Mount Clemens just grabbed a bigger seat at the regional power table. Mayor Laura Kropp has been chosen as chair of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments after delegates voted at the group's General Assembly on June 25. The one-year role puts her at the head of the seven-county body that coordinates regional planning, transportation and infrastructure priorities across Southeast Michigan, giving Mount Clemens a direct say in how SEMCOG directs funding and technical support for local projects over the coming year.
At the General Assembly in Mount Clemens, delegates elected Kropp as chair and named Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak first vice chair, a position that traditionally moves into the chair role the following year. Joe LaRussa, Diana McKnight-Morton and Frank Viviano were selected among the other vice chairs, and Jonathan Kinloch secured a vice-chair slot of his own. Those results were reported by C & G Newspapers.
SEMCOG's Scale And Near-Term Priorities
SEMCOG oversees planning and grant programs across a seven-county region and entered the 2025–26 fiscal year with an adopted operating budget of about $19.75 million, funded largely by state and federal grants along with local dues. As chair, Kropp will preside over SEMCOG's work program and help guide decisions tied to the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan and the FY 2026–2029 Transportation Improvement Program. The organization has already been shifting money into active transportation and green infrastructure projects, and the new leadership will steer how those priorities are carried out and communicated to the public. According to SEMCOG, the budget was set at roughly $19.75 million.
Mount Clemens At The Center
Kropp used the meeting to turn the spotlight on Mount Clemens' downtown revitalization, leading a walking tour that took visiting delegates through planned upgrades to Macomb Place and Cherry Street. The General Assembly convened at the Emerald Theatre as part of the city visit, where local officials underscored the project's goals of improving accessibility and boosting foot traffic in the core business district. City materials add context and detail about the tour and the broader downtown plan, according to the City of Mount Clemens.
In a statement to Macomb Daily, SEMCOG Executive Director Amy O'Leary said, "Mayor Kropp is an excellent leader and SEMCOG looks forward to her upcoming term." Her remarks echoed praise from regional peers who pointed to Kropp's experience on local boards and in redevelopment work.
What's Next For SEMCOG
Kropp's term began immediately and will overlap with the rollout and adoption of SEMCOG's FY 2026–2027 work program and its related public comment periods, putting her in a visible role as the agency finalizes which projects receive regional backing. For a detailed list of tasks and priorities the organization will pursue this year, see SEMCOG's published 2026–2027 Work Program for Southeast Michigan.
