REGION 8 NOTES

 

 

November/December 2006

 

Economic Development Administration Establishes New Rules

The final rules for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) were published in the Federal Register on September 27, 2006. The biggest changes influencing the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission (WMRPC) relate to the need for private-sector involvement on both the WMRPC Board and the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Committee. Traditionally, both of these bodies have been comprised of public-sector representatives appointed by members of the WMRPC. Members include the counties of Allegan, Ionia, Mecosta, Montcalm, Osceola, and Ottawa (and the communities within those counties); and the cities of Big Rapids, Cedar Springs, Grand Rapids, and Wyoming.

 

EDA’s new rules establish that the private sector must comprise a minimum of 35 percent of the WMRPC Board. The CEDS Committee must include private sector representatives as a majority of its membership. The WMRPC, recognizing that it is still the public sector members that help fund the organization, changed the bylaws to allow each of our members to appoint a third representative to the Board. This person shall be a private sector representative (a key person in any for-profit enterprise, a director of a chamber of commerce, a representative of an institution of post-secondary education, a workforce development group, or labor).

 

Members also will continue to appoint two representatives to the CEDS Committee, but now one representative will need to be from the private sector. If you know of a person that would make a great private sector representative, contact Dave Bee at the WMRPC and he will relay the information to the appropriate member representative. The WMRPC has requested that members appoint the new private sector representatives by December 31, 2006.

 

Having private sector representatives around the table of the WMRPC will provide many benefits related to better understanding the needs of business. At the same time, it will present new challenges related to meeting the needs of the private sector, and keeping new representatives interested in attending meetings that typically center on the needs of the public sector. How should the WMRPC change to provide appropriate long-term incentives for the private sector to attend and participate in meetings, without diluting the benefits for communities sitting around the same table on a regular basis? Maybe this is a question that will not need to be answered if the newly established group finds that they have more in common than residing in the same region and a new directive by EDA to serve on the Board and CEDS Committee. The WMRPC will strive to create a meaningful role for its new members – so ideas are welcome on how to accomplish this goal.

 

On November 16, 2006 the Director of the WMRPC is meeting in Chicago with EDA representatives and other Midwest regions to discuss the changes. It will be interesting to hear about progress other regions are making. The WMRPC will keep members up-to-date and report on any interpretations of the new rules discussed in Chicago that differ from our current interpretations.

 

While many regions are distressed about the changes (that are not providing any additional funds to regions for implementation) it is important to remember that the primary goal of EDA is not to fund regions – but to help communities. Communities across Michigan receive millions of dollars from EDA each year to fund projects tied to job creation and economic development – and regions remain a key link to those funds. EDA helps communities expand their physical capacity to serve business and industry by funding improvements to community water and wastewater systems, roads, industrial parks, and other facilities communities need to attract and retain job providers.

 

To learn more about EDA and its programs, contact Dave Bee at the WMRPC, attend a WMRPC Board Meeting or a CEDS Committee meeting (times posted below), or visit EDA’s website at www.doc.gov/eda.

 

2007 WMRPC Board Meetings

• January 19

• March 16

• June 15

• September 21

• December 14

 

2007 CEDS Committee Meetings

• January 31

• March 28

• May 30

• August 29

 

All meetings except the December Board meeting are held at the offices of the WMRPC at 9:30 a.m. and last approximately two hours.

 

Past Editions of Region 8 Notes

The WMRPC maintains all of the past editions of Region 8 Notes in our office or you can access the past two years’ editions at www.wmrpc.org. Go to "Programs and Services" and then to "Region 8 Notes" to access older newsletters. Topics include community profiles, EDA/CEDS information, Michigan’s other regions, WMRPC Focus Areas, notification and adoption requirements for community plans, MDOT, recreation, grants, and much more.

 

 

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