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| Phragmites Management Advisory Council
A Phragmites Advisory Council is being created for the Commission's GLRI Phragmites Management project. The Advisory Council will be made up of individuals that have been managing Phragmites around the Bay of Green Bay. The group will be an important decision-making body for the project to ensure that the grant funds are utilized to achieve the most Phragmites removal in priority areas for the least amount of money. The Advisory Council will assist with selecting contractors, reviewing completed inventory work, prioritizing treatment areas, and evaluating effectiveness. For more information, please contact Angela Pierce.
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| NACO County Economic Tracker
 The National Association of Counties (NACO) has released their
County Economic Tracker 2014
. This is a second research report that focused on county economic dynamics.
The report presents trend data on four economic performance indicators: economic output (GDP); employment; unemployment rates; and home prices. This snapshot also looks at spatial patterns of wages and wage growth that are adjusted for the cost of living and inflation.
Check out the
website to find economic performance by county.
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| Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation Nominations Sought 
Do you know of an individual, organization or company involved in innovative initiatives or projects to improve the health of Lake Michigan? If so, nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 Lake Michigan Champions of Conservation, sponsored by the Lake Michigan Stakeholders and Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP). Nominees need to work with one of the following in the Lake Michigan basin: water resources protection (monitoring or improving streams, lakes or wetlands); environmental education and outreach (establishing or improving communication and education about environmental issues for the general public, youth and stewardship programs); or, land use protection and habitat restoration (focusing on improving land development decisions to restore and protect natural areas). Nominations can be submitted online and are due May 1st. Champions will be honored at the 2nd Annual Lake Michigan Day (August 14th) at the University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc. Lake Michigan Day highlights the importance to the Lake Michigan shoreline and inland communities' health and economy and the special connections residents have to this unique world treasure. Further details can be found on the Lake Michigan Stakeholders website or by contacting Jim Kettler with LNRP. |
| USDA Rural Development Website has Moved
USDA Rural Development has launched a new and improved website, with a new web address:
www.RD.usda.gov.
Please visit and browse to reconnect all your favorite links and shortcuts to information. Also, visit the
Wisconsin Rural Development Homepage to sign up to receive important program updates, the quarterly newsletter, news releases, and more!
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| Sheboygan Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Activities
Commission staff continues to prepare the
Year 2045 Sheboygan Area Transportation Plan (SATP)
. Commission staff has completed draft Chapter 6 (Transportation and Land Use). Commission staff has completed most of draft Chapter 7 (Recommended Transportation Plan); the one item that remains to be completed is the bicycle and pedestrian transportation project recommendations, as these need to be fiscally constrained with reasonably expected available resources.
Commission staff has completed most of draft Chapter 8 (Mitigation of Environmental Impacts of Major Transportation Projects), but needs to hold a meeting with state and Federal environmental agencies to obtain input regarding this chapter (this meeting is expected to be held in late April). Commission staff has completed most of draft Chapter 9 (Financial Plan); again, the one item that remains is the demonstration of fiscal constraint of the bicycle and pedestrian transportation project recommendations in the plan.
Many of the draft appendices in the
Year 2045 SATP
have been completed, including: the glossary of terms; the transportation system performance indicator report; the environmental justice analysis; and the listing of Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committee members. Commission staff is in the process of completing the conformity analysis on the plan, and is also in the process of preparing appendices regarding financial plan supporting documentation as well as regarding the public participation process for the plan. One final appendix that will be included in the plan involves the minutes of the multiagency environmental consultation meeting once it has been held.
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| Available Grant Opportunities
The following is a list of upcoming grant opportunities and their due dates. Please contact the
Commission
if you
have a project idea, or need assistance with preparing or administering a grant, or if you are interested in partnering with the Commission on a project.
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Challenge America, April 16, 2015
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Community Development Investment Grant Program, April 17, 2015
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FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grants, April 17, 2015
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Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program, April 20, 2015
- Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program, April 24, 2015
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Community Economic Development Project Grants, April 24, 2015
- National Environmental Education Foundation Capacity-Building Grants, April 30, 2015
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Acquisition and Development of Local Parks Program, May 1, 2015
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Regional Trails Aids Programs, May 1, 2015
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Urban Rivers Program, May 1, 2015
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Urban Green Space Program, May 1, 2015
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On-going or Various deadlines throughout the year:
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To submit information for consideration in future newsletters, send an email to
[email protected]. Include your name, community/organization, and contact information in the body of the message.
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| An Economic Development District & Metropolitan Planning Organization serving Northeast Wisconsin for over 40 years. |
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To submit a request for an EMSI Analyst Query, please complete and submit this form:
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| ANNOUNCEMENTS
Executive Committee Meeting, Blue Harbor Resort, Sheboygan
April 26-28
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STAFF CONTACTS
Richard Heath Executive Director Jeff Agee-Aguayo Transportation Planner Richard Malone Office Accounts Coordinator Angela Pierce Natural Resources Planner Brandon Robinson Community Assistance Planner Joshua Schedler GIS Coordinator |
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