2003 Annual Report Executive Summary
Clare County Enterprise Community
January 2003
The Annual Meeting saw increased interest in the open seats on the CCEC Board of
Directors. Because of this increased interest, the Board decided to expand the
number of directors from eighteen to twenty-one. When the election was complete,
twenty seats were filled with all census tracts represented except for 9809. It
was decided that the nominating committee would run another round of notices in
the local newspapers, advertising for a representative from census tract 9809
and authorize the chair to appoint a twenty-first director if a candidate were
to become available. As the County continued to work on the issue of scrap tire
storage, a request was put forward citing benchmarks number 2.1 and 3.1 asking
for the support of CCEC. A resolution of support was adopted and a successful
grant request was funded by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
CCEC continued to support the Heart of Michigan Planning Group through benchmark
22 in the quest to bring high-speed wide-band Internet access to Rural
North-Central Michigan. To check the progress of this project please refer to www.heartofmi.org. CCEC partnered with USDA Rural Development, Michigan
State Housing Development Authority, Michigan Economic Development Corporation,
Michigan Department of Transportation and Michigan State University Extension to
present a Community Development Forum for nearly forty local governmental units.
February 03
CCEC Board of Directors elected its executive committee for the
year. Once the chair was seated, he appointed a director to represent census
tract 9809. This meant all census tracts and developable sites were represented.
The Board decided to retain consultant services on an annual basis to assist
with the administrative functions of CCEC. After much discussion and
deliberation it was decided to move forward with plans to host a Group WorkCamp
during the summer of 2004. This project aligns very nicely with the intent of
benchmark 18.4. The United Way & Volunteer Center of Clare County (Volunteer
Center created and seed funded through benchmark 10.1) has agreed to be
benchmark leader and champion of this project. Through benchmark 4.1
scholarships were offered to each of the three schools districts of Clare County
to participate in the Character Counts! Seminar “Pursuing Victory with
Honor-Ethics in Sports.” In order to better address the tasks of benchmarks 18.1
& 18.7 a partnership was formed with Mid Michigan Community Action Agency, the
County’s only CHODO, to complete a housing study in census tracts 9803, 9808 and
9809 to better assess the affordable housing needs of those areas. Benchmark
12.2 has experienced many challenges finding a location to establish a Community
Farmers’ Market. Gateway Farmers’ Market, the City of Clare, and several local
producers have agreed to jointly construct a multi-purpose pavilion at Shamrock
Park to house a Farmers’ Market, as well as host numerous other community
activities.
March 03
The staff of Middle Michigan Development Corporation made a
formal presentation to CCEC regarding the activities and accomplishments of
benchmarks 11.5, 11.3, 11.2 & 11.1. Clare County asked for financial assistance
with the scrap tire clean up process. Because of the threat of the West Nile
Virus, it was determined that mosquito control would be required for the project
to progress in the spring. This was a cost that was not anticipated. CCEC
pledged $5,000 in support of the project as it met the intent of benchmarks 2.1
& 3.1. The Clare County Housing Commission offered to host the Revolving Loan
Fund as was proposed in the CCEC application of 1999. CCEC accepted the offer
and acknowledged Clare County Housing Commission as benchmark leader for
benchmark 18.1. Plans are moving forward for the construction of a multi-purpose
pavilion in the City of Clare which will provide a home for Phase I of the
Community Farmers’ Market project. Discussions continue between the CCEC Board
of Directors and a Michigan State University graduate student regarding using
CCEC as a case study for his dissertation, designed to provide a mid-term
evaluation of the CCEC strategic plan.
April 03
CCEC spent a great deal of time
examining the partnership with Women’s Aide Services, Inc. who operates the
local domestic violence shelter, established in conjunction with benchmark 14.1.
It was determined to extend financial support to years three and four of the
strategic plan. It was also decided, CCEC would establish a workgroup to assist
WAS, Inc. with fundraising and the development of a plan of sustainability. The
Chair appointed four CCEC Board members to serve in this workgroup. This matter
will be discussed in greater detail in the sections of this report entitled
“Problems/Obstacles” and “Solutions.” CCEC established a partnership with
Eastern Michigan University to make application to the Federal Department of
Commerce for a T.O.P. grant to develop an economic development tool based on GIS
mapping. Farwell Area Schools agreed to house and feed the participants of our
summer 2004 Group WorkCamp. CCEC was invited to participate in Clare County’s
strategic planning process which was facilitated by Michigan State University
Extension.
May 03
The CCEC bylaws committee presented proposed changes, to the
bylaws, to accommodate the increased number of directors’ seats established at
the Annual Meeting. The benchmark committee brought several months’ work to
closure with the completion of a Funding Benchmark Chart completely obligating
funds through year four. CCEC received unofficial word that the Early Warning
Siren System grant prepared in conjunction with benchmark 22 was to be funded;
official notification was expected within sixty days and installation could
begin. In accordance with guidelines as outlined by the Office of Community
Development, CCEC Board of Directors participated in Board training which was
facilitated by Ghulam Sumbal of the USDA Rural Development Office of Michigan.
June 03
Good News! CCEC was notified that President Bush appointed Dale Sherwin
State Director of USDA Rural Development-Michigan. It was also learned, that
funding for year five was authorized in the amount of $247,829. This was only
$2,171 less than expected which meant implementation could continue once the
grant agreement was signed. The newly created Parks and Recreation Commission,
established in conjunction with benchmark 5.1, presented CCEC with a proposal to
continue the partnership and extend funding at the same level for two additional
years. The CCEC Board accepted the proposal and earmarked $20,000 for each of
the next two years. Rural Partners of Michigan partnered with CCEC for two
activities. First, Rural Partners and CCEC combined resources to host a
prescription drug forum. Second, Rural Partners invited CCEC to participate in
their summer retreat and assist with the development of the plan of work for the
coming year. Benchmark 22 continues to guide the activities of the Clare County
LinkMichigan Initiative. In an effort to keep Michigan Legislators informed of
our progress, a legislative update was scheduled by The Heart of Michigan
Planning Group at the State Capitol. This activity was very well attended and
received by our legislators.
July 03
Benchmark 12.2-Gateway Farmers’ Market
becomes a reality. After four years of hard work and challenges too many to
mention, the Gateway Farmers’ Market opened for business. A ribbon cutting
celebration hosted by CCEC was well attended by those who have had a part in
bringing this project to fruition. The Gateway Farmers’ Market Board of
Directors were joined by officials from the United States Department of
Agriculture, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan State University
Extension, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, City of Clare,
representatives of both the Amish and English farming communities, and many
citizens at the dedication of the City of Clare’s Shamrock Park multi-purpose
pavilion. Long term plans for the Farmers’ Market are to move it to a permanent
site on other City owned property adjacent to the airport, probably for year
three of operation. The most highly prioritized benchmark at the time of the
development of the strategic plan was benchmark 1.1, which called for the
development of a coordinated county-wide land use plan. It quickly became
evident that training for volunteer planning commissioners was needed. There are
twenty local units of government in Clare County, none of whom employ a
certified planner. Michigan State University Extension facilitated a planning
session to organize a three county initiative to offer the Citizen Planner
Training Program. It was decided there was sufficient interest and resources to
bring the Citizen Planner Program to Clare County.
August 03
CCEC was pleased
learn that training was going to be available for volunteer planning
commissioners. They reviewed the language of benchmark 1.1 and decided to offer
a scholarship to each unit of local government so at least one of their planning
officials could participate in the training. It was hoped that each unit of
government would also be able to provide the tuition for one planning official
so each unit of government would have the benefit of two trained volunteer
planners. The CCEC workgroup that was appointed to assist with the funding of
our local domestic violence shelter kicked off their first fund raising project,
a “letter of appeal” which was well accepted by the community. The City of
Harrison and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources dedicated their new
fire facility funded by the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities
loan/grant program.
September 03
Grant signing for year five funds takes place
giving CCEC the go ahead to continue implementation of the strategic plan. As
was mentioned earlier in this report, funding for year five was authorized at
just slightly less than the anticipated $250,000. CCEC used the celebration of
the grant signing to present the CCEC Progress Report covering the period August
1999-August 2003 to attending citizens, officials and the media. The public
relations plan calls for distribution of the Progress Report to every household
in Clare County. This will require the printing of 18,000 copies and determining
the best and most cost effective method of distribution. USDA Rural Development
State Office of Michigan is exploring ways they might help with this initiative.
It was learned that three members of the CCEC Board of Directors have been
accepted to participate in the first Harrison Area Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Institute. It was also learned that Sharon Jeffery, CCEC Housing
Advocate, was the 2003 recipient of the National Extension Outreach Award for
her very aggressive efforts in promoting home ownership. Officials of CCEC and
Redding Township traveled to Breckenridge, Michigan to accept a $100,000
economic impact grant award to assist with the construction of a new Community
Center/Township Government Center. Construction of this badly needed facility is
expected to begin in the spring of 2004.
October 03
The first draft of the Clare
County Master Plan (benchmark 1.1) is reviewed by the planning commission.
Discussions took place with Eagle Crest Homes of Farwell, USDA Rural
Development, and CCEC regarding the development of senior housing in the CCEC
Developable Site in the Village of Farwell which also has been designated as a
State of Michigan Renaissance Zone. Renaissance Zones allow for the forgiveness
of State taxes through the year 2014. This would be of great benefit to
residents as they would be exempt from both State income tax and local property
taxes. CCEC facilitated a meeting between two of its partners Hard Times Café (HTC)
and UADA Rural Development. In the year 2000, CCEC provided funding for HTC to
expand its operations to include an automotive business and training center.
After two and one half years of many unanticipated challenges and expenses, HTC
needed to revise its business plan by dropping their automotive business/
training center, in order to survive. There was a concern by HTC that their
revised business plan might not meet the requirements of the USDA-RD Rural
Business Opportunity Grant used to purchase the building that houses their
organizational headquarters, training center, and resale business. It was
determined by USDA Rural Development that the purpose and mission of the
organization still met the intent of the grant and that operations could
continue as outlined in their revised business plan.
November 03
Supported by
benchmark 18.7, USDA Rural Development and CCEC have partnered to address the
affordable housing needs of the residents of Clare County. Because of the
diligent efforts of USDA Rural Development and CCEC housing advocates, it was
reported to the CCEC Board of Directors that 75% of all prequalification
applications processed in our thirteen county region came from Clare County.
This translates into many families achieving the American dream of home
ownership. Completion of Phase I of the Community Resource Directory Project was
marked in September with the distribution of the Community Resource Directory to
the service providers of Clare County; plans for phases II and III of the
project were now underway. A more complete discussion of this project is
included in the section of this report entitled “Most Significant
Accomplishment.” It appears that the perfect outgrowth of this project is that
of establishing a 211 call center for the residents of County. To that end,
discussion has begun locally, as well as participation in state-wide conference
calls and meetings. The LinkMichigan study is coming to closure with final
editing taking place and preparations being made for the presentation of the
plan to the community.
December 03
As year four comes to a close, energies are
focused on year five. Harrison Community Schools found it necessary to close a
school building this year due to declining enrollment. The community is very
interested in what will become of the building. Two of the many suggestions are
to use it for a vocational education center or turning it into an assisted
living facility. Both of these uses align with benchmarks contained in the CCEC
strategic plan. Discussions are underway between officials of Harrison Community
Schools, CCEC and private developers regarding these two possibilities. If it
were to be used as a vocational education center, it appears that Qualified Zone
Academy Bonds could be used for refurbishing the facility. The Harrison Area
Economic Development Corporation has renewed its interest and support of
developing an assisting living facility in the county with the pledge of $5,000
to be used as matching funds of a grant application to complete a feasibility
study. With all of these projects coming to the forefront at the end of the
year, it appears that next year’s priorities have already begun to be
established.