The Grand Vision

Grand Vision in Action

The Grand Vision continues to inspire
change in northwest lower Michigan.
 
Here's what's been happening lately.

 


Empire in Action

   

Village business owners, residents and visitors are enjoying the benefits of the new Internet infrastructure, provided by the Village of Empire, which started with a kick off celebration on June 23.

 

Paul Skinner, chairman of the village's Wi-Fi planning commission, encourages the community to join community leaders to commemorate the milestone for the Village of Empire, Leelanau County, and the Grand Vision efforts.

  

"Access to global connectivity plays a critical role in the process of placemaking and attracting economic activity to the Village of Empire," Skinner said. "The potential impacts to the village's sense of place, and benefits to the local economy through helping business operations and start-ups, as well as the increased connectivity for the tourism industry are very exciting," he said.

 

The start up costs for the Wi-Fi system were provided by a $20,000 Community Growth Grant from the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, as 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 are 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 on our website to find out more about the new Wi-Fi service and how it can help Empire attract new residents and businesses: http://www.thegrandvision.org/in-the-media

 

  

The Wi-Fi service coverage includes the Village of Empire commercial corridor, which approximately covers the area of West Front Street, bounded east from South Lake Street, west to the junction of West Empire Highway, south from Wilce Street, and Niagara Street to the north. The approximate coverage also includes the area of Village Park, along Lake Michigan Drive, and the west loop of Niagara Street.

 

  

The network service rates include one 15-minute complementary service connection each 24-hour period. Available rate options are $3 for one day, $20 for seven days and $30 for 28 days. The village conducted the required state process in order to provide the service as a utility. As part of the necessary business case, revenue is required to sustain the ongoing operation to purchase the access and maintain the equipment and sites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Housing Network in Action 

 

affordable housingThe Grand Vision Housing Network is developing an educational series for property owners, landlords, and developers that will help each of them while working with nonprofit organizations to provide more housing opportunities. Topics will include development incentives for affordable housing, rental assistance programs, and legal rights and responsibilities for tenants and landlords. The program is designed to provide information on the many programs and incentives that are available to those interested in tapping into the affordable housing market and providing more housing opportunities to communities in northwest lower Michigan. Check the Grand Vision website for updates: www.thegrandvision.org
Traverse City in Action

 

Silver Drive IntersectionCrews are ready to break ground in early August on the Grand Vision-inspired Silver Drive project. After federal budget financial juggling, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) reinstated funds to the project - just three months after shuffling the original funding to Buckley. Instead of one of the two projects beginning this summer, both transportation projects will be well underway soon.

 

The south entrance to the Grand Traverse Commons, which the Silver Drive extension will provide, is a necessary next step, according to Raymond Minervini, principal of The Minervini Group.

 

"It's the culmination of many years of effort by a great many people," Traverse City Manager Ben Bifoss said at a July 11 city commission meeting. And, it's another Grand Vision in Action project. We'll keep you posted on progress and completion.

July 2011

Grand Vision Guiding Principles

 

Based on  intensive research and input from thousands of citizens from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Wexford counties, a vision that will lead to prosperity for people throughout northwest lower Michigan was created founded on these guiding principles: 

 

  • A coordinated regional transportation network
     
  • Unique and vibrant communities
     
  • Housing choices
     
  • Sustainable-energy uses in construction, transportation and economic development
     
  • Protected and preserved water, forests, natural and scenic areas
     
  • Viable regional farms and local food systems 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Grand Vision
 

 

The Grand Vision

PO Box 506

Traverse City, MI 49685

231.929.5038

 

thegrandvision.org 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Grand Vision � PO Box 506 � Traverse City, MI 49685 � 231.929.5038