REI Announces 2026 Co-Learning Plan Awards
The Regional Economic Innovation (REI) program, with counsel and advice from the REI Consultative Panel, has announced its 2026 Co-Learning Plan (CLP) awards, supporting three projects that address economic development challenges facing Michigan communities.
Co-Learning Plans are designed to spur economic growth in economically challenged areas by pairing applied research with on-the-ground learning, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration.
One of the awarded projects focuses on the challenge of limited connectivity in rural Michigan. Led by Drs. Chunqi Qian and Fei Sun of Michigan State University, alongside MSU student Caleb Benninger, the project evaluates whether community anchor-based Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) models can realistically support intermittent, low-data-rate communication in rural environments where broadband and cellular service are unreliable or absent. Rural connectivity gaps continue to constrain the remote delivery of direct care and limit access to timely support services for older adults and agricultural workers, increasing reliance on in-person visits and travel-intensive workflows. The project will assess feasibility, limitations, and practical deployment considerations. By piloting affordable communication devices in underserved rural communities, the work aims to strengthen care delivery while laying the groundwork for new employment opportunities.
Another CLP award focuses on community-centered economic development in Ecorse, Michigan. Led by Angeline Lawrence, MBA, MUP, AICP, President of Entrepreneur Exchange Group, LLC, the project examines ecosystem-based economic development models that prioritize shared ownership, democratic finance, and long-term community investment, particularly for ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) households. Using Ecorse as a case study, the project explores how tools such as community land trusts, cooperatives, and place-based investment ecosystems can stabilize small businesses, retain jobs, and build durable local wealth.
Led by planner Zachary Vega, AICP, the third CLP project focuses on Kalkaska, Michigan. The project examines how Community Benefit Agreements and Community Benefit Ordinances can be adapted for rural contexts. While these tools have been used infrequently in Michigan and largely in urban areas such as Detroit, rural communities with lower land costs are increasingly targeted for large-scale developments, including data centers and other infrastructure-intensive projects. The project explores how rural communities can use negotiated agreements and ordinances to ensure that development is balanced by tangible, community-defined benefits.
Congratulations to the 2026 Awardees!
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