2009 Michigan Downtown Conference Begins in Lansing

LANSING, Mich., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan Downtown
Conference Partners kicked-off their 2009 Michigan Downtown Conference today
at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing. The conference runs Tuesday,
September 15 through Wednesday, September 16. The 2009 Michigan Downtown
Conference is being held in an effort to help community leaders create
successful strategies and case studies for attracting new investment, jobs and
young professionals to city centers.

The theme for this year's conference is "The Three C's of Prosperity:
Creativity, Collaboration and Competition." The Michigan Downtown Conference
Partners include the Michigan Downtown Association (MDA), the Michigan
Municipal League (MML), Michigan Main Street Center @ MSHDA, the Community
Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), the Michigan Historic
Preservation Network (MHPN), Main Street Oakland County and the State
Historical Preservation Office (SHPO).

"This year's theme for the Downtown Conference is particularly fitting for
Michigan's economic future," Michigan State Housing Development Authority
(MSHDA) Executive Director Keith Molin. said "Creativity, collaboration and
competition is the formula for turning Michigan around and our downtowns are
where the process starts. The conference partners have done an excellent job
in pulling together all the right ingredients to transform our downtowns into
investment opportunities, and places that attract jobs and young
professionals."

The Michigan Downtown Conference Planning Partners announced earlier this year
that the 2009 Michigan Downtown Conference keynote speakers will be Daniel T.
Kildee and Tom Izzo. Kildee is President of the Genesee Institute, a research
and training institute focusing on smart growth, urban land reform and land
banking. Izzo is the head coach for the Michigan State Spartans men's
basketball team.

This annual conference is dedicated to bringing the best ideas, resources and
educational sessions together to create an energetic environment and
celebrates the growth of Michigan downtowns.
Participants at the conference consist of staff, directors and members of
downtown development boards, key community leaders and planners, anchor
business owners, economic development professionals, members of retail trade
and promotional associations, along with, members of convention and visitor
bureaus, chambers of commerce and others interested in promoting tourism and
business development.

The Michigan Downtown Conference is an annual conference to help community
leaders create successful strategies and case studies to revitalize their
downtowns. Additional information can be found at
www.michigandowntownconference.org.

SOURCE Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Mary Lou Keenon, Communications, Michigan State Housing Development Authority,
+1-517-373-0513