Economic Development

Faculty affiliates

Stephanie Leiser

Lecturer in Public Policy

Stephanie Leiser is a lecturer at the Ford School and leads the Michigan Local Government Fiscal Health Project at the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP). Her general area of interest is in public finance, budgeting, and financial…

MPPS in the news

Recycling gets positive reviews as green groups press for more action

Apr 14, 2023 Great Lakes Echo

Local government officials in the state generally feel positive about the benefits of recycling, according to a public policy survey report from the University of Michigan. But environmental organizations say that while local officials felt upbeat,...

MPPS in the news

Recycling gets positive reviews as green groups press for more action

Apr 3, 2023 Manistee News Advocate

LANSING – Local government officials in the state generally feel positive about the benefits of recycling, according to a public policy survey report from the University of Michigan. But environmental organizations say that while local officials...

MPPS in the news

Recycling gets positive reviews as green groups press for more action

Mar 31, 2023 Capital News Service

MPPS in the news

Local Leaders Largely Support Community-Wide Recycling

Mar 28, 2023 Gongwer News Service

Local leaders reported positive attitudes toward recycling, supporting the current services they have or expressing a desire to bring recycling services to their communities, a recent report from the Michigan Public Policy Survey...

MPPS in the news

Local leaders report widespread support for community recycling programs

Mar 20, 2023 The University Record

A strong majority of Michigan local government leaders feel that good governance includes promoting environmental sustainability and “being green,” according to a survey of nearly 1,400 leaders across the...

MPPS in the news

How some Michigan communities are using ARPA dollars

Mar 16, 2023 Rural Innovation Exchange - Secondwavemedia.com

The lens that leaders of municipalities throughout Michigan are looking through is prompting them to take a “glass half full, glass half empty” approach depending on the amount of money they received through the American Rescue Plan...

MPPS in the news

Plan Now to Overcome Reflexive Opposition to Large-Scale Solar

Mar 6, 2023 American Planning Association

Community opposition to solar projects is becoming a common hurdle that renewable energy proponents must respect and address. It often stems from uncertainty, resulting in a tension in which perceptions of place and community character are pitted...

In the Media

Whitmer’s new budget proposal: What it means for Michigan residents

Feb 24, 2023 The Michigan Daily

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her fifth executive budget recommendation for the 2024 fiscal year on Feb. 8, setting the record for the largest budget proposal in Michigan’s history at $79...

In the Media

Machine-readable disclosure has 'revolutionized' Flint's financial reports, CFO says

Jan 25, 2023 The Bond Buyer

For Flint, Michigan, new machine-readable disclosure standards which have sparked controversy across the muni market represent a "quantum leap" for the city's finances, its CFO said. "If you're asking me, it's about time that we modernize and...

MPPS in the news

Local Governments Report Less Fiscal Stress, But Wary

Dec 19, 2022 Gongwer News Service

Local government leaders report they are better able to financially meet their needs this year than in 2021 though remain concerned about long-term fiscal trends, according to a survey released last week. The Michigan Public Policy Survey from the...

In the Media

Spotlight Special: Economy, polling, policy on Inside Michigan's AAV

Oct 23, 2022 Bounce TV

On Saturday, October 22, (11:30 a.m.) on BOUNCE TV and Sunday, October23, (1:00 p.m.), on WMYD-TV 20, our Spotlight on the News Special: Inside Michigan's African Vote, looks at how the economy, polling, and policy may impact election 2022. Our...

In the Media

Spotlight Special: Economy, polling, policy on Inside Michigan's AAV

Oct 23, 2022 WMYD TV

In the Media

Spotlight Special: Economy, polling, policy on Inside Michigan's AAV

Oct 23, 2022 WXMI-Fox17 TV

In the Media

Spotlight Special: Economy, polling, policy on Inside Michigan's AAV

Oct 22, 2022 wxyz.com

MPPS in the news

U-M Survey: Michigan Communities Prioritize Infrastructure with ARPA Funds

Aug 24, 2022 DBusiness.com

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor reported in a new survey of Michigan’s local government leaders that the top spending priorities for the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding are on capital improvements, infrastructure, and public...

MPPS in the news

UM survey: Michigan communities prioritize infrastructure with ARPA funds

Aug 24, 2022 Darik.news

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor reported in a new survey of Michigan local government leaders that the top spending priorities for federal American Rescue Planning Act (ARPA) funding are on capital improvements, infrastructure and public...

MPPS in the news

Survey: Public buildings, parks top priority list for Michigan officials spending COVID relief funds

Jul 29, 2022 Michigan Radio

A new University of Michigan survey shows more than half of local governments in Michigan plan to spend federal COVID-relief funds on public buildings and parks. Michigan towns, counties and cities are receiving billions of dollars from the federal...

In the Media

Two-decade review of Flint finances by U-M shows consequences of lack of investment, legacy costs

Jun 9, 2022 Spot On Michigan

The turmoil surrounding the city of Flint-most notably stemming from its lead-tainted water crisis-has become a cautionary tale for other Rust Belt cities struggling to balance their budgets, provide services and attract new...

In the Media

Two-decade review of Flint finances by U-M shows consequences of lack of investment, legacy costs - University of Michigan News

Jun 9, 2022 Planet's Water

In the Media

Ford's $5.6B Tennessee investment pulled into dustup between small town and state officials

Mar 18, 2022 The Detroit News

Ford Motor Co.'s $5.6 billion investment in west Tennessee is being cited in a controversial move by the state's Comptroller of the Treasury to take financial control of a small, predominantly Black town just miles from Blue Oval City, the future...

In the Media

7 Burning Questions for 2022

Jan 5, 2022 Hour Detroit

Will Gretchen Whitmer be reelected? Will Detroit allow recreational pot shops to open? How will Coleman Young II and once-nemesis Mike Duggan get along? Our panelists make their...

In the Media

Michigan's 'once in lifetime' $10B infrastructure boost faces challenges

Nov 16, 2021 The Detroit News

Washington — President Joe Biden on Monday signed into law the largest investment in the nation's infrastructure in decades, and Michigan will receive what one expert called a "once in a lifetime" boost of at least $10 billion for its highways,...

MPPS in the news

Michigan governments sit on $11B from stimulus, as needs grow every day

Oct 25, 2021 Bridge Michigan

Battle Creek — Helping residents pay off nearly $2 million in delinquent utility bills. Expanding high-speed internet access. Making major repairs at a wastewater treatment plant. There’s no shortage of ideas on how to spend a $30.5 million...

CLOSUP Updates

MPPS Report: Michigan local governments report fewer economic challenges one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and describe efforts to support local businesses

Sep 29, 2021

A new report from the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) presents local government leaders’ views on COVID-19’s impact on local economic conditions, as well as reports of whether or not their local governments took action to help local businesses...

Enclosed tents for dining on a city street

MPPS in the news

UM survey: State's local economies still struggling with COVID impacts

Sep 29, 2021 The Detroit News

Local governments in Michigan continue to struggle with the impacts of COVID-19 but at a lower rate than when the pandemic started in the spring of last year, according to a University of Michigan survey released...

MPPS in the news

U-M expert: Challenges abound as leaders assemble for Mackinac Policy Conference

Sep 20, 2021 Michigan News, University of Michigan

Many of Michigan’s business, political and academic movers and shakers are gathering this week for the annual Mackinac Policy Conference after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of last year’s...

In the Media

Five things for state leaders to consider at Mackinac Policy Conference

Sep 20, 2021 WWJ Newsradio 950

Pattie Vitale of WWJ Newsradio 950 interviews Tom Ivacko about the state's most pressing policy...

CLOSUP Updates

Michigan Public Policy Survey - Spring 2019 County-wide Fiscal Health Fact Sheets

Feb 3, 2020

The Spring 2019 County-wide Fiscal Health Fact Sheets are from the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), an ongoing survey of the top elected and appointed officials in every unit of general purpose local government across the state. The MPPS is...

In the Media

Skubick: Local Gov'ts Not In Snyder's Corner On Sales Tax Hike

Feb 23, 2015 WLNS TV 6, Lansing

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