What's Happening

		Growth and Investment: Visual Preferences - What do you like about the design and "look" of buildings and public spaces in our region? Share a photo and comment on: LetsDecideHow.org

		A Grand Vision for Northwest Michigan's Future The Grand Vision is a bridge to what the region wants to look like 50 years from now. The Grand Vision paints a picture of smart growth in the northwest corner of lower Michigan. Read article by Brad Broberg, from the Summer 2013 edition of the magazine On Common Ground, a quarterly publication of the National Association of Realtors, Smart Growth Division, Washington D.C.

MDOT Meets With The Grand Vision Transportation Network Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director Kirk Steudle met with The Grand Vision Transportation Network, which includes TC-TALUS and local road agency officials, to discuss the future of transportation funding in Michigan. Watch the video to hear what Steudle had to say about the relationship between transportation funding the condition of the State's roads. Related info: Transportation Network.


		Help support Green Elk Rapids Days The community is celebrating five years of focus on "green" lifestyles and environmental issues with activities for all ages. Visit website: http://www.greenelkrapidsdays.com


		Citizen Engagement Through Community Celebration: The Grand Vision's Community Action Updates This is a toolkit for celebrating implementation of a citizen-defined vision, engaging community members, and reporting success. (Click on image; 19-page PDF)

The Grand Vision Connects with Local Units of Government The Grand Vision's guiding principles are helping northern Michigan communities implement local projects. Watch the video to find out more.

The Grand Vision Connects with Business and Education Short's Brewing Company in Antrim County and Baker College of Cadillac have both developed connections to The Grand Vision. Watch the video to find out more.

		Rental Housing Challenges in Northwest Michigan Finding decent, affordable rental housing in northwest lower Michigan can be difficult. To find out more about the challenges renters face and what's being done to improve access to affordable rental housing in the area, see gallery, Housing Issues on Video.

		The Grand Vision Actions Survey Highlights 2012 In the fall of 2012, the Grand Vision CORE team commissioned a survey that would collect information on projects and funding that are impacted by The Grand Vision. The survey was sent to all network members and other partner organizations. Respondents reported a total of almost $10 million in funding for 340 projects that align with one or more of The Grand Vision’s six guiding principles. Here is a report of the survey results. (Click on image; 11-page PDF)

		The Grand Vision 2012 Year in Review Document View, download, or print the summary of Grand Vision activity for 2012. (Click on image; 2-sided flier, PDF)

		The Grand Vision: Community Action Updates Connecting Communities to $10 million and Counting… Learn how the citizen-defined Grand Vision principles are becoming a reality in the place you call home. These events were emceed by news anchors Melissa Smith, Brody O'Connell, or Arielle Berlin from TV 7&4. More information including videos and awards. See still images from the Community Action Updates.

		Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities EPA announced this week that its Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program will be offering free technical assistance to communities interested in implementing smart growth approaches. The program provides quick, targeted technical assistance using a wide variety of tools designed to help stimulate a discussion about growth and strengthen local capacity to implement sustainable approaches. EPA will select up to 44 communities through a competitive process; applications will be accepted between September 26 and October 26. More information at the EPA website.

		Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Receives $1.62 Million The Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route Committee, Michigan Department of Transportation, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore), Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails, and Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes are proud to announce that the Federal Department of Transportation 2012 Public Lands Highway Discretionary (PLHD) program has awarded $1.62 million for the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (SBHT). The PLHD funds will be used to construct 3.17 miles of the trail starting at Port Oneida Road and ending at Leelanau County Road 669/Bohemian Road. MORE.

		Traverse City Light & Power Solar Project L&P customers interested in participating in the proposed Community Solar project are now able to sign-up through L&P’s website. The proposed Community Solar project would allow customers to purchase a 100 kilowatt hour “sun block” of solar generation, which would replace 100 kilowatt hours of mostly coal generation. Based on estimated project costs, each “sun block” would cost the customer an additional $16 a month. L&P is a community-owned, community focused municipal utility that offers reliable energy at low rates in the region to over 11,500 customers in Traverse City, and parts of Blair, East Bay, Elmwood, Garfield, Peninsula and Paradise townships. For more information, visit the Traverse City Light & Power website at: www.tclp.org.

		Community Growth Grants Grants available through the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments will give local units of government in northwest lower Michigan an opportunity to support the principles of The Grand Vision. The New Designs for Growth: Community Growth Grants program will award grants of up to $15,000, provided as cash or technical assistance, available on a competitive basis to city, village, township, and county governments within the six-county Grand Vision region. The grant deadline is September 7, 2012. More information is available on the NWMCOG website until September 7. NOTE: Land Information Access Association is now providing leverage to Community Growth Grants. Read More.

		Grand Traverse Regional Market Takes Another Step Forward By: Rob Sirrine The results of the Grand Traverse Regional Market (GTRM) Feasibility Study are in. Six months ago, with funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the GTRM advisory board and Traverse Bay Economic Development Corporation hired Market Ventures Inc., a national consultant firm that specializes in Public Markets, to complete a feasibility analysis for creating a “food hub” at Building 58 at the Grand Traverse Commons. MORE.

Governor Rick Snyder and The Grand Vision Governor Rick Snyder talked about focusing on a regional approach to economic development when he spoke at the Economic Summit in Traverse City. Snyder said regional efforts in northern Michigan, including The Grand Vision, can help the area be a leader in the state. Watch the video to hear what Snyder said about regional economic development.

Bill Rustem, Director of Strategy, and The Grand Vision Bill Rustem, the Director of Strategy for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, spoke at an Economic Summit in Traverse City. Rustem says it is critical to look at the economy from a regional perspective and says The Grand Vision is a model for the type of collaboration needed to do that. Watch the video to hear Rustem's comments.

Kirk Steudle, MDOT, and The Grand Vision Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director Kirk Steudle spoke at the Regional Economic Summit in Traverse City. Steudle said The Grand Vision is one of the key future pieces of transportation planning. Watch the video to hear more of what Steudle had to say about The Grand Vision.

The Grand Vision In Action: Ag & Food Sector Alliance Talks About Local Foods: The importance of local foods provided the focus for the December meeting of the Agriculture and Food System Sector Alliance of Northwest Michigan. Alliance members say having access to that kind of information is important to the region's Ag and Food System.

The Grand Vision In Action: Selling Local Food Helps Grocer be Successful: Tim Metcalfe from Metcalfe Markets in Wisconsin came to Traverse City, Michigan to talk with the Agriculture & Food System Sector Alliance about the importance of using local food. Watch the video to find out what Metcalfe thinks are some of the keys to being successful while selling local foods.

The Grand Vision In Action: Meat Market Owner Promotes Local Foods: Bartlett Durand owns Black Earth Meats in Wisconsin and works to promote local foods. He talked about his business and the importance of local foods at a meeting of the Agriculture & Food System Sector Alliance in Traverse City, Michigan. Watch the video to hear what Durand has to say about local foods.

The Grand Vision In Action: Frankfort Planning Commission Chairman Bruce Ogilvie received the Michigan Association of Planning's 2011 Outstanding Commissioner Award. Ogilvie helped develop the city's new master plan, which includes many of the principles of The Grand Vision. Watch the video to find out more about what Frankfort is doing to encourage smart development.

City of Traverse City Endorses Grand Vision Principles At its regular city commission meeting on Monday evening, the City of Traverse City officially endorsed the guiding principles of The Grand Vision. This support is critical to community participation and to reaping the benefits of Grand Vision-inspired projects – those in process today and those to come. Those guiding principles are: A coordinated regional transportation network Unique and vibrant communities Housing choices Sustainable-energy uses in construction, transportation nd economic development Protected and preserved water, forests, natural and scenic areas Viable regional farms and local food systems "Traverse City and its Commission understand, support and encourage the guiding principles of The Grand Vision - from a coordinated regional transportation network, to housing choices, to viable regional farms and local food systems – for each and every one of our community members. Our residents generally live here by choice because Traverse City is truly a most desirable community. The tools provided by The Grand Vision will be in integral part in shaping Traverse City and the surrounding region." --Michael Estes, Mayor of Traverse City

The Grand Vision in Action: Silver Drive Project A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of Silver Drive and the non-motorized Buffalo Ridge Trail in Traverse City. Watch the video to hear why local leaders think the project is important for the region.

The Grand Vision, Your Action Event Governor Rick Snyder and Michael Moore each made comments via video at The Grand Vision Your Action event in Traverse City. Watch the video to hear why Snyder and Moore both support The Grand Vision.

Grand Vision Action: The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians held a ceremony at Brown Bridge Dam as part of the tribe's involvement in the Boardman River Dams Removal Project. Watch the video to find out more about the project and how it supports the mission of The Grand Vision.

Grand Vision Action: EPA Senior Advisor Praises The Grand Vision The EPA announced a list of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy's 20th Anniversary event in Traverse City. EPA Senior Advisor Cameron Davis announced the grants and also talked about the importance of collaborative efforts like the Grand Vision when it comes to protecting the Great Lakes. Watch the video to hear what Davis said.

Grand Vision Action: Senator Levin Says Grand Vision Helped Secure Grants U.S. Senator Carl Levin was in Traverse City for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy's 20th Anniversary event, where a list of EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants was announced. Levin says the Grand Vision helped secure some of the grants. Watch the video to hear what he said.

Grand Vision Action: Wi-Fi in Empire The Village of Empire in Leelanau County has a new Wi-Fi system thanks to a Community Growth Grant from the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments. The Community Growth Grant Program is an implementation strategy of The Grand Vision principles that focuses on directing growth and investment to our regional areas that have existing infrastructure in place. These grants, now known as New Designs for Growth, were made possible through a partnership of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments and the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Watch the video to find out more about the new Wi-Fi service and how it can help Empire attract new residents and businesses.

Grand Vision Action: Affordable Housing in Northwest Michigan The Grand Traverse Housing Network works to ensure sufficient housing choices for the region's workforce and families. Watch the video to find out more about the needs, challenges and solutions related to affordable housing in northwest lower Michigan.