E-Newsletter Volume 12, Issue 10 / October 2022 |
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Welcome to Our Newest Employee! |
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We are pleased to welcome Raquel Orta to the Bay-Lake RPC team!
Raquel joins our team as our new Administrative Assistant and will be helping out with bookkeeping, mailings, and other miscellaneous duties around the office. Her previous experience includes over nine years in the appraisal field working as a project manager and assisting with appraisals. She also has also worked in the healthcare industry working as a Patient Service Representative.
Raquel currently has her Wisconsin Assessor 1 and 2 Certification and is enrolled in the Human Services Leadership program at at UW-Oshkosh.
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At its September 9th meeting of the full Commission, three new officers were elected. Mike Hotz, Sheboygan County, was elected the new Chairman of the Commission; Dan Koski, Manitowoc County, was elected Vice-Chairman; and Ann Hartnell, Marinette County, was elected Secretary/Treasurer. All three positions have a one-year term with new elections taking place each September.
Aside from the three elected officials sitting on the Commission’s Executive Committee, three other Commissioners were appointed by the new Chairman to be a part of that committee. New appointees include Terry Brazeau of Oconto County, Donna Thomas of Kewaunee County, and Larry Neuens of Florence County.
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Main Street Bounceback Grant Program Update |
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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. The grant is available to new businesses that have purchased or leased a vacant commercial space after 1/1/2021 for business. Existing businesses that have expanded into a previously vacant commercial space after 1/1/2021. Lease or deed must be dated on or after 1/1/2021. Additional program eligibility and exclusions can be found on the grant program's webpage. Please note that funding is limited under this program and businesses are not guaranteed grant funds. Bay-Lake RPC is focusing on spaces that meet the square footage requirements and operating at time of completed application submittal.
Since the program began, we have received over 1,375 Intents to Apply and funded 588 applications!
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The draft Sheboygan Metropolitan Planning Area Transportation Improvement Program: Calendar Years 2023 – 2026 has been released for a 30-day public comment period that runs through October 28th. The 2023 – 2026 TIP can be found here. A public hearing on the 2023 – 2026 TIP will be held as part of the joint meeting of the Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees on October 27th; the MPO advisory committees are scheduled to recommend approval of the document at that same meeting. The Commission is scheduled to take action on the 2023 – 2026 TIP at a meeting of its Executive Committee on October 28th.
The draft 2023 Sheboygan Metropolitan Planning Area Transportation Planning Work Program was completed and sent to WisDOT, USDOT and other stakeholders in September. A meeting to review the draft document with WisDOT and USDOT was held on September 29th. Approval of this document is expected to take place in late October.
Updating the long-range transportation plan for the metropolitan planning area continues to be a major task in 2022. Commission staff continued work on draft Chapters 6 (Transportation and Land Use) and 9 (Financial Plan) of the Year 2050 SATP in September. Commission staff also started presenting draft Chapter 5 (Existing Condition of the Transportation Network) to the MPO advisory committees in early September.
The Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees recommended approval of the Transit Asset Management (TAM) plan and targets for Shoreline Metro at their joint meeting on September 8th, and the Commission approved these items at its meeting on September 9th. The TAM Plan and targets have been submitted to FTA and WisDOT, and have been posted to the Commission’s website here.
Commission staff continue to plan for the 2022 MPO/RPC/WisDOT/USDOT transportation planning conference that will be held at Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sheboygan October 10th – 12th. This included gathering bios and presentation slides from conference presenters, compiling a roster of conference attendees, and coordination with Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center staff.
In September, Commission staff participated in a WisDOT Northeast Region Travel Demand Forecast Model Users’ Group meeting in which the next updates to the model and their timing were discussed. In addition, Commission staff continued to advise area local governments as they apply for special local program funding administered by WisDOT under the BIL.
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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. |
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Manitowoc County Parks and Open Space Survey |
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Manitowoc County is in the process of updating the Manitowoc County Parks and Open Space Plan. The County is asking members of the public to provide feedback on what outdoor recreation activities they currently enjoy and what they want to see for future recreational opportunities.
Input gathered from the survey will help the County understand which facilities are currently being utilized and prioritize future recreational needs. The survey will be open until November 30, 2022 and can be access by clicking on the link below:
Any questions about the Manitowoc County Parks and Open Space Plan should be directed to Nicole Barbiaux at nbarbiaux@baylakerpc.org or 920-448-2820 ext. 104.
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Waterfront Project Questionnaire |
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Bay-Lake RPC is currently in the process of developing a Waterfront Toolkit. As a part of this Toolkit, we will be showcasing waterfront projects through case studies. To gather the necessary information for these case studies we are asking communities and organizations to complete a waterfront project questionnaire. Any community or organization completing projects within the Great Lakes region or along rivers qualify to participate in the questionnaire. If you are interested in filling out the questionnaire, please utilize this link:
For any assistance with completing the questionnaire, please contact Adam Christensen at achristensen@baylakerpc.org or 920-448-2820 ex. 106.
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Town of Gibraltar Comprehensive Plan Survey |
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The Town of Gibraltar has started updating its 20-year comprehensive plan which will be used as a guidance tool for growth in the town over the next 20 years. The town is asking residents to participate in an online survey that will identify concerns or improvements needed in the community. The online survey is available through October 14, 2022, and can be accessed by clicking on the following link:
Any questions about the Town of Gibraltar Comprehensive Plan should be directed to Brandon Robinson at brobinson@baylakerpc.org or 920-448-2820 ex. 105.
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Upcoming Events & Meetings |
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2022 MPO/RPC/WisDOT/USDOT Transportation Planning Conference
October 10 - 12
Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center
Sheboygan, WI
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2022 Northwoods Economic Development Summit
Wednesday, October 12, 8:00am
Nicolet College Lakeside Center, Rhinelander, WI
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Luxemburg-Casco School District
Fall Bike Rodeo
Saturday, October 15, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Luxemburg-Casco Intermediate School
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Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees Joint Meeting
Thursday, October 27, 1:00pm
Sheboygan City Hall and Online
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Bay-Lake RPC
Executive Committee Meeting
Friday, October 28, 10:00am
Bay-Lake RPC Office
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- December 9, 2022 -
Bay-Lake RPC Full
Commission Meeting
10:00am
Location TBD
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Funding and Grant Opportunities |
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October and November Grant Deadlines
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- WDNR Regular Urban Forestry Grants (October 1)
- FWS North American Wetlands Conservation Act: Small Grants Program (October 14)
- WDOA Rental Housing Development (October 15)
- WEDC Wisconsin Cooperative Feasibility Grant (October 15)
- AARP Wisconsin Small Dollar, Big Impact Grant (October 18)
- WDNR Clean Water Fund Program (October 31)
- PeopleForBikes Community Grant (October 31)
- WDNR Surface Water Grant Program – Full Applications Due (November 1)
- Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (November 4)
- AARP Wisconsin Small Dollar, Big Impact Grants (November 10)
- TCE Build Strong Grant Program (November 11)
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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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