Strategic Plan

The Michigan Economic & Environmental Roundtable is committed to developing new approaches to resolving environmental, economic, and social issues affecting the sustainable use of Michigan's natural resources. By encouraging consensus among diverse stakeholders, the roundtable will develop findings and policy recommendations regarding sustainable development in Michigan and will serve as a catalyst for the initiation of innovative local efforts and roundtables. To serve these ends, roundtable members and staff have developed the following long-term strategic plan based on ideas generated at a special roundtable meeting. The strategic plan has four main components—education, policy, projects and partnerships, and measurement and evaluation—with several goals set for each.

Education

The roundtable holds that the well-being of people and other living things depends on a healthy and sustainable environment and a healthy and sustainable economy. Furthermore, the roundtable believes that a high-quality natural environment is viewed by all people as essential to human life and other living things and that all Michigan residents should understand, accept, and practice environmental stewardship. To advance these goals, the roundtable plans to educate Michigan citizens, local officials, and business leaders on the practices of sustainable development and sustainable use. The following activities represent ongoing roundtable education efforts:

• Sponsoring regional seminars on sustainable development for local officials and community and business leaders.
• Establishing a resource center for sustainable development practices that is available to all communities, education institutions, and organizations. The resource center will support sustainable development projects and activities statewide and will publicize notable projects and community successes.

Policy

The roundtable forum includes leaders who represent a range of perspectives. Yet all members agree that economic development to meet the human needs of all Michigan citizens should be balanced with prudent resource management and maintenance of a healthy environment. Policy issues discussed collectively by roundtable members will be put forth as policy positions. The roundtable will also advocate these positions. Advocacy will include publishing position papers on legislative issues that relate to sustainable development and sustainable use practices. The roundtable will seek legislative approval of certain policy recommendation agreed upon by its members.

Projects & Partnerships

The roundtable's focus has been on land use issues, particularly on how government policies affect urban sprawl and the redevelopment of urban areas. These issues will continue to be a major focus. In addition, the roundtable will seek to broaden its focus by conducting specific research projects designed to investigate sustainable development processes that have been implemented across the country.

Over the long term, the roundtable will not only direct individual projects but alao support existing economic development and environmental quality projects. The roundtable can best do this by collaborating with those national and statewide organizations, businesses, municipalities, and individuals committed to similar goals to seek funding for activities or projects that are beyond the scope of a single public or private organization. The roundtable will also encourage the organization of local roundtables that are committed to redeveloping brownfields in former industrial and commercial areas using sustainable development practices.

Measurement & Evaluation

Each component of the roundtable strategy will be evaluated to determine its success in reaching the roundtable's goals. Current Michigan policies and laws relating to economic development and environmental quality will be evaluated to determine their effectiveness in meeting sustainable development polices supported by the roundtable. To perform these tasks, the roundtable will develop a set of indicators that measure sustainability. Once these indicators have been established, the roundtable will seek to provide incentives to Michigan communities to meet sustainable development criteria. Communities that exhibit successful sustainable development and sustainable use practices will be recognized by the roundtable for their effort.