While the bears may be hibernating, Rogers City is not.  There is so much going on!  Beyond normal day-to-day operations, here is a short list of special projects and activities:

• Economic Opportunity -- 7 pm, February 16, 2010 at the Senior Center 
• Wolverine Landfill Public Hearing -- 6:30 pm, January 27, 2010 at the High School
• Wayfinding
• Street Lights
• Facades
• Safe Routes to School
• US Department of Agriculture -- Rural Development Water and Sewer Improvements (huge!!!)
• Public Works Road and Trail Maintenance
• Planning road and sidewalk improvements for 2010
• Planning the 2010 budget
• Security Grant for the Marina
• Huron Pines Collaborative Project for Lake Huron Restoration
• Grant for Birmingham Symphony Concert
• Main Street Associate/Community Development Authority (CDA) programs
• Planning for Michigan Municipal League (MML) Regional meeting in Rogers City in June 2010
• Zoning Ordinance Rewrite
• Virtual Incubator Collaboration with Alpena
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) efforts with Presque Isle County
• NEMCOG Collaborative efforts
• Northeast Michigan Prosperity Alliance 
• MML Green Challenge
• Channel 99 improvements

You may be wondering what is all this stuff and why we are doing it.... The "why" answer is simple.  We don't want to miss an opportunity to make Rogers City better.  If you are interested in or want to learn more about any of these projects, please contact me. 

Every citizen can be involved and do his or her part to help.

Labels: City Hall, MML, NEMCOG

The Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) has been working with People and Land (PAL) to create a local coalition to solve our economic problems. PAL believes in Six Pillars for Prosperity that I believe make sense for Michigan and, especially for our region:

1) Attractive Cities

2) Highly competitive schools and life-long learning

3) Knowledge-based technology

4) Thriving agriculture

5) Natural resources for recreation and job creation

6) Inclusive and entrepreneurial culture

Simply put, the goal of these six pillars is to make our region and state more economically successful over the long term. I think we all agree this is a worthy goal.

In the next few days, I'll try to expand on each one of these pillars, and invite you to get involved. NEMCOG, PAL, and the Prosperity Alliance are non-partisan organizations.

To learn more, copy and paste on your web browser: http:www.pal@peopleandland.org

Labels: NEMCOG, People and Land, Prosperity Alliance

On June 11, 2009, a group of energetic business leaders gathered at the Garland Resort to discuss how to rescue Northeast Michigan from economic collapse. Unemployment is running above 20%. Some businesses have failed and others are failing. Many people lack skills and training to fill available jobs. The job market is constantly changing, demanding new skills. Home prices are dropping, credit is difficult, and many people are affraid to spend or don't have money to spend. Education and infrastructure investments take time to effect positive change, and only a small amount of these needs are able to find state or federal funding.

The group felt that there are many problems, but only two or at most three big problems can be fixed at one time. It was also agreed that government (all levels) probably won't solve the problems without direction from the public and business community. The business community has lead our country out of problems in the past, and it can be the spark to get us going again!

If your business is struggling, if you are currently unemployed, if your business skills are not being used to full potential, if you think we (Michigan) can do better, then we need you!

Yes, we (Michigan) need you!

To help solve this mess, go to HTTPS://janus.pscinc.com/NEMCOG

At this online location, you will find a survey taking no more than 20 minutes of your time.

With this information, we can help make a realistic plan. If you have questions, want to get involved, or wish to make a comment, please contact, Diane Rekowski, NEMCOG Executive Director, at 989-732-3551 ext 12, or drekowski@nemcog.org

Labels: Diane Rekowski, Economic Rescue, NEMCOG

The Michigan Coastal Management Program announced it is recommending a grant of $10,000 for the City of Rogers City. The grant will help the Planning Commission to conduct a complete review of the City Zoning Ordinance and to make needed revisions to it. The City has retained the services of the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) to help conduct the zoning ordinance review, using professional planners on the NEMCOG staff such as Richard Duell and Denise Cline. The review is already in process, and the grant will allow the City to speed up the review process. Updates and improvements to the City Zoning Ordinance will help position the City to take advantage of economic opportunities associated with the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture and with the coming economic recovery.

Mr. Matt Smar of CZM announced the pending grant award in a letter to the City of rogers City dated December 9, 2008. The grant award is pending final approval of the U.S. Department of Commerce. A grant contract is expected "in the near future."

Labels: CZM, NEMCOG, Zoning Ordinance