MSU EDA University Center for

Regional Economic Innovation

E-Update | July 2025

Summer Webinar 2025 Featuring Dr. Brandon Byers

MSU Center for Community and Economic Development is pleased to invite you to an upcoming virtual webinar titled Circular Economy Models and Their Impact on the Future of Construction, featuring Dr. Brandon Byers. The event will take place via Zoom on Thursday, July 10, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (ET).  

During the session, Dr. Byers will explore various models of the circular economy and discuss their implications for the future of construction and building materials. Dr. Byers is an interdisciplinary engineer with a background in civil engineering. Broadly interested in advancing circular economy and digital transformation paradigms for construction, he received his BS from Georgia Tech, his MS from Stanford, and his Doctorate from ETH Zurich. In Switzerland, his dissertation was on track and trace technologies for circular construction supply chains.

The presentation will be followed by a live Q&A session, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with Dr. Byers. We hope you can join us for this insightful and timely discussion. 

Attached is the flyer with the link and QR code to register; however, for your convenience the link has also been attached below. 

Join Us for the 2025 Innovate Michigan! Summit: 

Bringing AI Upskilling to the Neighborhoods​ Session

The 2025 Innovate Michigan! Summit, hosted by the MSU EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI), brings together economic development professionals, community leaders, partners, researchers, and entrepreneurs from across the state to explore innovative approaches to building stronger, more resilient communities in Michigan.

One of this year’s featured projects, led by Dr. Phillip Olla, focuses on increasing AI literacy and practical skills in Detroit’s Zone 8 neighborhood. In partnership with the University of Detroit Mercy and Mama Akua Community House (MACH), the project offers accessible, community-based training designed to help residents and small business owners better understand and use AI tools in areas such as sales, marketing, and content creation.

The goal is to help residents, including small business owners and workers, use AI to streamline tasks and improve efficiency, making them more competitive in today’s workforce. The project engaged participants through micro-learning modules and workshops with training developed in collaboration with local residents to ensure it meets their needs. The program also included plans to create an “AI Upskilling Toolkit” to support scalability and share best practices with other communities. The ultimate goal is to build a more resilient workforce while supporting Detroit’s economic development priorities.​

Don’t miss the 2025 Innovate Michigan! Summit. Register today!

While you’re at the Summit, don't forget to stop by the Michigan Inventors Coalition Expo and vote for your favorite invention!

Questions? Reach out to REI Coordinator Jenan Jondy at jondyjen@msu.edu.