Michigan State University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

The PSCD, https://pscd.isp.msu.edu/about/about/, is a long-term collaborative alliance of local and international organizations dedicated to improving local livelihoods. The partnership was established at MSU in 2007 as a means to improve community well-being and promote resilient communities in developing countries and create a model for sustainable prosperity. The strategy is to acknowledge interdependency and create long-term partnerships among local communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, private corporations, universities, and invested individuals to address local challenges and response to emerging opportunities in economic development, food security, public health, education, and community empowerment. The mission is to find long-term solutions, build capacity, and create collaborations that promote resilient and sustainable communities. To unite development, education, and research that boldly pushes the frontiers of knowledge and the role universities play in transforming local communities and the lives of individuals. The Tanzania Partnership Program (TPP) is the first initiative of the (PSCD), a long-term collaborative alliance of local and international organizations dedicated to improving local livelihoods. Tanzania was selected as the initial location for PSCD based on need, potential for success, university experience in the region, and an array of interested partners.https://pscd.isp.msu.edu/files/6915/0791/7846/TPP-AR-2017_FINAL_web2.pdf.

The Center for Community and Economic is dedicated to empowering communities to create sustainable prosperity and an equitable economy. Their mission is to advance MSU's land-grant mission by creating, applying, and disseminating valued knowledge through responsive engagement, strategic partnerships, and collaborative learning-empowering communities to create sustainable prosperity and an equitable economy.
Since its establishment in downtown Lansing, Michigan, in 1969, CCED, in partnership with public and private organizations, has developed and conducted numerous innovative programs that address local concerns while building the capacity of students, scholars and communities to address future challenges. Student, faculty, and community involvement is a crucial element of the CCED's mission. The CCED focuses its resources on the unique challenges of distressed communities throughout the state of Michigan.
A notable and successful program through the CCED is the MSU EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI) – a network that works with Michigan’s most economically vulnerable communities, turning them into economically vibrant places creating sustainable new-economy jobs and encouraging high growth entrepreneurial development. The REI Network is a community of over 1,000 individuals from public and private sectors. Through annual solicitations and funding, REI is engaged in strategic partnerships and collaborative learning (co-learning) to develop and share the most innovative development tools, models, policies, and practices.
Key projects funded over the past three years that demonstrate the partnerships focused on sustainability include:
Innovation Fellows: The Innovation Fellows program was established in 2016 to attract and support top champions in communities and organizations to tackle the tough economic development issues that our distressed communities face every day. Innovation Fellows provide on-the-ground support and coordination to move concepts to actions, implementing new economic development tools, models, and policies.
Bill Stough is the CEO of Sustainable Research Group (SRG) a consultancy that provides sustainability design and management services to advance sustainable business practices for its clients. In 2017, Bill began his Innovation Fellows project, "Triple Bottom Line." In regions of the state where entrepreneurial innovation is more established, the emergence of the Triple Bottom Line business model is driving growth of companies that are decidedly place-based, pay better wages and prefer purchasing local goods and services. Bill will lead this Fellows initiative to actively introduce and help implement the TBL approach in the East Central Michigan region consisting of: Clare, Gladwin, Arenac, Bay, Midland, Isabella, Gratiot and Saginaw counties. Although not widely described as a disadvantaged community, this 8-county region has an average ALICE rating that indicates 43.25% of the population live below income levels needed to achieve minimal living standards.
Projects in the Green and Food category are focused on finding sustainable solutions thru innovative plans and business practices for forming a successful food economy.
• Agricultural Technological Innovation in Michigan
• An Assessment of the Development of a Sustainable Ecotourism Alliance Organization for Munising
How does ecotourism affect the cities around it?
• An Assessment of the Effects of Mountain Biking in Marquette and on Michigan's Ecotourism Economy
Using mountain biking as a model, this report argues that local economic challenges can potentially be alleviated by the development of an ecotourism industry centered on the attractive national environment surrounding Marquette.
• Big-Box Converted to Co-op
• Ecotourism in the UP
Developing and promoting a plan to create local food sources ensures the growth of regional food systems.
• Generative NZE Infrastructure
This Student-Led, Faculty-Guided Project engages the community and leverages assets of a strong institutional presence, vacancy, and diverse partners in order to generate energy, wealth and educational opportunities.
• Genesee County Material Recovery Facility Feasibility Study
To reduce the overall amount of waste in Genesee County, this project will examine the feasibility of establishing a regional recycling facility in the area.
• Greater Lansing Food Bank Garden Project (2014)
A project to establish practical methodology to assess social, economic, community impacts of community gardening/farming in urban and per-urban environments of Lansing.
• Hybridized Ecosystem for Infrastructure and Renewable Systems
This Student-Led, Faculty-Guided Project engages the community and leverages assets of a strong institutional presence, vacancy, and diverse partners in order to generate energy and wealth.
• North Flint Healthy Food Initiative
It's necessary to point out the issues that city residents face in under served communities.
• Strengthening Michigan's Infrastructure and Sustainability: How Master and Capital Improvement Plans Can Help Build Sustainable "Green-Blue" Communities
• Triple Bottom Line

As an endorsing member for growing the partnership; also evaluating the community sustainability partnership tool kit to expand in the mid-Michigan region. 

Regional Bikeshare Mobility Partnership - Multiple partners in the mid-michigan region including CATA Transportation; Michigan Convention Bureal; Lansing and East Lansing, Meridian Township, ASMSU, Michigan Trails; Mclaren Hospital Systems; Sparrow Health Systems; Ingham County; Michigan Trails.