PAST PROJECTS
ByProduct Synergy
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repurpose what what has been traditionally considered waste. -
reduce emissions -
reduce energy, raw material, and disposal costs -
improve productivity, profitability, regulatory compliance, and community relations -
develop new products and markets -
protect the environment and our natural resources -
recude costs and waste
Children's Water Festival
In 1995, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission and the Groundwater Management Board (GMB) hosted the first Children’s Water Festival in Michigan at Michigan State University. In total, seventeen festivals were held over 20 years. The festival was always well received and considered a great success serving over 35,000 elementary students from area schools. The free festival provided an interactive field trip for students to learn about the importance of our environment, water resources, and their role in protecting and conserving it. The students participated in hands on activities led by local water management professionals. Over the years hundreds of professional volunteers provided presentations to students, emphasizing the importance of water-related careers.
From the beginning, the GMB strived to provide an excellent event experience. Unfortunately over time, the logistics of the festival become more and more challenging. In 2015 the GMB staff was approached by the Michigan State University (MSU) Science Festival coordinators looking to learn from our festival experiences. The MSU Science Festival reaches over 30,000 people per year, and was seeking water focused presentations for elementary students. The result was a partnership that led to the Children’s Water Festival being permanently incorporated into the MSU event.
This opportunity allowed the GMB to redirect its efforts while still achieving the goal of water education for youth. GMB volunteers and Tri-County staff continue to present and participate at the MSU Science Festival; it has merged into a beneficial partnership.
Aerial Photography
Since 2010, Tri-County has historically served as a liason for coordinating aerial imagery flyovers of the Greater Lansing area every five years in partnership with our regional municipalities, the state, and various local and county agencies.
In 2020, Tri-County again served as a facilitator for our regional partners and the state during this multi-month project. The 2020 flyover was part of region-wide effort conducted in coordination with and funded by local, county, and state agencies and public utilities.
In early March 2020, all aerial data was collected in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties by airplane. Early spring "leaf-off" conditions allowed for a greater level of the ground level detail without the interference of leaves on trees. The aerial flyover provides Mid-Michigan with 3-inch resolution photographs of our landscape in our urbanized areas, as well as 4-inch and 6-inch resolution in suburban and rural areas.
Fortunately, snow in Spring 2020 allowed for earlier than usual aerial imagery collection. Due to the coronavirus, the collected data processing and delivery was delayed until late 2020 and early 2021, however, the project was completed in late May 2021 and aerial data has been distributed to the participating municipalities.
Health Impact Assessment Tool
Using funds from the Mid-Michigan Program for Greater Sustainability (MMPGS) HUD grant, the Mid-Michigan Health In All Program, MMPGS partners, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, and Michigan State University partnered together to create the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Toolkit in 2015.
Imagine Mid-Michigan
At the core of IMM activities were the objectives of Tri-County's 2005 Regional Growth: Choices for our Future policy document. A key element of the Long Range Transportation Plan and a mission of the agency, the objectives of said document were meant to implement a sustainable growth pattern and transportation network in Mid-Michigan. They included:
- Intergovernmental Cooperation
- Public Participation
- Equitable Growth and Redevelopment
- Environmental Protection
- Housing for All Community Residents
- Enhancing and Preserving the Existing Road Network
- Emphasize Transit & Non-Motorized Modes Rather than Further Expansion of the Road Network in Rural Areas
- Urban and Rural Service Areas
- Farmland, Open Space and other Natural Resource Protection
- Greenways and Walkability
- Park and Recreation Expansion and Linkages
- Historic Preservation & Cultural Facilities
- Compact Settlement
- Clustered Development Areas
- Phased Growth
- Strengthening Urban Cores
- Viable Neighborhoods, and
- High Density Mixed Uses
These Regional Growth policy objectives have been implemented by Tri-County staff throughout their respective program areas. For the former Land Use program, which is now integrated into the new Community Development program, this included the ongoing study and promotion planning policies such as urban service boundary and various tax-revenue sharing programming. The IMM program was an implementation activity of Tri-County and its Urban and Rural Service Management (URSM) Committee, which discussed regional cooperation in designating an urban service (water and sewer) boundary and the efficient sharing of services between jurisdictions
Pollution Isn't Pretty
This campaign received the 2013 Gold ADDY Award. The ADDYs are considered the world's largest advertising competition that recognizes creative excellence in all forms of media and design.
Mid-Michigan Program for Greater Sustainability
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Develop a 5-year Comprehensive Regional Fair & Affordable Housing Plan -
Develop a Regional Affordable Housing Study -
Build capacity in the region through a Community Reinvestment Fund -
Develop an Energy Audit Study of Built Structures -
Build capacity for a Regional Urban Service Management Area -
Promote a prioritized green infrastructure system: Greening Mid-Michigan -
Development of a Sustainable Design Portfolio for the Michigan Avenue Corridor -
Build capacity for Complete Streets planning and implementation -
Evaluate and promote sustainability efforts: An Online Portal for information sharing
Greening Mid-Michigan
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Farmland and other natural resources should be protected in an equitable, fiscally responsible manner to preserve the heritage, environment, quality of life and long-term sustainability of the region. -
Pathways, sidewalks, trails and on-street bicycle facilities should be developed and enhanced to provide alternatives to motorized transportation, improve linkages to recreational opportunities for regional residents, and provide public health benefits by offering opportunities for physical activity. -
Parks and recreation development and expansions should emphasize linkage of facilities through greenways based on the regional vision and the adopted Regional Non-Motorized Systems Plan. -
The region’s significant built and living heritage, historic sites, cultural facilities and neighborhoods should be protected, preserved, and enhanced.
Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities
From 2017-2019, Tri-County housed and coordinated the Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities (GLACC), a coalition of stakeholders working locally to implement alternative and renewable fuels, idle reduction measures, fuel economy improvements, and emerging transportation technologies.
GLACC's projects, led by Tri-County staff and guided by their Board of Directors, worked to achieve cleaner air, reduced emissions, and energy security in Mid-Michigan through alternative fuel and vehicle usage, and fuel economy practices. Members and stakeholders have included fleets, corporations, nonprofit organizations, utilities, local governments, and individuals – anyone interested in ways cleaner fuels, vehicles, and practices can improve our air quality and reduce petroleum dependence through local activities that grow the market for alternative fuels and advanced vehicles.
Clean Cities dates back to the Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988 and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. These laws, which encouraged the production and use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and the reduction of vehicle emissions, led to the creation of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) in 1991. The AFDC's mission was to collect, analyze, and distribute data used to evaluate alternative fuels and vehicles.
In 1992, the enactment of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) required certain vehicle fleets to acquire AFVs. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Energy created Clean Cities in 1993 to provide informational, technical, and financial resources to EPAct-regulated fleets and voluntary adopters of alternative fuels and vehicles.
Learn more about GLACC and its initiatives at michigancleancities.org.