News from the Network- December Meeting
- Conference Calls Survey and Notes
- Conference Videos and Resources Available
Resources- EPA Requests Proposals for Urban Waters Small Grants
- Case Studies and Best Practices for Innovative Energy Efficiency Programs
- New Guidebook Offers Electric Utilities Roadmap for Electric Cars
- Complete Streets Eligible for Discounted Bicycle Parking Products
Community News- Michigan Receives $7.1 Million in 2011 HUD Sustainable Communities Awards, Nation's Largest Total
- Six Michigan Communities Get Advanced Lighting Grants
- City of Dearborn Takes Lead in Reducing its Climate Impact
- UM-Dearborn Recognizes 55 Michigan Communities Developing a Positive Entrepreneurial Climate
- Ann Arbor Gets $2.1M US Grant for Hybrid Buses
- Novi Receives Two Awards for Quality of Life Enhancements
- Electric Charging Station to Open at I-75 Carpool Lot
Happy holidays from the Michigan Green Communities team!
December Meeting
In lieu of a regular monthly conference call, Michigan Green Communities will have a longer meeting to discuss revisions to the Challenge Progress Report on Friday, December 12 from 12-4pm in Farmington Hills. Email Luke ( lforrest@mml.org) if you’d like to participate in person or by phone.
Conference Calls Survey and Notes
Please let us know which topics to cover on upcoming calls through this quick, two-question survey.
Conference Videos and Resources Available
Videos, PowerPoints, and breakout sessions notes from the Second Annual Michigan Green Communities Conference are now available. The focus of this October 28 event was on sharing local solutions for environmental sustainability. We were once again blown away by the enthusiasm of people working on these issues as well as by the quality of the local projects discussed. Presenters educated their peers on a range of issues, including: local food networks and gardening, water conservation and management, curbside recycling, joint planning initiatives, electric vehicle infrastructure, complete streets, community energy planning, and Property Assessed Clean Energy financing. View conference resources. EPA Requests Proposals for Urban Waters Small Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expects to award between $1.8 to $3.8 million in funding for projects across the country to help restore urban waters by improving water quality and supporting community revitalization. The funding is part of EPA’s Urban Waters program, which supports communities in their efforts to access, improve, and benefit from their urban waters and the surrounding land. Healthy and accessible urban waters can help grow local businesses and enhance educational, recreational and employment opportunities in nearby communities. The EPA will hold webinars to assist applicants December 14, 2011, and January 5, 2012. Proposals are due January 23, 2012. Learn more.
Energy Department Releases Case Studies and Best Practices to Assist Innovative Energy Efficiency Programs
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced new case studies and other online resources available to local governments that are designing, expanding, and enabling residential energy efficiency programs across the country. Developed using real-world results from DOE's Better Buildings Neighborhood Program, these case studies (including one focused on BetterBuildings for Michigan) and step-by-step guides outline a framework for successful energy efficiency upgrade programs to help homeowners, businesses, and whole neighborhoods save money by saving energy.
New Guidebook Offers Electric Utilities Roadmap for Electric Cars
With plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) becoming more common on the road today, the Edison Electric Institute produced a guidebook to help electric utilities and their customers benefit from this innovative electric technology. “The Utility Guide to Plug-In Electric Vehicle Readiness” serves as a road map to help electric utilities save time and money as they prepare to support PEVs. The Guide focuses on four areas that every electric utility will need to address to ensure they are ready for PEVs to plug into their service area. Learn more.
Complete Streets Eligible for Discounted Bicycle Parking Products
A Michigan company, "CycleSafe", is now offering municipal discounts on their Michigan-made bicycle parking products to communities with either a Complete Streets resolution, Complete Streets ordinance, and/or a bike parking ordinance. Communities applying for the discount will need to provide a copy of their Complete Streets and/or bike parking policies and reference discount code MI-2012CS. For CycleSafe product information and to learn more about this new incentive, please contact CycleSafe by phone at (888) 950-6531 or by email at info@cyclesafe.com or visit their website at www.cyclesafe.com.
Have a resource to share with the network? Send sample ordinances, RFPs, outreach materials, case studies, and other resources to Laura (lmatson@a2gov.org) to include in the next update.
Michigan Receives $7.1 Million in 2011 HUD Sustainable Communities Awards, Nation's Largest Total
Michigan communities received the nation's largest combined total of $7.1 million in grants through HUD Sustainable Communities Awards. The grants will help communities and regions improve their economic competitiveness by connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools and transportation. The HUD grant recipients in Michigan are Washtenaw County ($3 million), the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission that covers Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties ($3 million), Northwest Michigan Council of Governments that covers the Grand Traverse region ($660,000), and the City of Grand Rapids (more than $459,000). Read more. See also:
Six Michigan Communities Get Advanced Lighting GrantsSix Michigan cities, townships and counties have received $399,261 for advanced lighting technology demonstration grants, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced. The recipients are City of Livonia ($82,125), Green Oak Charter Township ($75,349), City of Trenton ($75,410), City of Owosso ($40,500), Muskegon County ($35,877), and Leelanau County ($90,000). Read more.
City of Dearborn Takes Lead in Reducing its Climate ImpactThe City of Dearborn is taking one of its first steps toward reducing its climate impact by working with Clean Energy Coalition to conduct a community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory. The inventory will quantify all GHG emissions generated within the City’s boundaries during a particular year to establish an emissions baseline. Read more.
UM-Dearborn Recognizes 55 Michigan Communities Developing a Positive Entrepreneurial ClimateEast Lansing, Grand Rapids, Jonesville, Livonia, Meridian Township, Tecumseh and Wixom have been identified as the top-performing communities at fostering entrepreneurial growth and economic development in a study by researchers at the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research. Read more.
Ann Arbor Gets $2.1M US Grant for Hybrid BusesThe Ann Arbor Transportation Authority is getting $2.1 million in federal aid toward the costs of using new hybrid-electric buses. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Clean Fuels Program. It's designed to help local communities adopt clean-energy technologies to improve energy efficiency and improve air quality. Read more.
Novi Receives Two Awards for Quality of Life EnhancementsThe City of Novi received two awards that represent the City's commitment to enhancing quality of life for Novi residents. A 2011 Keep Michigan Beautiful, Inc. Michigan Award was received in recognition of Fuerst Park. In 2011, the City of Novi completed an update to the Non-Motorized Master Plan. The plan, developed using a comprehensive study financed by a Federal Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant, includes implementation strategies designed to provide a safe, convenient, and enjoyable environment for bicyclists, and pedestrians and add to the more than 225 miles of pathways, sidewalks and bike lanes already in Novi. Read more.
Electric Charging Station to Open at I-75 Carpool LotGrand Blanc Township and the Michigan Department of Transportation showcased Genesee County's first public electric charging station. Officials say the free charging station, located at the I-75/Dixie Highway carpool lot off Exit 106, will offer an easily accessible plug-in charging station for electric cars. Read more.
Have a story you’d like to share? Email Laura (lmatson@a2gov.org) with press releases and news items to include in the next newsletter. About Michigan Green Communities
Michigan Green Communities is a network of local government and university staff in the state of Michigan that collaborate with one another, through peer learning and information sharing, to promote innovative solutions and move sustainability initiatives forward at the local, regional, and state level.
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