With several big projects pending, Eastpointe Economic Development Manager Ian McCain was excited to find out his city is getting a community development fellow through the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan.
The fellow is scheduled to start working in Eastpointe in May and will be with the city for 15 months.
“CEDAM asked us to break down what our fellow would be working on into three areas or focus projects,” said McCain “This person will be working on small business support, sustainability and community outreach and engagement.
“The biggest focus this year because of construction on Nine Mile Road is how to support businesses located in the construction area during the time the road is under repair.”
CEDAM, which manages the fellowship program with support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is accepting applications through March 5 for 2023-24 community development fellowship positions in 10 cities. Eastpointe is the only city in Metro Detroit selected to receive a CEDAM fellow.
“We have a lot of compelling projects so we are very happy to be chosen for this,” said McCain.
“We hope to give this person a good overview of city government and our relationship to residents, businesses and the community.”
McCain said the program draws applicants from several areas including planning, architecture, business, public administration, political science and community development.
“That is the beauty of the discipline that it encompasses so many things, but that also makes it hard to explain to people what you do,” said McCain.
In addition to working with businesses affected by the Nine Mile Road construction project, McCain expects the CEDAM fellow to work with updating the city’s master plan, developing a more formal economic development plan, looking at ways to increase greenspace and tree canopy, and updating zoning ordinances.
“We want to wrap our arms around all businesses in the city and work collaboratively,” said McCain. “Climate resilience will also be a focus; making sure we have ample green stormwater infrastructure and looking at ways we can mitigate the city’s negative impact on climate.”
McCain was hired in November as the city’s economic development manager. He grew up in St. Clair Shores, spending time with his grandparents in Eastpointe in the house where he currently lives. He said he is excited to serve a city he is familiar with and notes had the CEDAM fellowship been available early in his career he would have applied.
“This is a great opportunity,” said McCain. “It fits in so well with my belief that you always need to look for ways to bring people together from all generations to build a city.”
For more information about CEDAM fellowships, go to cedamichigan.org/fellowship/.
