This year, the Building Michigan Communities Conference (BMCC) is offering a new, carefully curated four-session track exclusively for elected officials. Invitation-only attendees will gain a clear, practical understanding of how affordable housing works, from policy and financing to community readiness and supply, equipping them to make informed decisions and lead coordinated, locally driven housing solutions. Here are the four one-hour sessions in the BMCC Elected Officials Leadership Track:
1. Introduction to Affordable Housing: Coordinating Policy and Response
This opening session frames affordable housing across the full spectrum of affordability levels and clarifies commonly used terms. It introduces the housing ecosystem and shows how the Michigan Housing Data Portal can support informed policy decisions and coordinated local responses.
2. Housing Finance 101
Housing development often fails or succeeds based on the math. This session demystifies development financing, explains common funding sources and subsidy layering, and clarifies how incentives close gaps to make projects financially feasible.
3. Know Thyself: Getting Housing Ready
Communities must be prepared before housing can move forward. This session explores what it means to be housing ready by identifying intended and unintended barriers and examining political, financial, and social readiness.
4. Housing Abundance and Affordability
Increasing supply is central to long-term affordability. This session examines how communities shift from opposition to support, highlighting peer successes and practical lessons that translate into local action.
Sponsored by Song United.
Interested?
Space is limited. Elected officials who wish to participate are encouraged to complete this brief interest form today. Participation, available on a first-come, first-served basis, is subject to approval. Interest forms will be reviewed on a weekly basis and those accepted into the track will be provided a unique link to register for the conference.
Selected participants are expected to register for the conference at the applicable rate and attend all four sessions of the Elected Officials Leadership Track, taking place Tuesday, May 12, during BMCC 2026 in Lansing.
Participation in the Leadership Track includes full access to the BMCC conference experience, including meals, keynote and plenary sessions on the main stage, the vendor marketplace, and additional conference programming. Registrants will also have access to discounted hotel rates, subject to availability.
Questions can be directed to co******************@******an.gov.