For Immediate Release       

Ross Woodstock                                                            
May 2, 2012                                                                                      
Kolt Communications, Inc.
517-706-0001/517-410-7636
Ross@koltpr.com
 
              Economic Club Forum to Highlight Pros and Cons of Regional Consolidation in the Greater Lansing Region
 
(Lansing, MI) – The Lansing Regional Chamber Economic Club will host a forum to discuss how Greater Lansing’s $500 million economy compares to other regions throughout the country in government spending, the impact of high cost structure on business growth, the importance of metropolitan regions and advantages of government consolidation. This is the fourth annual Economic Club forum on regionalism. The details of the forum are as follows:
 
                                                                       Regionalism: The Business of Unifying Greater Lansing
                                                                                                    Thursday, May 10, 2012
                                                                        11:15 a.m.  Doors Open for Networking & Registration
                                                                                                            Lunch at 11:45
                                                                                                  12:30-1:30 p.m. Program
                                                                                     Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
                                                                         Panelists: Carmen Hickerson, Greater Louisville, Inc.
                                                                               Dr. Eric Scorsone, Michigan State University
                                                                               Doug Rothwell, Business Leaders for Michigan
 
Carmen Hickersonis the vice president of public affairs and communications for Greater Louisville, Inc., one of the region’s premier business leadership organizations and the leading economic development agency for Greater Louisville.  The organization is dedicated to increasing human capital, driving job creation, inspiring business leadership engagement and maximizing global opportunities. Hickerson will speak on the strategy behind the Louisville city/county merger’s successes and areas where further work is needed.  She will also discuss if the Louisville merger is an applicable model for the Lansing region.
 
Dr. Eric Scorsoneof Michigan State University (MSU) will reveal results of a recent benchmarking study he performed that shows how the Lansing region compares to other communities around
 
the country in terms of government spending. The study looks at factors including: employees per
capita, expenditures per capita, revenues per capita and several other demographic and economic factors. Dr. Scorsone is currently conducting a study of regional fire services to see if there are opportunities for further consolidation. Prior to his position at MSU, Dr. Scorsone worked as a senior economist at the Michigan Fiscal Agency. He also developed award winning extension programs as an assistant extension professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky in the areas of rural health economics and economic development.
 
Doug Rothwell, CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan, will speak about the economic advantages that regional consolidation offers to communities. Rothwell has led efforts to make Michigan a top ten state for economic growth through state policy changes and privately-led economic development initiatives. He has also worked as an executive in the public, private and non-profit sectors and for three state governors and two Fortune 500 companies.
 
The Economic Club luncheon on regionalism is sponsored by Fahey, Schultz, Burzych, Rhodes.  Single tickets $40, or tables of $300 (includes lunch). Registration can be completed at www.lansingchamber.org.