The following stories exemplify how different organizations, municipalities, communities, and cities are working together to improve local communities and the economic climate of Mid-Michigan. If you have a Good News Story that illustrates regional collaboration, we'd love to hear from you! E-mail your stories and suggestions to info@primacivitas.org.
REGIONAL COLLABORATION
Submitted by Dennis LaForest, City Manager of St. Johns, on June 25th, 2008
PA 425 Agreement with Bingham Township and the City of St. Johns in 1995 for residential development (single family homes).
PA 425 Agreement with Bingham Township and City of St. Johns in 1996 for the Clinton Area Care Center.
Join 1987 Sewer Agreement between Bingham Township and the City of St. Johns. City allocates 100,000 g.p.d. (gallons per day) to the township.
In 2008, the City of St. Johns and Bingham Township revise the existing sewer agreement increasing the g.p.d. (gallons per day) to 200,000.
The City of St. Johns and the Villages of Fowler and Maple Rapids and the Townships of Bengal, Bingham, Dallas, Essex, Greenbush, Lebanon, and Riley established and mutually manage the Clinton Area Ambulance Authority under PA 57.
Submitted by Neil West, Leroy Township Supervisor on June 20, 2008
Leroy Township has participated with NIESA, short for Northeast Ingham Emergency Services Authority, with Locke Township, Williamstown Township, Wheatfield Township, Village of Webberville and City of Williamston since 1999. The collaboration has vastly improved the fire and ambulance responses made.
Visit NIESA’s website at http://www.niesa.org/.
Potter Park Zoo Regional Agreement between City of Lansing and Ingham County
• In April 2007, the regional agreement with Ingham County for the maintenance and operations of Potter Park Zoo in Lansing received final approval. With the overwhelming approval of voters across Ingham County last November, Ingham County now levies a countywide millage to support the operations of the Zoo. The transition officially took place on July 1, 2007.
ITEC-Lansing
• A nonprofit, collaborative partnership between community, business, education, and government, ITEC's mission is to increase technology skills of Lansing area children and adults so as to better prepare them to participate in a fast-paced, global IT-based economy. ITEC’s Board consists of members from Michigan State University, the City of Lansing, the Lansing Public School District and other Lansing-area organizations.
• Leadership and Partner Organizations of ITEC: Holmes Street Neighborhood Association, Spartan Internet Consulting Corporation, Dewpoint, Inc., TechSmith Corporation, Prima Civitas Foundation, City of Lansing, Lansing School District, City of Lansing Economic Development Corporation, and Michigan State University.
• Visit ITEC-Lansing’s website at www.iteclansing.com.
Lansing/East Lansing SmartZone
• Michigan State University is joining forces with the cities of Lansing and East Lansing to establish the Lansing Regional SmartZone. The goal of the SmartZone is to create a method and environment that identifies commercial opportunities within MSU and other places, and grows or attracts businesses by providing incubator space, entrepreneurial expertise, and exposure to potential markets, access to capital, incentives and long-term profitable locations.
425 Tax Sharing Agreement Between City of Lansing and Alaiedon Township for Development of Jackson National Life Insurance Company Headquarters
• In 1998, then Mayor, David Hollister, signed a 425 Agreement with Alaiedon Township in September that facilitated the development of the headquarters of Jackson National Life Insurance Company.
MI Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority
• In March 2007, a corridor improvement authority was created between the City of Lansing, Lansing Township, and the City of East Lansing to strengthen and improve the Michigan Ave corridor for the next 10 years. This is the first collaboration between municipalities of this character in the state of Michigan. The authority's goals include beautifying the streetscape, strengthening the roadway and utility systems and drawing more innovative business to the region, East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh said.
• East Lansing, Lansing and Lansing Township are collaborating to revitalize the 3-mile stretch of Michigan Avenue from the Capitol to MSU.
425 Tax Sharing Agreement Between City of Lansing and Meridian Charter Township for Development of College Fields, a golf course and residential development (1999)
• Tax Sharing Agreement between City of Lansing (Mayor Hollister) and Meridian Charter Township which allowed for the creation of Governor’s Club, recently renamed to College Fields Golf Course.
425 Tax Sharing Agreement between City of Lansing and Delta Township to build General Motors’ Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant
• Mayor Hollister signed a 425 Tax Sharing Agreement with Delta Township to build GM’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plants.
• This new plant would bring jobs and income into the State of Michigan, more specifically, the Tri-County Area.
Capital City Airport was renamed Capital Region International Airport – a Regional Airport Authority
• The Capital Regional International Airport was created to serve the Tri-County area.
• The law provides that it is run by a board consisting of City of Lansing and the counties of Ingham, Clinton, and Eaton. Although, at this time only Lansing and Ingham county representatives sit on the board.
Tri-County Office on Aging
• The TCOA Consortium Board is a cooperative intergovernmental body composed of elected officials (or their designees) including representation from the Lansing Mayor's Office, Lansing and East Lansing City Councils, and the Clinton, Eaton and Ingham County Commissions.
The Power of We – The Capital Area Community
• The Power of We Consortium is often referred to as a "community collaborative" or a "network of networks." The PWC capitalizes on the power of social capital (features of social organization such as trust, civic involvement, and connection) and diversity to achieve positive results for the community. This desire to foster community-wide collaboration and to engage all segments of the population in community improvement efforts is reflected in the PWC's membership.
• Founding Institutes include: Capital Area Michigan Works!, Ingham County Board of Commissioners, Ingham Intermediate School District, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth-Rehabilitation Services, Michigan State University Extension, Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission, and more.
Mutual Aid Agreements Related to Police, Fire, Emergency Medical and Hazardous Materials
• Many mutual aid agreements exists between the region’s cities, townships, and counties related to police, fire, emergency medical, and hazardous materials responses.
Tri-County Metro Narcotics Team
• The Tri-County Metro Narcotics Squad is a multi-jurisdictional task force serving Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties. The task force investigates drug trafficking at all levels with an emphasis on mid to upper level drug trafficking. The squad is comprised of two teams. Each team investigates both street level and conspiracy cases.
