The Traverse City Record-Eagle article Farm network has Vision takes a look at the newly formed Northwest Michigan Food and Farm Network:
A new local network has some big plans for the region's farming sector -- to double its value over the next decade.
The Northwest Michigan Food and Farm Network formed to follow through on some of the objectives of the new Grand Vision land-use and transportation plan. It showed strong local support for protecting the area's farm land, and to promote local food and employment opportunities.
The network is made up of 15 local civic, business, government and education groups working to expand the local food economy, including land conservancies in Leelanau and Grand Traverse, the area Council of Governments, the Traverse Bay EDC and the Michigan Land Use Institute. Its goal is to double the market value of food and agricultural sales in the six-county area, and increase the market share of local food purchases from regional food and agricultural businesses to 10 percent, up from the current estimate of 2 percent...
Project leaders to present May 19, 6:30-8:30 at the State Theater in Traverse City.
Traverse City, MI – The Grand Vision - created by the citizens of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Wexford Counties will have a first preview of “The Roadmap to Regional Prosperity” on May 19th at the State Theater in Traverse City from 6:30-8:30. This final Grand Vision document will be released, along with specific ways you can get more actively involved in helping to make positive change in the region. Leaders of the Grand Vision will walk through the past, present and focus on future implementation strategies.
In late February the Grand Vision Coordinating Group approved in concept a new structure for taking action on the principles of the Vision. The proposal recognizes “working groups” comprised of representatives from public, private and non-profit organizations that commit to actively develop new policies or funding proposals that will advance the Grand Vision. The working groups will roughly follow the issue areas identified within the draft Grand Vision document.
A common theme among each of the working groups is jobs and the economy. Doug Luciani, President and CEO of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce emphasized this point. “There is no better time than right now to take a serious look at integrating the concepts of the Grand Vision with job growth. It is a top priority across the board, and these new working groups will form an alliance that will drive the job growth and economic stability our region needs for a healthy future.”
The Coordinating Group is now soliciting organizations, agencies, and individuals that are committed to working within one of the identified issue areas to contact Grand Vision staff at the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments.
Organizations, groups, agencies and individuals who support the principles of the Grand Vision will be asked to join an Alliance by signing a Statement of Support for The Grand Vision. Alliance members will be identified publicly, be routinely notified of the activities and progress of Grand Vision working groups, and be solicited for support of Grand -Vision projects.
The Alliance will convene at least one annual regional public event to provide progress reports and gather input from members and the general public on Grand Vision activities.
The Grand Vision identified six issue areas and action statements that together will help move the vision into reality. Working groups will be identified or established around each issue area. One or more existing organization will help staff and coordinate these regional working groups.
Each group will maintain an emphasis on strengthening the region’s economy through sustainable development practices that consider many generations.
The working groups are identified as follows:
Growth in Investment Areas: This group will work to ensure that both public and private investments are made in cities, villages, and planned growth areas and will give the region the best return on the dollar for strengthening the economy and designing vibrant communities.
Housing: This group will work to offer a diverse mix of regional housing choices with affordable options that fit in with the small town character of the neighborhoods, villages, and cities as well as rural housing, which are all important to the area.
Transportation: This group will work to ensure that transportation projects are designed to maintain and improve the existing road system, increase public transportation services between cities and villages in the region, and expand infrastructure serving pedestrians and bicyclists both in and out of town.
Food and Farming: This group will work to preserve agriculture as a viable economic practice in the region by protecting farmland, enhancing the affordability of farms, and supporting agricultural infrastructure in the region.
Natural Resources: This group will work to protect and preserve the open spaces, forests, open waters, and other natural areas by ensuring that the consideration of natural resources and the environment is always at the core of decision making in the region.
Energy: This group will work to create energy options through energy conservation and the development and promotion of alternative energy in the region; all part of a sustainable energy future and a regional economic strategy for Northwest Michigan.
While each of the working groups are specific and distinct in scope, a common factor among them all is the prioritization of jobs and the economy. “It doesn’t matter whether you are talking about new investment areas, housing, transportation, food and farming, natural resources, or energy—the focus has to be on creating jobs and strengthening this region’s economy. The scope of the Grand Vision working groups must be viewed through the lens of creating jobs and sustaining economic growth,” said Matt McCauley, with the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments.
Organizations who see themselves plugging into one or more of these working groups should contact Jennifer Hutchinson at jen@thegrandvision.org.
Over the last few months there have been a number of mentions of The Grand Vision in the regional and national news. Here's a sampling and if you found another, please post a comment with the link below!
Bill McKibben talks about with Greening of the Great Lakes (mLive/WJR) and highlights The Grand Vision as a significant example of regional planning & the participation of business in the development of community in our area (at about 1:20 in the 2nd part of the interview) and the 350.org initiative.
Putting the Vision back in Division from the Traverse City Record-Eagle notes that MDOT will work with the city to find the best solution for the road and make sure it's in line with the Grand Vision.
Small, Green and Good from the Boston Review looks at the role of cities in a sustainable future.
Six new Grand Vision working groups invite area stakeholders to represent citizen interests and help advance the regional plan
As the six county regional Grand Vision is being finalized, based on unprecedented input from more than 12,000 residents, TC-TALUS and the Coordinating Group that initiated the project is beginning an implementation strategy to ensure that the Vision results in action.
At their most recent meeting, both TC-TALUS and the Grand Vision Coordinating Group discussed in concept a new structure for taking action on the principles of the Vision. The proposal recognizes “working groups” comprised of representatives from public, private and non-profit organizations that commit to actively develop new policies or funding proposals that will advance the Grand Vision. The working groups of this new “Grand Vision Alliance” will roughly follow the issue areas identified within the draft Grand Vision document.
The next step towards implementing the Grand Vision Decision, which will be released in May, is to recruit organizations and individuals into the Alliance and onto one of the working groups. “Now that the structure for implementation is in place, our attention will shift towards filling key partnership roles in the working groups,” explained Matt McCauley of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments. “Just as public participation has been the key for creating the Grand Vision, it will also be critical for ensuring the regional goals are met.”
Each working group will maintain an emphasis on strengthening the region’s economy through sustainable development practices that consider many generations.
The working groups are identified as follows:
Growth in Investment Areas: This group will work to ensure that both public and private investments are made in cities, villages, and planned growth areas and will give the region the best return on the dollar for strengthening the economy and designing vibrant communities.
Housing: This group will work to offer a diverse mix of regional housing choices with options that fit in with the small town character of the neighborhoods, villages, and cities as well as rural housing.
Transportation: This group will work to ensure that transportation projects are designed to maintain and improve the existing road system, increase public transportation services between cities and villages in the region, and expand infrastructure serving pedestrians and bicyclists both in and out of town.
Food and Farming: This group will work to preserve agriculture as a viable economic practice in the region by protecting farmland, enhancing the affordability of farms, and supporting agricultural infrastructure and markets in the region.
Natural Resources: This group will work to protect and preserve the open spaces, forests, open waters, wetlands, and other natural areas by ensuring that the consideration of natural resources and the environment is always at the core of decision making in the region.
Energy: This group will work to create energy options through energy conservation and the development and promotion of alternative energy in the region; all part of a sustainable energy future and a regional economic strategy for Northwest Michigan.
A common theme between each of the working groups is jobs and the economy. Doug Luciani, President and CEO of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce emphasized this point. “There is no better time than right now to take a serious look at integrating the concepts of the Grand Vision with job growth. It is a top priority across the board, and these new working groups will form an alliance that will drive the economic stability our region needs for a healthy future.”
The Coordinating Group, which meets again in April and is open to the general public, is beginning a process of identifying potential organizations, agencies, and individuals that are committed to working within one of the identified issue areas. The group is seeking increased participation from local units of government, non-profit, private, and public parties.
Organizations, groups, agencies and individuals who support the principles of the Grand Vision will be asked to join the Alliance by signing a Statement of Support for The Grand Vision. Alliance members will be identified publicly, be routinely notified of the activities and progress of Grand Vision working groups, and be solicited for support of Grand Vision projects.
The Alliance will convene at least one annual regional public event to provide progress reports and gather input from members and the general public on Grand Vision implementation activities. One or more existing organizations will help staff and coordinate these regional working groups.
John Fregonese of Fregonese and Associates, one of the top consultants for the Grand Vision hailed the Alliance and working group structure as first rate. “The Grand Vision has been such an exciting project for us because of the passion and commitment of the people and groups who are part of it. This structure is a perfect example of how the region is building on the strength of the community and grassroots collaboration to do something truly special and unique in northwest Michigan.”
Organizations who see themselves plugging into one or more of these working groups should contact Matt McCauley at the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments: mccauley@nwm.cog.mi.us
Honor State Bank is in the business of providing banking needs for small businesses in Northwest Michigan. With branches covering geography from Manistee County to Grand Traverse County, it is critical to our customers’ success that the communities grow in a way that is uniform and supports appropriate infrastructure to the area. In addition, the communities need to show a progressive attitude so as to encourage entrepreneurs to invest in our region.
Part of that decision relies on providing a quality way of life and designing traffic patterns that do not act as an obstacle to getting from one location to another. The planning appears to be complete. It is critical that as a community we implement ideas that have come forward as a result of the Grand Vision. This will happen as a result of the community insisting that their elected officials embrace the concepts and commit the resources.
A video conversation on the region's farm & food economy with Patty Cantrell from the Michigan Land Use Institute and Bob Russell of the Neahtawanta Center the Farm Route to Prosperity Summit - February 24, 2009.
Farm Route to Prosperity summit - February 24, 2009. You can download the referenced report right here.
GOAL
Increase the resilience and double the value of the six-county region's food and agricultural system in 10 years.
OBJECTIVES
Double the market value of food and agriculture sales.
Increase to 10 percent (from current est. 2 percent) the market share of regional food expenditures going to regional food and agriculture businesses.
Ensure that all residents have a healthy and ample diet.
Increase (amount) the profitability and diversity of food-ag system participants, products, markets, services, and facilities.
Secure the availability and affordability of sufficient regional farmland and associated water and energy resources to build and maintain a long-term, sustainable business environment for local agriculture and food production.
List of priority strategies by working group
at the Feb. 24, 2009, Farm Route to Prosperity summit.
HEALTH AND YOUTH
Ensure that families involved in the federal Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) assistance program are able to find and purchase local produce.
Identify, link, and promote community gardening efforts in the region.
Identify, link, and promote food/farm youth entrepreneurship programs.
Use available community information media to link people and promote programs.
FARMLAND
Develop a comprehensive inventory of farmland in the region.
Produce a planning and zoning toolbox, based on empirical research, to help local governments encourage farm business development and farmland preservation.
GOVERNANCE
Provide a series of food and farm business certifications as part of a menu of learning options in the community (i.e. through Northwestern Michigan College), including information for local governments on removing barriers to success, such as restrictive zoning.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Establish an industry roundtable of regional food producers, buyers, distributors, and processors to identify and address gaps in market infrastructure, such as a lack of smaller scale pre-processing facilities (coring, seeding etc.) or the ability of individual farms to supply larger orders, such as through cooperative regional branding.
BUYERS/FOOD SERVICE
Increase and enhance efforts to build the demand and supply of regional foods, such as working in conjunction with the Michigan Food Policy Council.
Recruit and work with more regional food buyers, such as grocers, not yet engaged.
PRODUCERS/SELLERS
Develop an education initiative for producers about market opportunities and distribution options.
Develop a capital injection initiative to bring needed equity financing to regional food and farm operations.
Work to maximize the reach and effectiveness of existing programs, such as the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center.
FINANCING/FUNDING
Establish a high-visibility Web location for comprehensive information about financing opportunities and support services for local food and farm businesses.
Conduct a meat processing facility feasibility study.
The vision of Rotary Charities and Rotary Camps & Services states that our organizations will be collaborative leaders of strategic efforts to achieve positive change in the Grand Traverse region. Our Rotary organizations are involved in an active way in the Grand Vision because it is an ideal way for us to work in collaboration with other organizations, businesses, citizens and units of government within a strategic long-term framework to achieve positive change over the next 50 years. And our foundation plans to be around for the next 50 years and beyond that. The Grand Vision helps provide a regional long-term framework to help guide our investments.
The Grand Vision is coming at the perfect time for us. As our oil & gas reserves are drying up and our investments are effected by the declining stock market, it is now more important than ever that we strategically invest our grants in programs, projects and organizations that will have a long term positive impact on the quality of life in our region. We believe that the most effective way to do that is to focus our support on bringing resources together in collaborative partnerships. The Grand Vision provides the big picture and call for innovative new partnerships between business, government and nonprofit sector. By providing leadership and supporting the Grand Vision, Rotary Charities ensures that our current investments in our region will continue to pay dividends in a future that is desired by our citizens.
The Grand Vision is running a series of brief articles by our Grand Vision Champions that discuss what the Grand Vision means to their business or organization.
As one of the largest employers in this region and an organization that welcomes more than 250,000 visitors each year, how this region plans for growth is critical to every visitor, employee, and future employee of Interlochen Center for the Arts. They are seeking a high quality of life—a location where they can find jobs for their spouses, good schools for their children, affordable housing, a diverse population and an efficient transportation infrastructure.
The Grand Vision Decision revealed that it is important to the citizens of this region that we have efficient roads, a regional mass transit system, sidewalks and pathways for bikers and pedestrians, vibrant main streets, and that we develop and serve growing villages. These same things are important to the continued success of Interlochen Center for the Arts and will help us continue to thrive for the next 50 years. Being able to point prospective employees to the Grand Vision report helps them realize that we are a progressive community that cares about its future growth.
On behalf of Interlochen Center for the Arts I would like to express our excitement as we begin to lay the groundwork to build a robust 21st century economy in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Wexford Counties.
The Northwest Michigan Council of Governments and Community Housing Choices will be hosting a housing conference on Friday, March 13, at the NMC Hagerty Center in Traverse City. This will be a great opportunity for local officials, planners, housing advocates, business owners and managers, realtors, developers, service providers, and others to hear about the region’s housing needs, and how tools like land banks and housing trust funds can help meet those needs.
Sessions are scheduled for:
Housing Needs Assessment for Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties, 2009-2014
Land Bank Authorities and Affordable Housing
Changes in the Banking Industry and Their Impact on Housing
Housing Trust Funds
Panel Discussion: Local Housing Initiatives
Green Homes: Can We Afford It?
The Grand Vision: Draft Preferred Scenario and Impact on Housing
The Traverse City Record-Eagle article Farm network has Vision takes a look at the newly formed Northwest Michigan Food and Farm Network:
Traverse City, MI – The Grand Vision - created by the citizens of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Wexford Counties will have a first preview of “The Roadmap to Regional Prosperity” on May 19th at the State Theater in Traverse City from 6:30-8:30. This final Grand Vision document will be released, along with specific ways you can get more actively involved in helping to make positive change in the region. Leaders of the Grand Vision will walk through the past, present and focus on future implementation strategies.
Honor State Bank is in the business of providing banking needs for small businesses in Northwest Michigan. With branches covering geography from Manistee County to Grand Traverse County, it is critical to our customers’ success that the communities grow in a way that is uniform and supports appropriate infrastructure to the area. In addition, the communities need to show a progressive attitude so as to encourage entrepreneurs to invest in our region.
