Contact: Tim Ervin
231-723-4325

For Immediate Release

“MAKING MANISTEE COUNTY THE PREMIER DESTINATION
FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO FRESH WATER”

EASTER SEALS MAKES GRANT TO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Manistee, Michigan – Michigan Easter Seals has made a $20,000 grant to the Manistee County Community Foundation and the goals are not modest: to make Manistee County the premier destination in the world for universal access to fresh water.”

“This grant represents the culmination of the Envision Accessible Manistee project but, more importantly, reflects a long-term commitment between our organization and those in Manistee County to make the county a worldwide leader in making its fresh water resources accessible to all people, including those with disabilities or other special needs,” said John Cocciolone, President of Michigan Easter Seals.

Cocciolone said that the purpose of the grant is to establish countywide priorities for universal access to the county’s streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and Great Lakes shoreline and to seek public and private funds and form an endowment to create universal access to these resources.

The grant was made as a result of a 10 month project to identify universal access issues and opportunities in Manistee County, the results of which are contained in a final report issued today, entitled “Envision Accessible Manistee.” The national Easter Seals organization selected Manistee County for the project based upon the success of the county’s visioning initiative, “Envision Manistee County.” A total of 20 organizations and 65 individuals participated in the Envision Accessible Manistee initiative.

“As we explored the opportunities and needs for universal access in Manistee County, it was obvious that fresh water is instrumental to the economic well-being and quality of life in the county,” said Carol Maus, Senior Director of Federal Projects of the national Easter Seals organization based in Washington, D.C. “We are delighted that Easter Seals Michigan is making this grant as a result of this project so that Manistee County can set the example for the world about how all people can access, use, enjoy and learn about our precious fresh water resources.”

While implementation of Envision Accessible Manistee will be focused county-wide, the initial focus of the project was on the City of Manistee. “Universal access was a clear priority that emerged from our recent strategic planning process. We view our beaches, our fisheries, and our location as a gateway to recreation and natural beauty that are second to none and we want to ensure their use and enjoyment by people of all ages and abilities” said Cyndy Fuller, Mayor of the City of Manistee.

Laura Heintzelman, who presently works under a grant to the Manistee County Community Foundation from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as a grant writer, will coordinate the Easter Seals project. Heintzelman is also coordinating the county’s Portage Lake Forever Watershed Plan and facilitating the development of a county-wide point-of-sale well and septic ordinance. Heintzelman holds academic degrees in the natural sciences and has prior experience coordinating and implementing community-driven plans for watershed restoration through her work with the Conservation Resource Alliance. Heintzelman also served as director of a management support organization for nonprofit organizations. Recently, Heintzelman provided grant writing assistance to local governments and nonprofit organizations to apply for funding through the Community Foundation to implement Envision Manistee County and Small Town Design Initiative projects.

Heintzelman’s work will be complimentary to and inclusive of the process to develop a Recreation Plan for Manistee County that is being coordinated by the County Planning commission under a grant from the Community Foundation, made possible through funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to implement Envision Manistee County. Heintzelman will seek input from local governments, nonprofit organizations, schools, county business and residents to identify priorities for universal access to fresh water. Once priorities are established, Heintzelman will target sources of financial assistance to implement universal access programs.

“Manistee is at the heart of the Great Lakes which contain 20% of the world’s total fresh water supply,” said Tim Ervin, President of the Manistee County Community Foundation. From our manufacturing businesses to our growing presence as a destination for recreation and tourism, our county has untapped and unsurpassed opportunities to benefit from our fresh water resources.”