Regional Cooperation

Regional Cooperation

Regional cooperation is essential to strengthening and uniting older suburbs and to improving the viability of metro Detroit. Michigan is one of the most governmentally fragmented states in the nation and, inevitably, interdependent.

While our fragmented system offers many benefits like smaller, more accessible governments, it often results in local interests superseding the welfare of the region.

To maintain the high quality of life we enjoy in southeast Michigan, communities need to embrace their interdependence through intergovernmental cooperation.

Cities everywhere are facing shrinking revenue streams and struggling to provide municipal services. By working together and sharing resources, local governments can maintain and even improve essential public services like fire and police protection.

Look to our Creating Collaborative Communities project to learn how city leaders, municipal service providers and finance directors are approaching joint service delivery.

Read about UniverCities Connection to see how our cities are collaborating with Michigan's universities to improve public service.

In order for southeast Michigan to move forward, it is imperative that municipalities also cooperate with non-governmental regional stakeholders. Just as intergovernmental cooperation can stretch municipal resources, collaborating with others in the region, such as our world-renowned universities, can enable cities to make accomplishments they would not be able to individually. As funds continue to dry up, regionalism will prove to be not only important, but essential to maintaining the vitality of mature suburbs.