at the future of the Ford Rouge Center, as well as environmentally friendly cars of the future.
McDonough’s presentation showcased conceptual sketches of the plans for the Rouge Center that displayed the innovative features of this exciting project.
Within the Ford Rouge Center, a 600,000 square foot assembly building will not only sustain itself, but will also produce extra energy and purified water. It will grow plants on the roof and use plants in currently contaminated areas to naturally remove heavy metals and toxins from the soil of this designated brownfield area.
“We would like to think that birds who fly over will not realize that there is a building below them.” McDonough stated.
Other exciting projects that McDonough discussed were cars that are completely recyclable. All of the cars parts would be usable as parts on another car, or broken down to its raw materials.
In an age of boom building that has made many downriver residents fearful of urban sprawl, McDonough reassured the crowd that “Growth is good. Trees grow, grass grows...growth is good.”
The keynote speaker for the Summit this year was William McDonough.
Members of the Downriver Summit Planning Committee include: the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA), The Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce (SWCCC), The Downriver Community Conference (DCC), The Office of Congressman John Dingell, and Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).
Students from local High schools presented the Workforce Development break out session. Their parents were invited to attend. (left to right) Nicholas Spigiel; Lauren Hultz; Jirina Sakala; James Hultz; Michelle Sakala; and her father Vladimir Sakala.