REGION 8 NOTES

 

 

January/February 2005

 

WMRPC Welcomes City of Cedar Springs

 

The City of Cedar Springs recently became a member of the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission.  Cedar Springs’ membership allows the City two seats on the Planning Commission’s Board and provides opportunities for the City to participate in economic development activities, regional cooperation efforts, planning services, information sharing, and other services provided by the Board, CEDS Committee, and staff of the WMRPC.   

 

Cedar Springs, located in northern Kent County, is a community that provides a full range of services to its 3,112 residents (2000 Census).  The WMRPC looks forward to learning more about the City’s strengths and also looks forward to helping bring additional resources to the City.

 

Currently six of the seven counties in the Region are WMRPC members, providing membership privileges to all communities in those six counties.  Kent County has not been a member for many years, but the cities of Grand Rapids and Wyoming are long-time members.  The WMRPC is very pleased to welcome the City of Cedar Springs as a new member and welcomes other Kent County communities to our table.  To learn more about membership call (616) 774-8400.  It is very easy and cost effective.

 

 

Strategic Planning and the CEDS Committee

 

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee, along with the WMRPC Board and staff, is responsible for completing the CEDS Document every year, which is then submitted to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for approval.  The CEDS process is the first step for communities interested in obtaining EDA grants for economic development projects.  In 2005 the CEDS Committee will complete the process and review how the WMRPC can develop a better process that is more long range and strategic in nature. 

 

At the January 26, 2005 CEDS Meeting the Committee will initiate a year-long strategic planning process that will evaluate West Michigan’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and will determine better ways for the Region to address economic development.  This process will involve EDA and all of the communities across the seven-county area.  The WMRPC also wants to solicit the views of other organizations that have not traditionally been involved in the CEDS process – such as businesses, non-profits, schools, and colleges.  One key component of the process will involve expanding the CEDS Committee to hear a wider range of ideas. 

 

This process will help the WMRPC address how to provide economic development services to our Region and address some of the issues facing West Michigan’s economy, that include:

If you are interested in participating, or know of an organization that belongs at the table, contact Dave Bee at (616) 774-8400 or dbee@wmrpc.org with any information that you feel would make West Michigan more competitive in today’s economy.  

 

 

2005 Focus Areas

 

Usually the January issue of Region 8 Notes identifies the goals of the Region for the coming year.  Due to the length of the December 10, 2004 Board Meeting’s agenda, the review of the Region’s Focus Areas was moved to the January 21, 2005 Board Meeting.  A full set of the Focus Areas will appear in the March/April edition of Region 8 Notes.

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