Community & Economic Development Program

Linda F. Patrick, Community Development Agent

(810) 244-8519

Background: The Flint Community & Economic Development Program serves as an additional site for the Center for Urban Affairs in partnership with Michigan State University Extension, and was established in November, 1997. The Community & Economic Development Program is funded locally through Michigan State University Extension and Urban Affairs Programs. This partnership targets the Flint Area Enterprise Inc. boundaries and all Flint schools.

The Michigan State University Extension of Genesee County provides informal education that helps people identify problems and find solutions to improve their homes, families, farms, businesses, or communities. Extension's goal is to provide practical, timely, research-based information and educational programs to help residents identify and meet local needs in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; children, youth and families; and community and economic development. Experienced faculty and staff members in Genesee County and on the MSU campus guide extension programs.

The Community & Economic Development Program in Flint fosters understanding and assists in the development of healthy neighborhoods and communities through outreach, research, technical assistance and training for residents and community leaders in the following areas:

Neighborhood Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Training: Neighborhood Technical Assistance and Capacity Building training is facilitated by the Community Development Agent through technical assistance and non-formal community education and training, which will build the capacity, skills, and knowledge of community leaders and residents. Neighborhood Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Training enables leaders and residents to engage in community action for positive social, political and economic change that will enhance the quality of life in Flint neighborhoods and throughout the community.

Urban Planning Partnerships: Urban Planning Partnership Projects are solicited locally by the Community Development Agent amongst local non-profit organizations involved in neighborhood revitalization, housing, or commercial development. Interested non-profit organizations work jointly with the Community Development Agent to prepare a Scope of Services that identify the element of the project. A fee of $2,500 is paid by the community partner to cover expenses associated with this semester long student project. Past projects completed for local non-profits in Flint have included the North Saginaw Street Neighborhood Shopping Center Development Study that won the Michigan Society of Planning's Outstanding Planning Project Student Award for 2000, and a housing and commercial facility asssesment of the Flint Weed and Seed Area.

Click here for past projects

Click here for areas of training and current projects

Michigan State University Center for Urban Affairs was established in 1969 after the national civil disorder brought attention to critical urban issues. As a result of this increased awareness by the university urban affairs became an important focus of community service initiatives. Urban problems of all types, particularly community and economic development issues became a primary focus of Michigan State University Center for Urban Affairs. Today, Community and Economic Development Program Offices under MSU Center for Urban Affairs are located in six urban cities (Flint, Lansing, Detroit, Pontiac, Grand Rapids and Saginaw) in Michigan. The Community and Economic Development Program Directors for these offices have a joint academic appointment as Community Development Agents" with the Center for Urban Affairs under MSU Urban Regional and Metropolitan Programs and MSU Extension Service. In each of these six communities the Community Development and Economic Development Program Director/Agent serves as a linker between the university and distressed urban neighborhoods in order to meet the needs of low and moderate income persons and families, and community organization and leaders.

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MSU Extension-Genesee County is part of the statewide Michigan State University Extension system, which exists in all 83 Michigan counties. We are connected to the national Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. We are funded jointly by the State of Michigan through Michigan State University, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and county government. Local support for the Genesee County Extension office is provided by the taxpayers of Genesee County Government through the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.

Michigan State University Extension-Genesee County
URL: http://www.msue.msu.edu/genesee
Please direct site questions to fenechd@msue.msu.edu
Last updated: May 27, 2003 10:50 AM

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