Some 400 government leaders from cities and villages across the state will converge on Dearborn from Sept. 21-24 for the Michigan Municipal League’s 112th Annual Conference.

“It is a great honor for Dearborn to host this important convention,” said Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. “The League works hard to help cities do the best job they can to serve their citizens, and this annual convention is critical to that mission. It’s also a chance for our city to shine. Leaders from all over Michigan will see the best Dearborn has to offer and get a taste of our hometown hospitality They’ll become ambassadors for us throughout the state.”

The 2010 Michigan Municipal League Convention programming is centered on eight critical assets for vibrant communities that the League says will drive the change that is needed to achieve “Better Communities. Better Michigan.” The assets are: physical design; walkability; green initiatives; cultural economic development; entrepreneurship; multiculturalism; messaging & technology; transit and education

Ford Motor Company President & CEO Alan Mulally and Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb are among the speakers on the convention agenda.

Convention sessions include two mobile workshops in which the City of Dearborn will provide tours and information about two major projects currently underway in the city: the Combined Sewer Overflow Project and the Dearborn Town Center development at Schaefer and Michigan Ave.

To encourage MML convention goers to visit local businesses, the City of Dearborn has organized a Restaurant Romp, including transportation to restaurants that are offering dining discounts to participants. The event was organized with the cooperation of the East and West Dearborn Downtown Development authorities and the Chamber of Commerce.

“We appreciate the many fine restaurants and caterers from Dearborn that jumped in when we asked them to help welcome the Michigan Municipal League to Dearborn,” O’Reilly said. “Their support not only shows visitors how much Dearborn has to offer, it illustrates to residents that businesses have a deep commitment to our City.”

As host city, Dearborn also will hold a reception at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. Sponsored by Ford Motor Company, Oakwood, and Republic Services, the event will shine a spotlight on some of the most popular entertainment and cuisine available in the city.

Performances in the Michael A. Guido Theater include the Dearborn Symphony; Henry Ford Community College’s Big Band Brass & Timpani, and choral groups Midnight Blue and Van Guard Voices; the Dearborn Player’s Guild; an Arabian Group; and the Maples Elementary School/Dearborn Public Schools Arabic Music Ensemble.

A strolling dinner will be served by nine different Dearborn restaurants and caterers who are donating their fare, including: Andiamo Dearborn, Chef Gourmet Catering, Dearborn Hills Golf Course, Encore! Catering, Epoch Catering, Habib’s Cuisine Restaurant, La Penguina Deli, Park Place Catering, Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina. The dessert afterglow will also include Biggby Coffee, New Yasmeen Bakery, Shatila Bakery.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 18th, 2010 at 7:30 am and is filed under Around Town, City Hall. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.