E-Newsletter Volume 11, Issue 10 / October 2021 |
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Send us your Applications -
Main Street Bounceback Grant Program
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Bay-Lake RPC is continuing to accept grant applications for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Main Street Bounceback Grant program. We have already received over 300 Intents to Apply and funded almost 100 applications! Grant eligibility includes (but not limited to):
- New purchaser or tenant of a vacant commercial space or a business that expanded its existing footprint into additional vacant commercial space. Lease agreements must be 12-months or greater. Additionally, lease or sales contract must be fully executed and dated on or before January 1, 2021. Some exception may apply.
- Business registered with the State of Wisconsin.
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Take a Virtual Trip Along Our Lakeshore |
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The BLRPC, in partnership with Wisconsin Sea Grant, have prepared a virtual field trip to explore sites along the Lake Michigan lakeshore. The field trip includes 36 sites. Among other opportunities, it includes media that allow you to: |
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- Soar through Fischer Creek Conservation Area and Amsterdam Dunes Preservation Area.
- Witness how water levels have changed Algoma's and Two Rivers' beaches over time.
- Learn how wave erosion and bluff slumping affect our lakeshore.
- Find assets that make our lakeshore both a destination and a working coast.
Visit the Field Trip HERE.
This field trip is a product of our Coastal Resilience Project, which is a study about coastal hazard impacts and strategies to make our lakeshore communities more adaptive to change. We thank the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for providing funding to support this project.
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Connecting with Community |
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How often does your agency connect with the community? Effective community engagement can help government agencies build trust and foster positive relationships. The BLRPC is interested in making community engagement an affordable, fun, and thought-provoking experience for our members by offering survey development and focus group facilitation services.
Surveys and focus groups are research methods that allow an agency to take stock of the values held by the public, stakeholders, or specific groups. They can be designed in a variety of ways to help an agency:
- Realign funding priorities or improve services.
- Identify needed projects or work programs that resonate with the public or other groups.
- Understand concerns and ideas that community members are passionate about.
- Discover creative solutions.
- Garner support or understand opposition for government initiatives.
The BLRPC can provide survey and focus group design, marketing, and analysis services. If you’d like to explore a project, please contact Sadie DiNatale Burda.
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Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant Application Assistance |
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Applications for the 2022-2026 TAP Program Cycle are now open and due on Friday, January 28, 2022. Types of eligible projects would include Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans, Safe Routes to School Plans, some wayfinding efforts, among others. The projects should address needs for more expanded travel choice, strengthened local economies, and improved quality of life, primarily through modes of transportation other than driving personal vehicles. The commission recently completed a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the City of Manitowoc and is currently working on a Safe Routes to School Plan for the Luxemburg-Casco School District, with more communities seeing the value in alternate modes of transportation for everyday life and seeking assistance in developing these types of plans.
If your community is interested in learning more or applying for a TAP grant, please contact Chris Garcia.
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WCMP Grants Application Deadline: November 5th |
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The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) is currently seeking proposals to enhance and restore coastal resources within the state's coastal zone (i.e., all counties adjacent to Lake Michigan/Green Bay). WCMP grants are available for projects under the following categories:
- Coastal wetland protection and habitat restoration
- Nonpoint source pollution control
- Coastal resource and community planning (e.g. outdoor recreation, comprehensive plan elements, resiliency planning, etc.)
- Great Lakes education, public access, and historic preservation
The WCMP anticipates awarding approximately $1.5 million in grant funding. WCMP applications are due Friday, November 5, 2021.
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Adam Christensen or Brandon Robinson of the Commission for additional information, or WCMP staff to discuss ideas for project proposals and application requirements. Application materials and the Request for Proposals are available on the WCMP website.
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The draft Sheboygan Metropolitan Planning Area Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): Calendar Years 2022 – 2025 was released for a 30-day public comment period on September 30. The draft 2022 – 2025 TIP is available for public review at five locations in the Sheboygan area, and online (here) . A public hearing on the 2022 – 2025 TIP will be held as part of a joint meeting of the Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees in Sheboygan on October 28; the MPO advisory committees are scheduled to recommend approval of the document at this same meeting. The Commission is scheduled to approve the 2022 – 2025 TIP at a meeting of its Executive Committee on October 29.
WisDOT and USDOT staff met with Commission MPO staff to review the draft 2022 Sheboygan Metropolitan Planning Area Transportation Planning Work Program the afternoon of September 30. The Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees are scheduled to recommend approval of the MPO Work Program at their joint meeting on October 28th. The Commission is scheduled to approve the final 2022 Sheboygan Metropolitan Planning Area Transportation Planning Work Program at a meeting of its Executive Committee on October 29.
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The Commission reviewed and approved Shoreline Metro’s 2021 Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan and targets for the MPO at its meeting on September 10th. The plan was transmitted to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) shortly thereafter. The plan has been posted to the Commission website here.
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Want to help make an impact in our region? Below are links to the public input activities and surveys that are currently open. |
Luxemburg-Casco Safe Routes to School Online Community Engagement |
The Luxemburg-Casco School District is partnering with Bay-Lake RPC to develop a Safe Routes to School plan. This plan aims to improve the health and well-being of students by identifying and addressing barriers to safely walking or biking to school.
Bay-Lake staff have created two online opportunities for community engagement, including an online survey that asks how students get to and from school and an online crowdsourcing tool that allows community members to report concerns and/or issues related to this topic. These input opportunities can be found on the project website.
Any questions related to the online input opportunities or about the Luxemburg-Casco Safe Routes to School project can be directed to Chris Garcia.
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Environmental Corridors of the Bay-Lake Region Survey |
The Bay-Lake RPC is in the beginning stages of updating its regional environmental corridor dataset. The existing dataset is about 10 years old. This data is typically used to inform planning documents and development decisions.
The Commission is asking for public and community input on what the Bay-Lake region would like to see in this regional environmental corridor update. This short online survey is designed to provide input on the current corridor dataset and what a future dataset might include. To take the survey please click here.
Thank you in advance for your input, if you have any questions or concerns about environmental corridors or this project please contact Adam Christensen or Nicole Barbiaux.
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Upcoming Events & Meetings |
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Northeastern Wisconsin Regional Access to Transportation Committee (NEWRATC)
Tuesday, October 12, 9:30am - 11:30am
Bay-Lake RPC Office
(Virtual Option Available)
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Village of Cedar Grove Comprehensive Plan Update Open House
Monday, October 18, 5:00-6:00pm
Cedar Grove Library
(131 Van Altena Ave, Cedar Grove)
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Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees Joint Meeting
Thursday, October 28, 1:00pm
Sheboygan City Hall, Room 106
(Virtual Option Available)
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Bay-Lake RPC Executive
Committee Meeting
Friday, October 29, 10:00am
Bay-Lake RPC Office
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Check with the Bay-Lake RPC COVID-19 Response and Recovery Portal for new and upcoming events/workshops.
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- December 9, 2021 -
Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees Joint Meeting
1:00pm
Location TBD
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- December 10, 2021 -
Bay-Lake RPC Full
Commission Meeting
10:00am
Bay-Lake RPC Office
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Funding and Grant Opportunities |
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- EDA STEM Talent Challenge (October 12)
- USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program (October 12)
- FWS North American Wetlands Conservation Act: Small Grants Program (October 14)
- PeopleForBikes Community Grant (October 15)
- WDOA Rental Housing Development (October 15)
- EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge (October 19)
- AARP Wisconsin Small Dollar, Big Impact Grant (October 20)
- EDA Statewide Planning, Research & Networks Program (October 31)
- WDNR Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (October 31)
- USDA Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans & Grants (November 1)
- AARP Wisconsin Small Dollar, Big Impact Grant (November 3)
- DOA Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (November 5)
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Do you want to know more about planning services or grants available? |
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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.
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