Annual Report 2017 WMSRDC Board James Rynberg, Chairperson, Mayor of City of Fremont Wally Taranko, Vice-Chairperson, Mason County Commissioner Bonnie McGlothin, Secretary, Mayor Pro-Tem, City of Muskegon Heights Kay Beecham, Councilperson, City of Norton Shores James Brown, Oceana County Commissioner Benjamin Cross, Muskegon County Commissioner Dean Gustafson, Oceana County Commissioner Susie Hughes, Muskegon County Commissioner David Kieft, Jr., Supervisor, Muskegon Township Michael Krauch, Councilperson, City of Ludington Charles Lange, Mason County Commissioner Joseph Lenius, WMSRDC Howard Lodholtz, Lake County Commissioner James Maike, Newaygo County Commissioner Chris McGuigan, WMSRDC Dr. Dale Nesbary, Muskegon Community College Chris Ortwein, Newaygo County Commissioner Ron Steiner, WMSRDC Byron Turnquist, Councilperson, City of Muskegon Rillastine Wilkins, Muskegon County Commissioner Crystal Young, West Shore Community College Leadership Message James Rynberg, Chairperson 2017 brought new initiatives and new partnerships to the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission. The Commission is blessed with an outstanding staff that is highly Mayor, City of Fremont respected across the region and with a board that is extremely supportive. This has allowed the agency to successfully service members not only through existing programs, but also through the new partnerships and initiatives that are highlighted throughout this annual report. WMSRDC successfully applied for and was awarded four environmental grants from various state Erin Kuhn, Executive Director and federal agencies. One of the grants includes the detection and treatment of the Hemlock Woolley Adelgid, an invasive species migrating north along the Lake Michigan shoreline. This grant includes a partnership with the Ottawa County Conservation District for work in the counties of Ottawa, Muskegon, and Oceana. The Commission also continues to work with the West Michigan Beach Towns Organization on the development of a corridor management plan for the West Michigan Pike Pure Michigan Byway. On a state level, WMSRDC, working with the Grand Valley Metro Council, has been a key leader in the Governor’s 21st Century Infrastructure Asset Management Pilot. In addition, transportation staff has been working with a sub group of the Michigan Transportation Planners Association and the Michigan Department of Transportation on the state-wide implementation of federally required “new Transportation Performance Measures. Lastly, two staff members have been appointed by Governor Snyder to serve on state committees. Kathy Evans is serving on the State’s Environmental Justice Committee, and Erin Kuhn is serving initiatives” on the State’s Port Advisory Committee. The continued success of WMSRDC can be attributed to the expertise of the staff, the direction and leadership of the board, and many outstanding local, state, and federal partners. We are thankful to all for another outstanding year and look forward to a new year of partnerships and working in west Michigan. State of Michigan Prosperity Regions w ena we Ke n o t h g u o H a e g n t go t Ontona a r e a a u G e B q o c r g t u e f b a L ic lger a M A cr C l hipp o c ewa n Iron o Mackina o c h s b 1 c n S i elta k D c i e D e n i t m n e o a Regional Collaborative Efforts n g m e y m o M WMSRDC remained an active partner in the West Michigan Prosperity Alliance E b e Presque h (WMPA) which had another robust and successful year. The group continued Charlevoix C Isltoe meet and support previously identified priority projects and engaged in new Alpena u initiatives during 2017. Some of these projects are the Sustainable Funding 1. Upper Peninsula Prosperity Alliance a Antrim Otsego Montmorency n a l Strategy for West Michigan Watersheds, Regional Utility Project, Hardy Dam Trail, e 1a. Western UP Prosperity Region e L Connected Communities Engagement Program, and the Grand River Revitalization 1b. Central UP Prosperity Region e s d r 2 n e Kalkaska a andAlc oRapidsna Restoration Effort. Two of the new initiatives of the WMPA include v 1c. Eastern UP Prosperity Region Benzie r 3 a G r Oscoda T Crawford the unveiling of the West Michigan Regional Dashboard and providing mini 2. Northwest Prosperity Region grants to small communities for their participation in the Governor’s 21st Century Missaukee Ogemaw Iosco Wexford Roscommon Infrastructure Asset Management Pilot. This fall, the WMPA also prepared a grant 3. Northeast Prosperity Region Manistee n application seeking funding for a fourth consecutive year. In the upcoming year, n i o w Arenac s Osceola Clare d the WMPA plans to continue its collaborative efforts to lend political & philanthropic a a Lake l G 4. West Michigan Prosperity Alliance M help to fund projects of regional economic significance; as well as directly fund uron y H d a n 4a. West Central Prosperity Region o a ongoing and new project initiatives. a B g l y Oceana Mecosta Isabella a 4b. West Michigan Prosperity Region d l i c a o a M c l w The West Michigani Dashboard was a major initiative of the West Michigan Prosperity s e Montcalm n u N a AllianceT in 2017. The Dashboard was funded by the WMPA and designed by 5. East Central Michigan Prosperity Region Gratiot 5 S Muskegon Saginaw a team r of data gurus led by The Right Place. It was unveiled in February at a e e e e e 4 6 r a e i t s p . s press conference featuring Lt. Governor Brian Calley. The Dashboard includes 34 t a s n w e l a 6. East Michigan Prosperity Region a S e a n L w C t Clinton economic, environmental, and social indicators. Since its launch, the Dashboard Ionia a t e K b i h b G O S has been extremely successful and useful. In less than one year, there were Oakland m 7. South Central Prosperity Region m o a nearly 5,000 visits to the site from all over the State of Michigan, virtually every c h Allegan Barry Livingston a 7 g state in the nation, and 34 countries across the globe. To view the West M Eaton n 8. Southwest Prosperity Region I 10 MichiganWay nRegionale Dashboard visit www.wmdashboard.org. Van Kalamazoo Calhoun Jackson Was(continuedhtenaw on next page) 9. Southeast Michigan Prosperity Region Buren n e e i l r 8 a Monroe r St. 9 d e Cass Branch s Lenawee l l 10. Detroit Metro Prosperity Region B Joseph i H Service Delivery Regions 8/6/2013 State of Michigan Prosperity Regions w ena we Ke n o t h g u o H a e g n t go t Ontona a r e a a u G e B q o c r g t u e f b a L ic lger a M A cr C l hipp o c ewa n Iron o Mackina o c h s b 1 c n S i elta k D c i e D e n i t m n e o a Regional Collaborative Efforts (continued) n g m e y m o M The West Michigan Watershed Collaborative reached a milestone in 2017, with the E b e Presque h identification of a sustainable funding mechanism that promises to improve West Charlevoix C IslMichigane rivers, lakes and streams. Working with diverse watershed stakeholders, Alpena u the WMWC identified a voluntary, per parcel contribution as a preferred mechanism 1. Upper Peninsula Prosperity Alliance a Antrim Otsego Montmorency n a l for generating local funds to implement watershed management plans. The plans e 1a. Western UP Prosperity Region e L would otherwise be subject to competitive grant funding. Sustainable funding will 1b. Central UP Prosperity Region e s d r 2 n e Kalkaska a greatlyAlcona advance water quality initiatives in West Michigan. Further development v 1c. Eastern UP Prosperity Region Benzie r 3 a G r Oscoda T Crawford of the funding strategy will be underway in 2018. 2. Northwest Prosperity Region Missaukee Ogemaw Iosco Wexford Roscommon WMSRDC remains an active participant in the Region 4 Northern Collaborative, which 3. Northeast Prosperity Region Manistee n includes the counties of Lake, Mason, Newaygo, and Oceana. The Collaborative n i o w Arenac s Osceola Clare d stems from a Leaders in Economic Alliance Development (LEAD) planning process a a Lake l G 4. West Michigan Prosperity Alliance M which was facilitated by USDA Rural Development and MSU Extension in 2016. uron y H d a n 4a. West Central Prosperity Region o a WMSRDC provides support through staff membership on the three Collaborative a B g l y Oceana Mecosta Isabella a 4b. West Michigan Prosperity Region d subcommittees,l by providing communications support through the bimonthly WMSRDC i c a o a M c l w newsletter, andi by dedicating a project page to the Collaborative on the WMSRDC s e Montcalm n u N a website.T One of the more promising Northern Collaborative projects in 2017 5. East Central Michigan Prosperity Region Gratiot 5 S Muskegon Saginaw arose fromr the Regional Recreation Strategy subcommittee. A $35,000 grant from e e e e e 4 6 r a e i t s p . s the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development was paired with t a s n w e l a 6. East Michigan Prosperity Region a S e a n L w C t Clinton $15,000 local match to examine how future development of recreational trails Ionia a t e K b i h b G O S can be coordinated across the region to help access funding opportunities and Oakland m 7.