priority areas:

Gifts of the Muse: Reframing the Debate about the Benefit of the Arts - 2004


The goal of this study was to improve the current understanding of the arts’ full range of effects in order to inform public debate and policy. The study entailed reviewing all benefits associated with the arts, analyzing how they may be created, and examining how they accrue to individuals and the public through different forms of arts participation.

What Visiors say about their Museum Experiences


The primary purpose of the statewide study, as commissioned by Travel Michigan/Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), was to document the economic impacts of cultural tourism on Michigan and local economies. Due to challenges associated with clearly defining and isolating “cultural tourism” from other types of tourism, and because some cultural tourism is not site-based, the focus of the study was narrowed to one indicator of cultural tourism – tourism that involved a visit to at least one museum.

Estimating Economic Impacts of Michigan Meuseums


The purpose of this report is to document the economic impacts of Michigan museums on the state and local economies. Economic impacts are measured as the direct and secondary sales, income and jobs in the local area resulting from spending associated with museums. Museums create economic impacts from their own operations (museum jobs and spending in the local community) as well as by attracting visitors who spend money as tourists to the area.

Cultural Alliance of SE Michigan


The SRC is a way that member organizations of the Cultural Alliance help each other. Organizations post assets that they can offer, for free, to other member organizations. When you see an asset you want to use, fill in the request format and an email is sent to the organization offering the asset. They will contact you directly and work out the details. It’s that simple!

GreenWays Initiative: Planning for Detroit’s Rail-Trails


The greater Detroit region has an extensive network of railway corridors, many of which were built around the turn of the twentieth century as a means of transporting goods, materials and people both in and out of state. However, during the later part of the century, as other means of overland transportation were developed, train service was discontinued and many of the lines abandoned.

Water Quality Management Plan for Southeast Michigan: October 1999


The Water Quality Management Plan for Southeast Michigan (Plan), adopted in 1978 and amended in 1979 and 1981, has been reexamined, updated and revised into this new document.

Current Employment Estimates: 2000-2005


Population & Households in Southeast Michigan 2000-2008


This report discusses recent population and household changes in Southeast Michigan. Population and household estimates for July 2008 are compared to Census 2000 data and are provided for every county and community in the seven-county region.

SEMCOG 2035 Forecast: Population by Age Group by School District


This report contains a forecast by five age groups, 0-4, 5-17 (the school-age population), 18-34, 35-64,and 65 and over, in Southeast Michigan school districts. The forecast numbers are derived from the SEMCOG 2035 Forecast, and run from 2005 to 2035 by five-year intervals.

Detroit Attitudes Survey - September 2008


The Glengariff Group, Inc., conducted a 600 sample survey of Detroit voters from August 8-11, 2008. Respondents were randomly selected from all voters that cast a ballot in the 2005 Detroit Mayoral Election and were stratified by gender, ethnicity and State Senate District. The survey has a margin of error of +/-4.0% with a 95% level of confidence.