Providing cooperative planning and funding solutions to foster
healthy and thriving communities within the region.
An Economic Development District serving Northeast Wisconsin for nearly 
50 years.
IN THIS ISSUE
Sheboygan MPO
CONTACT US

(920) 448-2820
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STAFF

Cindy  Wojtczak
Executive Director

Brandon 
Robinson
Assistant Director

Emily Pierquet
Administrative Assistant
Ext. 101
 
Jeffrey 
Agee-Aguayo
Transportation Planner

Madison  Smith
Environmental Planner
Ext. 106

Nicole  Barbiaux
GIS Specialist
Ext. 104

Sydney Swan
Economic Development Planner
Ext. 108

Harry Graham
Community Assistance Planner
Ext. 109


E-NEWSLETTER VOLUME 9,  ISSUE 11/December  2019 
Happy Holidays!

The Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission staff would like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday. Please note that our office will be closed on December 24, 25, and 31, 2019, as well as January 1, 2020.
 
Technical Assistance Grant
The Bay-Lake RPC is once again offering its Technical Assistance Grant Program to its member communities where they could receive free professional planning assistance on small-scale plans or projects. Eligible projects must fit within the Commission's work program and fall under the categories of community planning, economic development, mapping/visualization, environmental, or transportation.

If you want t o apply, click  here . Applications are due by January 31, 2020.

Up to three projects from throughout the Bay-Lake Region will be selected to be carried out by Commission staff at no cost. Projects will be limited to a maximum of five days (40 hours) of staff time. Larger projects are also eligible as a means to get a project underway. Projects must begin and end in 2020. 

For more information on this program, please visit out website or contact Madison Smith.
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant Opportunities

Applications for the 2020-2024 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) award cycle are now available. TAP guidelines, application instructions, and an application form can be found on WisDOT's TAP website. With certain exceptions, projects that meet eligibility criteria for the Safe Routes to School Program, Transportation Enhancements, and/or the Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Program are eligible TAP projects. All TAP projects require sponsors to pay 20% of approved projects costs. TAP applications are due to WisDOT no later than Friday, January 24, 2020. Please contact Brandon Robinson of the Commission staff or visit WisDOT's website for more information on project eligibility.

Broadband Expansion Grants Available
The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin is seeking applications for Broadband Expansion Grants. The PSC may award one or more grants during Fiscal Year 2020 to public and private entities that meet the eligibility requirements set forth in Wis. Stat. ยง 196.504. Successful applicants will demonstrate a clear and achievable plan to improve broadband communications services. Eligible applicants may apply for a grant for the purpose of offsetting the construction costs of extending broadband service in underserved areas of the state.

The applications for a broadband grant must be uploaded to the PSC's Electronic Records Filing System by Thursday, December 19, 2019 .

More information about this funding opportunity is available at the PSC website or by emailing the PSC.
 
Federal Wage Rate Monitoring
The  Commission staff recently completed Davis-Bacon Act wage rate monitoring services for two public works projects in the City of Sheboygan. The monitoring included the collecting, reviewing for compliance, ensuring wage rate sufficiency, and all follow-up activities relating to certified payroll reports submitted by contractors working on federally-funded projects in the city. The projects included the Mead Public Library Plaza renovation and railing painting along the river. Both projects reflect the progress that the city is putting forth in their downtown .
 
Kewaunee County Outdoor 
Recreation Plan
Kewaunee County realizes the importance and benefits its parks and open space system has on the County's character and quality of life and is committed to providing for the recreational needs of its current and future residents. The proposed plan intends to guide the continual improvement of the County's park and open space system and to maintain the County's eligibility for State and Federal park and recreation grants. The plan envisions a connected system of parks, open spaces, and trails throughout the community, related to the County's natural resources, geography and neighborhoods. We think public input is a vital element to the plan's success, therefore we have created an online survey and interactive map for individuals to tell us more about what recreational activities they enjoy and where there are opportunities to enhance Kewaunee County's parks system. Please follow the link here to participate in the survey.

If you have questions regarding this project, please contact
Madison Smith or Harry Graham.
 
Niagara Escarpment News
Ledge-ndary Student Chef Challenge
The 3rd Annual Chef Challenge by the Niagara Escarpment Resource Network (NERN) 
(a program of the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership) held at the Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) on November 1, 2019, was a huge success. Thank you to all who attended and supported the event! Attendees were able to learn about the Niagara Escarpment,  ask questions, see demonstrations, and eat a wonderful four-course meal made with local ingredients by student chefs from the FVTC Culinary Arts Program. The evening was a fundraiser for the FVTC Culinary Arts Competition Program and the Niagara Escarpment Resource Network's curriculum and geo-tourism projects.
 

Niagara Escarpment Tour
On November 15, the NERN committee met and extended a tour to the public of the Escarpment along the ancient shorelines of the Horicon 
Basin.  Cultural landscape expert, Jim Uhrinak, provided a  wealth  of  information and a guided tour with special access to the vast natural and cultural resources of the Kolterman Property. Owned and managed by the Milwaukee Audubon Society, the site, located along the eastern edge of the Horicon Marsh, is being restored to its pre-settlement conditions.
 
For more information on past of future NERN events, please contact Brandon Robinson .
 
Funds Available for Petroleum Contaminated Sites
In 2018, BLRPC received an EPA grant for performing brownfield assessments on hazardous substance and petroleum contaminated sites in the region. In 2019 there were 14 phase I and phase II site assessments performed on properties located throughout the region. The most recent site assessment was performed on a petroleum contaminated site located in downtown Two Rivers.
 
At this time, funds are still available for phase I site assessments on petroleum contaminated sites. Bay-Lake RPC is in the process of identifying both hazardous and petroleum contaminated sites for the next grant cycle that the Commission staff will be applying for in 2020. Please contact  Sydney Swan  if you are aware of any sites that may have hazardous or petroleum contamination and that could benefit from this program, or if you have any questions about the program.


Upcoming Events/Meetings
December 5, 2019, 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
2019 New North Summit
KI Convention Center, Green Bay

December 12, 2019, 1:00 p.m.
Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees Joint Meeting
Sheboygan County Administrative Building, Sheboygan

December 13, 2019, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
BLRPC Full Commission Meeting
The Woods, Green Bay

January 31, 2020, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
BLRPC Executive Committee Meeting
Commission Office, Green Bay

Do you want to know more about planning services or  grants  available ?
The staff of the Bay-Lake RPC are happy to speak to your boards/councils, committees, organization, or community groups about what is happening in our region. 

We are also available to assist communities and counties with meeting facilitation. 

Please contact us at (920) 448-2820 or   [email protected] .

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.    
Please contact
Emily Pierquet for any links that are not working properly.  Thank you!