Contact: Laura Heintzelman
Executive Director
231-723-7269
mccf@manisteefoundation.org

For Immediate Release

Issued on behalf of the Manistee County Community Foundation

BUILDING COMMUNITIES THAT LAST:
“SMART GROWTH” FOR MANISTEE COUNTY TRAINING PROVIDED
UNDER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION JOINT EFFORT

Manistee, Michigan – The last grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation to support a county-wide visioning effort – Envision Manistee County – will be used to train over 130 residents on a cutting-edge land use program made possible through another Kellogg Foundation grant.

The Manistee County Community Foundation announced today a joint effort with the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute that will help over 130 people county-wide participate in a training program about “Smart Growth” for their communities through the Citizen Planner Program.

The Citizen Planner is a training program consisting of several courses or modules to help land use decision makers guide land use that results in livable communities – now and in the future. The Smart Growth module provides an introduction about how Smart Growth principles can be used to guide land use planning to best serve the economy, community and the environment.

“We applaud the Foundation, the Land Policy Institute and the local government officials throughout Manistee County for encouraging forward-thinking planning about their communities,” said Gail Imig, Program Director of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. “This effort will be of immeasurable value in equipping people with added skills and abilities to build communities that last.”

The Community Foundation is coordinating the program through Township Supervisors, Village Presidents, City Manager of the City of Manistee, Manistee County, and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, asking them to help identify individuals to register in the program. Through the joint effort, the cost of the program for a registrant will be $20.00, with the Community Foundation and Land Policy Institute covering $50.00 of the course which normally costs $70 per person.

Elected and appointed officials are encouraged to register, particularly those involved with planning commissions or related matters. For more information, contact the Manistee County Community Foundation at 231-723-7269 or your local municipality.

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