Thrive Local Blog

  • Biden Stimulus Plan to Aid Michigan Local Finances and Economies

    Published on March 11, 2021
    Michigan localities will share $4.4 billion in federal fiscal recovery aid. The stimulus package is expected to support some 43,000 Michigan jobs with annual labor earnings of nearly $3.6 million and increase gross state product by $6.7 billion.

  • A Big Picture Look at Local Governments Finances

    Published on March 8, 2021
    One year into the pandemic and the local government financial picture is still fuzzy…with 300,000 fewer jobs but property tax revenues are up over 5%. What’s not unclear is the COVID-19 relief stimulus for local government will be welcomed.

  • Federal Funds for Michigan’s Water Providers

    Published on February 28, 2021
    A new federal low-income water assistance program will be launched to help households with unaffordable water bills and water bill debt and support local water provider affordability program efforts to address chronic unaffordability.

  • A Greater Detroit

    Published on February 24, 2021
    If Ecorse, Hamtramck, and Highland Park approach the brink of insolvency in the future, the State should consider responding not by canceling local democracy, but by requiring that a vote be held on dissolution and consolidation into Detroit.

  • Imagine Michigan Household Faucets Never Running Dry

    Published on January 19, 2021
    Imagine our community water systems providing sustainable and continuous access to affordable and clean drinking water for their service area population. We will examine institutions, rules, and processes that govern community drinking water systems.

  • Welcome to the Thrive Local Blog

    Published on December 15, 2020
    We will discuss issues relevant to local democracy and government at the intersection of law, finance and politics. Topics we will explore are chosen to assist local officials and residents to make decisions in their best interest and for the common good.