SUMMARY OF REGION 6 - REGIONAL PROSPERITY MEETING

The Region 6 Regional Prosperity Steering Committee met at 10:30 am on Thursday, September 10, 2015, at the Lapeer County Health Department.

PRESENT: Chairperson Carl Osentoski, Brent Jones, Craig Coney, Derek Bradshaw, Eric Andreychuk, Geoffrey Donaldson, Jessica Billiau, John Bierbusse, John Hoffmann, John Horvath, Jody Kerbyson, Kimberly Prusak, Mary Ann Ketels, Patricia Lucas, Rachel Verschaeve, Robert McLaren, Thomas Crampton, Thomas Young, Wen Hemingway, Anna Pinter and Debby Compton.

Chairperson Osentoski called the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m.

  1. Introductions

Everyone introduced themselves.

  1. Election of Officers
  2. Chairperson
  3. Vice-Chairperson

Mr. Derek Bradshaw stated we will open it up for official nominations of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson at the next meeting and elect officers. The next meeting will be November 12, 2015.

Chairperson Carl Osentoski stated if anyone is interested in serving as Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson or knows of someone that would like to serve, please let Mr. Bradshaw, Ms. Pinter, or myself know.

  1. Regional Transit Mobility Phase I Report Update

Ms. Anna Pinter statedthe Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Office of Passenger Safety is requesting staff to ask the I-69 Thumb Region Steering Committee members for their comments and approval of the information collected during Phase I of the Regional Transit Mobility Initiative. Phase I was to document what is known about regional transit mobility in a particular region and was completed for the Genesee-Lapeer-Shiawassee (GLS) Region in April 2015. Ms. Pinter stated in order to assemble a summary of what regional transit is available in Prosperity Region 6, staff reached out to the neighboring planning regions of Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and Eastern Michigan Council of Governments (EMCOG) to discuss their findings. Committee members received the summary and a map depicting regional transit services provided throughout Prosperity Region 6 as well as hyperlinks where they could access the full reports and the information collected for GLS Region V.

  1. Partnership Projects Status Update
  2. Economic Development Partnership Projects
  3. Agricultural Strategy
  4. Site, Building and Square Footage Strategy

i. Ms. Anna Pinter stated we have over 90 entries of craft food producers, sellers, etc. in a table that once verified can be put into a google map and then hopefully be put on the Region’s website. The craft agriculture project has started but there is a lot more work to do. It was suggested that we provide a list of craft food producers for each of the counties.

ii. Ms. Anna Pinter stated the economic development partners met with Olsson Associates to discuss the Site, Building and Square Footage Strategy. She stated the economicdevelopmentagencies are working closely with Olsson Associates to position sites for potential future development.

  1. Education Partnership Projects
  2. Talent Tours Transportation Funding
  3. Asset Mapping
  4. Approval of Consultant
  1. Ms. Anna Pinter stated Shiawassee had the first Talent Tour with 20 students. She stated there are 3 additional requests submitted related to Manufacturing Day. Discussion ensued.

Mr. Derek Bradshaw stated we will see where we are at the end of September and maybe we will extend the date.

  1. Ms. Anna Pinter stated we received four proposals for the Asset Mapping of Education of Work Based Programs and interviewed the two that scored the highest. She said we are ready to make a recommendation of approval to Region V to enter into a contract with W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research for $15,000.

Action: Approved: Moved by Wen Hemingway, supported by Craig Coney, to approve the recommendation of approval to GLS Region V to enter into a contract with Upjohn for $15,000.

Motion carried unanimously.

  1. 2016 Regional Prosperity Initiative Funding
  2. Funding Levels – Regional Prosperity Collaborative vs. Council
  3. Projects

a. Mr. Derek Bradshaw stated there is $2.5 million set aside for Regional Prosperity Initiatives state-wide for next year. Mr. Bradshaw stated the application is available October 1, 2015 and due in December 2015. Mr. Bradshaw stated community development agencies need to be included in the process now and a lot of the regions will not receive full funding. Mr. Bradshaw stated we could partner with other regions and pool the money. He stated the governor appreciates everyone working on this and there will be no boundary changes.

b. Mr. Derek Bradshaw stated this year’s projects were Economic Development, Workforce Development and Education. Do we want to stick with these or come up with other projects? Mr. Bradshaw stated if anyone has any ideas talk to Ms. Pinter or myself so we can all talk about it. The more ideas we have the better.

  1. Next Steps

Ms. Pinter stated our next meeting is Thursday, November 12, 2015.

Mr. Osentoski stated the City of Sandusky was chosen for the Housing Needs Analysis because of its declining population. They were looking for communities that are struggling.

It was mentioned that maybe the results of the analysis could be shared with the group so they can help other struggling communities.

Chairperson Osentoski adjourned the meeting at 11:44 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by,

Debby Compton, Secretary

Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission