Urban Core Mayors

The Voice of Michigan’s Urban Centers

Urban Core Mayors

In today’s world, successful states have successful metropolitan regions, anchored by successful cities. In Michigan, the voice of our major cities is the Urban Core Mayors (UCM) – mayors from the cities of Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Bay City, Dearborn, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Pontiac, and Saginaw. Since 1992, the 13 mayors have joined to share information on key issues and seek policy changes at the state level that can help them drive successful regional economies.

Today, the mayors are engaging with policymakers, their local business community, and entrepreneurs to change state policies that are hindering growth in their cities, their regions, and the state. They will focus on policies that support:

  • A higher quality of life for those who reside in our core communities.
  • The creation of vibrant, authentic experiences for current residents, future residents and visitors.
  • Increased entrepreneurship and improved business opportunities.
  • Sustaining and improving our infrastructure for current and future generations.

This group will pursue policy and create change through a strong and unified voice, and act as the intersection between business and place to develop, attract, and retain the talent necessary to thrive in a new economy.

Meet Our Mayors

Michigan’s Future Hinges on Strong Communities

Thriving cities, and specifically our urban cores, are the economic backbone of this state. Michigan, like every other state, is in a global competition to attract and retain talent. But for more than 20 years, our state’s policies have hindered the ability of Michigan cities to provide security, infrastructure, and amenities to residents. By disinvesting in our communities, our state has made Michigan less attractive to the talent our businesses need.

For Michigan to grow population, keep and attract talent, we need to focus on an investment-based approach. That’s why the Urban Core Mayors is focused on an agenda that is people centric, capitalizes on the economic value of thriving cities, and purses foundational change to the way local government operates.

Learn more about our Policy Priorities