Insights From Southeast Michigan’s County Leaders: Collaboration, Challenges, and Exciting Initiatives

On April 20, Oakland County Executive David Coulter, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel participated in an engaging discussion on Flashpoint about the biggest issues facing the tri-county region and the potential for collaboration between the executives. The conversation spanned transportation, workforce development, environmental issues, and the impact of federal funding cuts on nonprofits.

Here are some of the discussion’s key takeaways:

Oakland County Executive David Coulter

• Oakland County has an initiative called “Oakland 80” to get 80% of adult residents with some form of post-secondary degree or certification, not necessarily a college degree.
• The county also has a program to provide training and employment opportunities for individuals who have been involved in the criminal justice system.
• A key project Coulter is excited about is reaching 70% of Oakland County residents for the “Oakland 80” initiative by the end of the year.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans

• Wayne County has recently seen population growth, which is a positive sign.
• Wayne County has invested $20 million in the “Wayne Link” job training program to help bridge the gap between college curriculum and employer needs.
• Wayne county is trying to assess the potential impact of federal funding cuts and prepare for the possibility of increased demand for services if nonprofits are affected.
• Evans is excited about expanding the county’s health care programs and medical debt assistance initiatives to help stabilize residents in the face of economic challenges.

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel

• Macomb County has 450,000 people in the workforce, with 44,000 jobs available across all industry sectors.
• Macomb County is working with community partners, the educational system (CTE programs, Macomb Community College), and industry to retrain the workforce and attract talent to the tri-county region.
• A big project Hackel is excited about is the mental health and substance use initiatives at the Macomb County Jail.

Watch a recap of the Flashpoint conversation below.

On Wednesday, April 30, from 8:30-10:30 a.m., Coulter, Evans, and Hackel will be joining the Detroit Regional Chamber for a moderated discussion with CBS Detroit and Detroit Free Press’ Carol Cain during the Meet Southeast Michigan’s County Leaders event. Attendees will have the chance to ask about public policy issues impacting local businesses as well as learn how the three executives plan to work together for the future of the Detroit Region.

Registration is open — save your spot now!

Submit Your Questions for the County Executives Now

The event will feature a live Q&A with the county executives. Attendees can submit questions ahead of the event to help guide the conversation. They can also participate in a poll to share their thoughts on the Detroit Region’s most pressing challenge. Below are directions to submit questions and answer the poll.

1. Use this link to join Slido and log in with the access code #2292422. Creating an account is not required to participate.
2. Submit your questions under the Q&A tab on the left.
3. Share your opinion on the Region’s top challenge by accessing the Polls tab on the right.