Grand Vision Projects Highlighted at

Community Updates in Six Counties

RSVP Now to Attend Your Local Event 

Know Your Farmer, Local Motion, Boardman Watershed Prosperity Plan, Energy Information Series, Disc Golf, the Good Food Web, and the Depot Neighborhood Affordable Housing Project. These are just a few of the hundreds of projects that have cited alignment with The Grand Vision's citizen-defined Guiding Principles. Collectively, more than 300 projects have leveraged $10 million in investment in the region. Many of these projects - and the benefits of that $10 million - will be highlighted at The Grand Vision Community Action Updates October 2nd through the 11th.

The Grand Vision Community Action Update 2012: Connecting Communities to $10 million and Counting will take place in communities throughout the region and will showcase local projects. The events will also include video reports involving local students, designation of each county's 2012 Grand Visionary recipient, Community Growth grant awards, and a preview of next steps in The Grand Vision process.

The locations and dates for the Community Action Updates are:

• October 2, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., at the Kaliseum in Kalkaska
• October 3, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., at the Wexford Public Library in Cadillac
• October 4, 5:30 - 6:45 p.m., at the Elk Rapids Cinema
• October 9, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., at Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay
• October 10, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., at the Garden Theater in Frankfort
• October 11, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., at the Traverse City State Theatre in Traverse City

Each event will be followed by networking at a local restaurant: White Tails in Kalkaska, Hermann's in Cadillac, Siren Hall in Elk Rapids, Village Inn in Suttons Bay, Dinghy's Restaurant and Bar in Frankfort, and Red Ginger in Traverse City.

RSVP at thegrandvision.org to enter a drawing for a $50 gift certificate at the networking restaurant.

Each night will be emceed by TV7&4 News Anchor Melissa Smith, Brody O'Connell, or Arielle Berlin.

Project Highlights: The Community Action Update will highlight projects from the last year that advance The Grand Vision. Local Grand Vision supporters will present a summary of projects from each county, including Jan Bassett, Dean Ferrier, Paul Skinner, Vance Edwards, Mayor Michael Estes, Linda Kimbel, Mary Carroll, Norm Veliquette, Josh Mills, and more.

"Community members have found The Grand Vision framework facilitates community projects for areas such as land use, resource preservation, and transportation."   --Kim Pontius, Chairman, Grand Vision CORE Team

Student Videos: Another highlight of the Community Action Updates will be the showing of student videos looking at Grand Vision inspired projects in each of the six counties. Nearly one-thousand students were involved in the production of videos at sites that included: The Grass River Natural Area in Antrim County; Frankfort-Elberta High School in Benzie County; TART Trails in Grand Traverse County; the Kalkaska Community Garden in Kalkaska County; Suttons Bay High School Community Garden in Leelanau County; and Northern Exposure in Mesick in Wexford County.

Grand Visionary Awards: 2012 Grand Visionary Award recipients will be announced at each event. This award recognizes residents who engage the community in activities that further The Grand Vision principles. In 2011 five individuals and one organization received Grand Visionary Awards. They were: Jeff Sieting, Kalkaska Village President; Marc McKellar, Grand Traverse County Road Commissioner; Paul Skinner, Planning Commissioner, Village of Empire; Pete Garwood, Antrim County Administrator; Vance Edwards, Director of Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority; and the Honor Area Restoration Project.

"Communities throughout Leelanau County and the region as a whole will benefit from The Grand Vision in so many diversified ways in their day to day lives for decades to come,"  --Paul Skinner, Village of Empire Planning Commission and 2011 Grand Visionary

Community Growth Grants: Community Growth Grant recipients will also be announced at the events. The grants are awarded to projects demonstrating alignment with The Grand Vision principles in efforts to create sustainable and efficient growth and development. These grants are provided by the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments, in partnership with Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and Northern Lakes Economic Alliance, with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Last year's Community Growth Grant recipients were:

• Antrim County, Village of Elk Rapids, $7,000, Bech's Building Re-use Plan; Village of Ellsworth, $5,000, Farmers Market Operation
• Benzie County, Village of Honor, $10,000, Recreation and Implementation Plan
• Grand Traverse County, Acme Township, $10,000, Shoreline/Gateway Plan
• Kalkaska County, Village of Kalkaska, $10,000, Branding and Wayfinding
• Leelanau County, Elmwood Township, $10,000, Greilickville Corridor Plan
• Wexford County, Village of Mesick, Technical Assistance, Master Plan

"We are incredibly blessed, in each of the counties of Northwest Michigan, to live in such a beautiful, desirable area. On a daily basis we do the best we can to manage and plan for the county or community in which we live." --Pete Garwood, Antrim County Administrator and 2011 Grand Visionary.

Next Steps: The Grand Vision is a "big idea." It's a picture of our ideal future. So how do we get there? The next step in the process is to create a blueprint for action - a set of specific strategies for making the vision a reality.

Work has already begun on an in-depth analysis of county assets and needs related to The Grand Vision's citizen-defined principles. The project -- funded through a HUD Sustainable Communities grant -- will involve an information and engagement process within each county designed to incorporate local input into regional plans for transportation, land use, housing, and energy. These regional plans will be available for communities to use when developing local solutions.

"The Grand Vision gives individuals and organizations in the region the power and encouragement to improve the quality of life without any limitations." --Vance Edwards, Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority Director and 2011 Grand Visionary

The Grand Vision Community Action Updates are made possible by a $15,000 Smart Growth Grant from the National Association of REALTORS� with support from the Traverse Area Association of REALTORS�.

Special thanks to TV7&4 News for sponsoring these events and providing emcees for all nights. Other in-kind sponsors include A Formal Affair Entertainment, Elk Rapids Cinema, Garden Theater, Inland Seas Education Center, the Traverse City State Theatre, and many others.

RSVP Now to Attend Your Local Event  

Grand Vision Receives Grant from

National Association of Realtors

The National Association of REALTORS� (NAR) is supporting The Grand Vision with a $15,000 Smart Growth grant. The grant is allowing The Grand Vision to access local businesses for services and products to host The Grand Vision Community Action Updates 2012: Connecting Communities to $10 million and Counting.

NAR Smart Growth Program Advisory Group Chair Bob Caldwell says Michigan is working hard to reignite its economic engine and The Grand Vision is exactly the kind of Smart Growth project the grant program was designed to support. "Through these grants, REALTORS� are helping to make communities stronger through better planning, citizen involvement and leadership," said Caldwell.

Grand Vision Spokesman Kim Pontius says the awarding of the Smart Growth Grant put the Grand Traverse region on the NAR's radar screen. "Since then we have seen a great deal of interest from NAR in some of the land use and transportation solutions our region is developing through The Grand Vision. The acknowledgement of our efforts through the award of this very competitive NAR grant process is an honor indeed for our regional community."

Solar Energy Event October 1 in Traverse City

Discover why Michigan's economy needs a good dose of solar energy at "Solar Energy Works for Northern Michigan." The event will take place Monday, October 1 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at NMC's Oleson Center. Skip Pruss, former Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth will discuss the important role solar energy plays in the efforts to diversify Michigan's energy supply while effectively serving as an economic development tool. In addition, solar contractor Matt Vajda will provide a report on the Traverse City Parking Deck solar project and Dan Paulson will highlight his plans to develop "net-zero" energy homes powered by solar. The event will also feature an announcement of a project to build a solar array at a prominent local business and provide plenty of opportunity for questions. For more information and to register visit nmc.edu/energy

Congratulations to Survey Prize Winner

Tom Delombo won a $75 gift certificate to Trattoria Stella in Traverse City. His name was randomly selected by Survey Monkey from the respondents who chose to participate in the drawing associated with the Grand Vision Actions Survey. The Grand Vision CORE group thanks everyone who participated in the survey.

Transportation Network:

September 27

Transit Subcommittee Meeting

4:00 p.m., BATA Transfer Center

Hall St., Traverse City

October 2

Transportation Network Meeting

3:30 p.m., NWMCOG office

600 East Front St., Traverse City

Second floor conference room

Natural Resources Network:

October 17

Natural Resources Network Meeting

9:00 - 10:30 a.m., Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce

202 E. Grandview Parkway

Steelcase Room