Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of this website?

The Center for Urban Studies created this website to serve as a local economic development resource for the municipalities of Southeast Michigan. This website provides information on economic development approaches currently being used by Southeast Michigan municipalities and indicates how often these approaches are utilized. Additionally, the Center for Urban Studies conducted comprehensive literature reviews on each local economic development approach. The existing literature on each topic was analyzed to gauge the relative impact of each approach on job creation, private investment, and other economic development indicators. The Toolbox section includes links to data sources, helpful websites, and analytic tools.

2. How/when was the data collected?

The Center for Urban Studies administered a two-part survey to all of the municipalities in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan from May 2007 to March 2008. In each municipality, the individual most responsible for local economic development completed the survey. Respondents were asked how often, on a scale of 1 to 5, various economic development strategies were used in their municipality.

3. Why is there no data available on some of the municipalities in Southeast Michigan?

Every municipality in Southeast Michigan was contacted to complete the survey; however, some chose not to participate. There is no information for those municipalities that declined to participate, but the map will be updated as new information is received.

4. What are some of the approaches to stimulating economic development that a municipality might consider using?

Municipalities use a wide array of approaches to stimulate local economic development. Approaches currently used by municipalities in Southeast Michigan are found in the Local Economic Development Profiles section. A complete list of the approaches that were included on the survey can be found here. For definitions of the approaches, please see our Definition Page under literature. The Center is available to assist you in creating an individualized economic development plan for your municipality.

5. I don’t recognize some of the economic development terms used, where can I find a definition?

Drag your mouse over the text of any of the strategies for a brief description of the approach or click on the term for a more comprehensive explanation and analysis (including the literature reviews conducted on each approach).

6. Where can I find general information on the effectiveness of the economic development strategies listed?

For more information on the economic development strategies please see the literature reviews. The reviews summarize existing research that seeks to measure the various impacts of each approach on job creation, private investment, and other indicators of economic development. Additionally, the Toolbox contains links to data sources, helpful websites, and analytic tools.

7. Where can I find out more about a specific article referenced in the literature reviews/PowerPoint presentations?

At the end of every literature review and PowerPoint presentation, there is a list of all referenced articles. Click on the “Abstract” link for a summary of each article. Many of the articles are available in their entirety through Google Scholar or your local library. If you are unable to locate the article you are interested in, please email the Center for Urban Studies.

8. I am unable to access a copy of the article mentioned in the literature reviews. How can I read the original article?

Although many of the articles are available through Google Scholar or your local library, some can only be accessed with a subscription to information providers. Please contact us for further assistance.

9. Are there other general sources of information on economic development?

For more information on economic development, please refer to the Toolbox. The Toolbox provides a list of websites, data sources, and economic development tools.

10. What kind of work does the Center for Urban Studies do?

For more than 30 years, the Center for Urban Studies has been engaged in cutting-edge social science research and service. Often, the Center collaborates with WSU faculty to combine their substantive expertise with the methodological skills of Center staff. The Center also works in multiple capacities with community organizations and local governments on policy or organizational issues related to urban studies, demography, economic development, public safety, disabilities, education, and grant evaluation. Center staff members are skilled in techniques of demographic analysis, mapping, evaluation, sample surveys, quantitative/qualitative data collection, and policy analysis. Please visit our homepage for more information.

11. What is the mission of the Center for Urban Studies’ research on economic development?

The Center for Urban Studies is committed to taking an active role in rethinking how local governments influence the growth and development of local economies. Through comprehensive literature reviews and county-wide surveys, the Center has developed an understanding of the most commonly used, most commonly successful, and most ineffectual approaches to stimulating economic development in Southeast Michigan. Guided by sound economic development theory, the Center will partner with local governments to build individualized development plans tailored to the specific needs, goals, and obstacles of the particular municipalities. There are a multitude of different services the Center can provide for municipalities which can be found in detail here.

12. What other resources/services are available to me from the Center for Urban Studies?

Please visit the Center for Urban Studies’ homepage to learn more about us and our organizational capabilities in various fields. To help us meet local governments’ economic development needs, we offer a wide range of services that include:
• Working with local governments to create economic development incentive packages.
• Measuring the economic impacts of business incentives.
• Detailed reports analyzing the latest studies on economic development approaches currently used by municipalities.

13. I am interested in learning more about how I can work with the Center for Urban Studies. Who should I contact?

Please contact Center for Urban Studies Director, Dr. Lyke Thompson or Economic Development Research Assistant, Eric Stokan.