Detroit Image Dialogue Group

Regional Cooperation
SWOT Analysis
April 16th, 2010

Strengths
Metro Detroit has a lot of interest groups / nonprofits /

foundations / corporations that support and have a desire

for more regional collaboration.
Citizens in the larger region already identify themselves

with Detroit.
Millennial Mayors Congress, Michigan Suburbs Alliance,

Metroparks, Aerotropolis, other existing regional efforts.

New leadership in the City of Detroit ready to work

collaboratively with the rest of the region.

Weaknesses
Weak regional institutionalization and weak Metropolitan
Planning Organization (SEMCOG).
Limited funds for regional projects and limited mechanisms
to raise money to invest in regional assets.
State law encourages regional fragmentation and strong
home rule.
Lack of bold leadership and champions for regional
collaboration and institutional change.
Citizens unaware of alternative models for regional
cooperation.
Perceptions about City of Detroit, its leadership, and its
ability to be a strong economic partner (lost cause).

Opportunities
Regional policy conference and Policy Prize.
Citizens ready and willing to plug-in to a larger vision for

the region.
Pending legislation in Lansing supporting regional

cooperation: single transit authority, Next Michigan

Development Act, etc.
Potential to modify the State Constitution through

referendum in November, 2010 opportunity to empower

regions.
Business leaders willing to invest in regionalism.
Economy is trending north after a decade of decline, and

Threats
Elected leaders unwilling to embrace regionalism.
If State Constitutional Convention is not held, 16 more

years of the same framework.

Perceptions that regionalism is too costly.
Lingering social tensions prevent regional collaboration.
More talk, no action.
At a tipping point if we dont collaborate as a region now,

the region wont get any better or decline.

Cynicism and apathy.
Out-migration is diluting our resources and our region.

Other Best Practices

Portland, OR regionally-elected government
Denver, CO Regional Transportation District / regional

planning
Grand Rapids, MI Grand Valley Metro Council
Other consortiums of Mayors
City-County government Denver, Indianapolis,

Louisville
Research Triangle Park strong corporate / nonprofit

leadership