Saving time, saving money, saving lives: regional collaborations abound across Southeast Michigan. Here are some great examples of intergovernmental and public/private initiatives.

Public Safety

When the Plymouth and Plymouth Township fire departments merged in 1995, the goal was to provide better services at less cost or the same joint cost, or the same service at a lower cost. The merger has resulted in $6 million in projected savings over the 10-year contract, increased accessibility to all areas of the city, reduced response time to the Plymouth Township's western side, increased safety and better firefighter performance

The assumption of fire and EMS protection for the cities of Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake and Sylvan Lake by the West Bloomfield Fire Department in 2003 benefited all communities involved. The Tri-Cities were able to upgrade their fire department from a paid-on-call, basic life support agency to a full-time, advanced life support system at an affordable cost. West Bloomfield was able to reduce response times to the northeast portion of the township years ahead of schedule, without incurring the costs of building a station and purchasing the apparatus and furnishings.

Recycling

Although successful recycling programs are common in urban and suburban areas, recycling poses special challenges in rural communities. Eight rural communities in Washtenaw County overcame the challenge by establishing the Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority. WWRA offers curbside recycling service in two villages, 11 drop-off stations in six townships, a large processing facility for recyclables and educational activities serving distinct community needs. Currently, WWRA processes 10,000 tons of recyclable materials per year, saving consumers over $1.5 million in landfill costs.

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Shared Purchasing

Smaller units of government must negotiate employee benefit rates based on a much smaller number of employees, resulting in higher costs--or worse, the inability to provide the benefit at all. Washtenaw County partners with several local units of government to allow them to tie into the county's employee benefits system to receive benefits at the lower rate negotiated by the county.

Shared Facilities

The cities of Allen Park and Melvindale, through mutual agreement, share the Allen Park Animal Shelter. As a result, there are cost savings and improved services for both cities and extra revenue for the city of Allen Park.

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Library Services

When the Chesterfield Township Library needed a bigger space with less maintenance issues, a Macomb County Realtor identified a vacant industrial building that met the library's needs. Library officials negotiated a lease and an agreement with the landlord in which he underwrote half the remodeling costs. The library purchased used shelving and furnishings from Schoolcraft College. Another savings was realized when the U.S. Marines from Selfridge Air National Guard Base dismantled and moved all the shelving from Schoolcraft and reassembled it at the new library.

Road Improvement

The AAA Road Improvement Demonstration project began as an effort by former Mayor Dennis Archer to help reduce auto insurance rates in the city. In response, AAA Michigan developed an innovative roadway improvement strategy where private dollars are contributed toward targeted road improvements at certain high-crash intersections. Improvements on Woodward Avenue, for example, resulted in 17 percent fewer crashes for 25-64 year old drivers and by 31 percent for those aged over 65.

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Workforce Preparedness

The Livingston Applied Technology Education Consortium (LATEC) works on behalf of all five local school districts in the county, coordinating career-focused courses in order to maximize the options available to students. Local school districts save money by avoiding needless duplication of course offerings yet students see their options increase, as they are allowed to enroll in classes in schools other than their own for part of the school day. Business and community partners benefit by using LATEC as a single point of contact with schools countywide.

Cultural Experiences

The Cultural Collaborative for Learning is a program initiated by Wayne Regional Education Service Agency (RESA), committed to improving student learning through technology and the arts. It uses technology to expose students to Cultural Coalition's 12 world-class, cultural institutions, which includes the Detroit Institute of Arts, The Henry Ford and Cranbrook Art Museum. The objective is to develop multimedia resources for each cultural institution, thus providing enhanced learning opportunities for students in Southeast Michigan who may not otherwise be able to visit these cultural treasures.

Youth Protection

The Macomb County Youth Violence Prevention Council is a coalition of public and private agencies, organizations, churches and individuals who are dedicated to keeping young people safe. The council sponsors events and training on violence prevention; encourages religious and community leaders to empower youth; and educates and support parents in youth asset building. Most recently the council has developed an Internet safety training program, an anger management program for children and youth, and a coalition of school districts for homeland security.