THE BENEFITS OF

BEING A MEMBER OF THE

 

EAST MICHIGAN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (EMCOG)

 

The following represent some, but not all, of the benefits to member local units of government as members of the East Michigan Council of Governments (EMCOG). 

 

Ø      EMCOG is considered a local unit of government and as such is in the unique position of being able to support many state, local and federal projects and partnerships.

 

Ø      EMCOG is acknowledged as a community partner to all member counties.

 

Ø      Assistance with grant writing, grant review and securing additional sources of funds for needed projects by the EMCOG staff.

 

Ø      Assistance with comprehensive and/or local community planning in the areas of master plans, recreation plans, etc. 

 

Ø      Participation in the federal review process (Executive Order A-12372 Intergovernmental Review) for grant funding.  Several federal funding sources discount grant applications that are not part of a regional review comment process, therefore jeopardizing grant requests.

 

Ø      Access to federal U. S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) funds for economic development purposes, by participating in the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) process as a Team member.

 

Ø      The opportunity to network with other communities in the region in an effort to share and address problems of similar concern (two heads are better than one!).

 

Ø      Better success in obtaining funding for projects which show collaboration among a variety of entities rather than single-entity applications.

 

Ø      Many projects, issues, problems, and opportunities faced by communities transcend geographical boundaries and therefore are larger than any one community can adequately handle (environmental and transportation for example).  By collaborating and partnering, a variety of resources are available (which otherwise would not be) to address the problem.

Ø      Development of the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and inclusion of participating member counties and local unit projects in the document. This report is submitted annually to the U. S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration. 

 

Ø      Regional Agency staff work with RED Team members and local EDCs in the development of this document in order to ensure that all items of note for each individual county are represented within the report.

 

Ø      Letters of Support for member projects; economic development, recreation, environment.  Sub-state Regional project review (A-12372) and comment for member projects.  Note:  We do not provide review or comment on non-member projects.

 

Ø      Asset Management pavement assessment (PASER) and training for member units.  This procedure is part of a compliance activity for federal audit rule GASB34.

 

Ø      Solid Waste planning.  All counties must have a regional planning representative on their County solid waste committees.  In the past the Regional Agency has updated six County Solid Waste Plans. The update process for all County Solid Waste Plans is expected to begin by January 2008.  Each County will be advised of the Update process by not only the Regional Planning Agency but also the MDEQ.

 

Ø      Transportation planning as part of our MDOT planning program.  This program includes               but is not limited to regional staff involvement in Heritage Route planning activities (including US-23), Highway Performance Monitoring System (traffic counts), meeting coordination on behalf of MDOT Long-Range Plans and representation on local Rural Task Forces.  

 

Ø      Access to Regional GIS capability.

 

Ø      Comprehensive and local planning technical assistance; i.e., master plans, recreation plans, DNR grant reviews, etc.

 

Ø      Access to all Census data upon request.  The EMCOG is the Census affiliate for the 14 counties. 

 

Ø      Environmental planning:  The EMCOG remains the EPA designated 208 Areawide Water Quality Management planning entity for the 14 counties. 

 

Ø      Hazard Mitigation Plans:  The EMCOG completed seven (7) County Hazard Mitigation plans based on corrections and suggestions from the Michigan State Police/Emergency Management Division.  All plans were approved making each of these counties eligible to apply for and receive Hazard Mitigation Planning Funds (HMPG).  If a County does NOT have a H/M plan, they cannot apply for funding relief in case of a natural disaster.

 

Ø      EMCOG’s work has been recognized as a positive contribution by the State of Michigan, Michigan Department of Transportation, U. S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, the National Association of Development Organizations, and the Michigan Association of Regions and by member counties.

 

Ø      EMCOG has received several awards (state, national and international) for their community, economic development and transportation/GIS work.

 

Ø      EMCOG Full Council members possess multiple levels and types of expertise, skills and experiences

 

Ø      EMCOG staff has extensive experience with EDA grants, operations, and has long term relationships with USDOC/EDA staff at both the Regional and Federal level.

 

Ø      EMCOG has saved many local units and State Government departments dollars in salaries, insurance costs, payroll costs because we are smaller and have less benefits and overhead. 

 

Ø      EMCOG is viewed as a neutral local government based entity and not controlled by any single entity.

 

Ø      EMCOG can provide planning issue assistance in the areas of alternative energy, sustainability, Smart Growth, etc.

 

Ø      GIS assistance of all kinds.

 

Ø      Member rates for training and workshops

 

Ø      Nomination of projects, local elected officials and citizens for Regional and State awards;

 

Ø      Membership on our Regional Economic Development (RED) Team and the Transportation/Land Use/GIS (TLAG) Committee.

 

 

OTHER:

 

The Regional Agency:

The Regional Agency currently has a staff of four.  The Regional Office is located at 3144 Davenport Avenue, Suite 200, Saginaw, MI  48602.  The Agency telephone number is:  989-797-0800; FAX – 989-797-0896.  WEB:  www.emcog.org (under construction)

 

STAFF:

Sue Fortune                       Executive Director

Lynne Parker                     Administrative Assistant

Kathleen TenWolde       Program Coordinator Economic & Community Development

Anamika Laad                    Program Manager – Transportation, Land Use & GIS

 

Dues:

The cornerstone of the Regional agency’s funding is the dues payments from the members.  These funds are used to match those grants which require a match and, in part, fund general agency operations.  Each dollar supplied by our member counties raises an estimated additional $8.00 in federal funds.  For each dollar of EDA funding received, $34.00 is the estimated amount of leveraged funding produced.  Dues are assessed annually.

 

Special Status:

The East Michigan Council of Governments (EMCOG) is the only federally constituted economic development district in the 14 counties.  It is charged with promoting and assisting in economic development efforts for member units of government.  It has been in existence since 1969.  Our federal host agency is the U. S. Department of Commerce/Economic Development Administration. USDOC/EDA requires the development of an annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy as part of federal responsibilities and to be of assistance to members.