TRAVERSE CITY -- Two communities are joining forces to help with a Master Plan project.
The Northwest Michigan Council of Governments and the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that they will provide technical assistance to the Village of Kalkaska as part of its Community Growth Grants program for the purpose of developing an new Master Plan.
Village Manager, Penny Hill said, "We are very excited to be working with the NWMCOG to update our Master Plan, including the development of a new Five Year Recreation Plan that will allow the Village of Kalkaska to be eligible to apply for MDNRE Recreation Grants that may become available."
"The staff at NWMCOG are very knowledgeable in the planning area, and we are looking forward to developing a high quality Master Plan that embraces the concepts of the Grand Vision, New Economy, and New Designs for Growth. In the long term, if we can adhere to the concepts that we outline in our Master Plan, then Kalkaska will truly be the space to grow," Hill ended.
There are six other Community Growth Grant awards throughout the six-county region of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Wexford Counties. These grants were made possible by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which awarded a one-year, $200,000 grant to the Council of Governments, in partnership with the Chamber's Traverse Bay Economic Development Corporation.
"This partnership between the Council of Governments and Traverse City Chamber of Commerce allows our two organizations to work more closely together with communities wishing to implement the goals of the Grand Vision's Growth and Investment Group," said Matt McCauley, Director of Regional Planning and Community Development for the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments.
"The Community Growth Grants Program works to move the region's Grand Vision into action by providing direct financial support and/or technical assistance to communities," McCauley finished.
Tino Breithaupt, the Chamber's Senior Vice President of Economic Development, stated, "This grant from the Kellogg Foundation allows the COG and Chamber to work more closely with local unit of government leaders to carry out our respective organization goals of building communities in the region."
A total of 24 applications were received from 31 communities, requesting nearly $450,000 in funding.
The Community Growth Grants Program is designed to award at least one community development project in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Wexford Counties.
