The Ultimate Farmland Preservation ’99 Tour, co-sponsored by the Rural Development Council of Michigan and Michigan Farm Bureau, was held March 25-29, 1999. The five-day bus tour of seven counties throughout Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania gave more than 90 participants the opportunity to get a first-hand look at some of the best farmland protection tools and sustainable development strategies in the country. The success of this tour, the second of its kind, led to the development of a third tour held in September.

On September 9 – 13, 1999, the Rural Development Council of Michigan, in cooperation with the Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Farmland and Community Alliance, Indiana Farm Bureau and Indiana Cattleman’s Association, sponsored and organized the Ultimate Farmland Preservation Tour ’99 – An Encore Performance.

Over 130 individuals participated in the UPF Tour ’99 – An Encore Performance and saw over 163,000 acres of farmland permanently protected from urban sprawl. The tour highlighted successful programs that utilized transfer of development rights, purchase of development rights, agricultural security areas, effective agricultural zoning and innovative urban development options.

The participants, which included urban officials, state legislators, realtors, farmers, county and township officials and other leaders from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Colorado, saw several blocks of farmland 10,000-15,000 acres in size which had been permanently preserved solely for agricultural production. The participants were impressed with the impact the programs had made in those counties and saw how successful farmland preservation programs can make a really big difference for the economic future of agriculture.

Ninety-nine percent of the participants have rated the tour a five or 5+ and have highly recommended the educational tours to others. The tours have resulted in many participants actively leading land use efforts in their local communities.

The Rural Development Council of Michigan sponsored the 1999 Rural Partnership Conference. The conference entitled, "Rural Michigan—A Millennial Opportunity: 2000 and Beyond", was held on April 14 & 15, 1999 at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids. Attendees of the conference included representatives from local, tribal, state and federal governments; and, representatives from private for-profit and non-profit organizations.

During the two-day conference, several issues facing rural Michigan were highlighted. Those issues included: thriving community partnerships for economic growth, entrepreneurial business training, capitalizing on the technology available, funding community infrastructure projects, rural leadership development, land use and farmland preservation, and expanding local health care services.

The conference was co-sponsored by RDCM, USDA - Rural Development, Michigan Rural Health Association, Michigan Association of Regions, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Saginaw-Chippewa Tribe of Michigan, Dairy Farmers of America (formerly Independent Co-op Milk Producers Association), Michigan Association of Counties, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (formerly Michigan Jobs Commission), Consumers Energy, Michigan State University, Michigan Farm Bureau, Wade-Trim, Inc., Detroit Edison, Smith Equities, Inc., Gove Associates, Michigan Municipal League, and Family Independence Agency.

The Rural Development Council of Michigan has worked with the Gogebic Range Water Authority (GRWA) for several years to assist them with bringing four neighboring communities together to design and build a regional municipal water system to benefit and provide back-up for all of the communities involved. This has been a project of the RDCM Infrastructure Committee. The communities have been under orders from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to develop a new water source due to health considerations.

The Gogebic Range Water Authority, a regional water system being supported by four area municipalities including the City of Bessemer, Bessemer Township, the City of Wakefield and Wakefield Township, will receive $6,005,000.00 ($3,172,000.00 in grant and $2,833,000.00 in loan funds) to construct a regional water system. Subsequently, Phase II of the project has also been approved for an additional $4,300,000 ($2,961,000 in grant funds and $1,339,000 in loan funds). The new system is expected to benefit approximately 2,535 rural water customers.

In 1997, recognition of a lack of affordable health insurance for children from low-income working families sparked a national dialogue. The issue of identifying uninsured children emerged as a national priority. The Congress, through the children’s health block grant process, established the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). To find and insure all of Michigan’s children, state officials designed a combination program of Medicaid expansion and an independent child’s health insurance plan. Similar to other states, the enrollment numbers in the combination programs, while continually growing, are short of the goal of identifying and enrolling all eligible children.

In June 1999, the Rural Development Council of Michigan (RDCM), particularly the Health and Human Services Issue Committee, committed to help rural communities in identifying and enrolling eligible children in rural counties. RDCM members undertook efforts to engage non-traditional partners to identify and enroll eligible children in Clare County.

Members of the Michigan District Health Department, the Clare County Family Independence Agency, the Clare County Extension Office, and the Clare County Commission helped RDCM’s efforts by identifying local community leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations and others who, they believed, would be potential partners. Additionally, Michigan Farm Bureau asked representatives of the Clare County Farm Bureau to participate in ongoing discussions and activities. The initial meeting in Clare County ended with a plan developed by the diverse community leaders themselves! RDCM and its partners invited program directors from Michigan State Departments to "Kids Day" at the Clare County Fair to explain the many components of Children’s Health Insurance, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children - nutrition program) and the many programs and services available to families through the county Extension office. Forty participants attended the meeting and contributed ideas and suggestions about ways to identify and enroll eligible children.

As a result, there has been a significant increase in the number of children enrolled in these programs, and several other communities have expressed interest in duplicating the community driven approach. The Rural Development Council of Michigan, using lessons learned in Clare County will soon begin activities in neighboring Roscommon County to identify and enroll eligible children in children’s health insurance plans.

The RDCM Transportation Forums proved to be a great success for the Rural Development Council of Michigan. One of the co-sponsoring organizations of the 1998 Forums, Michigan’s Local Technical Assistance Program, reproduced a version of the forums to focus primarily on local road project funding and asked for the Council’s support and sponsorship. RDCM served as a co-sponsor in the development of the seminars as well as providing speaker contact information and Council presenters at each of the seminars.

The series of seminars, held fall 1999, provided vital information on funding opportunities for rural, small and mid-sized communities throughout Michigan. Through the inventive use of grants, loans, and private investment, local agencies can expand the capabilities of their limited budgets.

Grayling is the home of the country’s most unique fish hatcheries. A branch of AuSable River runs through the fish hatchery providing a continual source of fresh water. The hatchery, of state historic importance, is no longer actually used to the full extent.

RDCM, upon the request of the community, provided assistance in convening a group of 40 community leaders to create a vision for the redevelopment of the site. The group envisioned the site to be used as an attraction for visitors to Grayling, increasing economic opportunities for the community. The project would include exhibits of fishing, hunting, canoeing, area history and provide a hands-on opportunity for enjoyment of natural features.

As a result of the redevelopment, the community envisioned a series of connecting trails or walkways along the river that can be used by citizens, school children and visitors.

RDCM helped facilitate the formation of work groups and to help gather information on various funding options. RDCM continues to provide assistance as requested by the community.

Clare County is one of the most economically depressed areas in the state with one of the highest levels of poverty rates. However, The citizens have a vision for growth and completed a strategic plan to empower the community to grow.

As a result of pulling together as a team and developing a strong local partnership, Clare County has been designated as an Enterprise Community, one of 20 areas in the country to receive this designation, as one of 4 new rural state tax-free Renaissance Zones and recipient of RDCM’s 1999 Outstanding Rural Partnership Award.

RDCM has continued to provide assistance to the community and helped organize a tour for state officials to visit and review the County’s strategic goals, which include financing a feasibility study on developing a cooperative farm market, upgrading the educational system at the community college and vocational training center through technological advances, and developing a county recreational plan. RDCM continues to assist in the developing a strategy for Clare County to successfully implement their strategic goals.