MAP: Making Great Communities Happen

The Michigan Association of Planning (MAP) is a 501 c 3 organization, dedicated to promoting sound community planning that benefits the residents of Michigan

Don't Miss MAP's Small Town and Rural Planning Workshop this Month

There's still time to save your spot at our upcoming workshop: Small Town and Rural Planning, presented by national expert Jim Segedy, FAICP. Join us on May 29 in Lansing for this new program. Register now. This program qualifies for three AICP Certification Maintenance credits.

Sign up Today for the 14th Annual Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing

Join us on June 5 for MAP's Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing to raise scholarship funds for students purusing degrees in urban and regional planning at Michigan colleges and universities, and for the Elected and Appointed Officials Scholarship program. Learn more here.

Sponsorships for this popular event are already selling. Download a copy of the brochure to sign up as a sponsor or to golf.

PA 33, Michigan Planning Enabling Act, Signed by the Governor

On March 13, 2008 Governor Jennifer Granholm signed SB 206 authorizing Public Act 33 of 2008, the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (PEA).  SB 206 unifies Michigan's three planning acts (municipal, township and county) into a single statute. This is good news for local government officials and community planners. Read more here.

Planning and Zoning Center Offers PEA Workshops

MAP is a co-sponsor for a series of workshops on the PEA, presented by the Planning and Zoning Center at Michigan State University at 29 locations around the state. Learn more here.

Dowload a copy of the registration brochure here.

Click here to register now.

Three AICP Certification Maintanence (CM) credits have been applied for at the following workshop locations: East Lansing, Grand Rapids, Gaylord and Farmington Hills.

MAP Policy Initiatives Gaining Momentum

Rural Planning and Development: MAP is developing a policy to address rural planning and development issues in Michigan. For background information on policy development, click here. An outline of the draft policy is available here.

Right to Farm Act (RTFA): The MAP Board of Directors, through its policy making arm (the government relations committee) is considering a draft policy addressing the Right to Farm Act, and is seeking input and comments from our members and other land use experts. Learn more here.

MAP Encourages Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School (SR2S) is an MDOT program created to encourage and enable children to walk or bike to school. MAP has been actively involved with SR2S for the last three years as we work toward the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of elementary schools. Learn more here.

Land Information Access Association (LIAA)

The Partnerships for Change Sustainable Communities program is seeking proposals for cooperative planning projects from partnerships composed of two or more cities, townships and villages. Please visit www.partnershipsforchange.cc/rfp.asp for more information and to obtain copies of the Request for Proposals. Service grants valued at more than $60,000 are available to selected communities. Applications are due April 30, 2008.

In late June 2007, LIAA, in partnership with MAP and other organizations, presented a seminar on the importance of inter-jurisdictional cooperation. The seminar was organized by the Partnerships for Change program, and is available on DVD by visiting www.partnershipsforchange.cc/orderdvd.asp.

Save Gas Money! MAP Workshops Come to You

Your community's planning officials don't have to spend money on gas to drive very far to attend MAP training programs. MAP's on-site workshop program brings the training to you. At an on-site workshop an instructor comes to your location, at a time and date convenient for your participants, and presents a comprehensive educational program, addressing the specific needs of your community. Click here to learn more about the program.

Thank you to our 2007/2008 Corporate Members!

The MAP Corporate Membership provides an opportunity for members to further the association’s mission, and provides recognition to the corporate member who says: I want MAP to be more involved, I want MAP to have a louder voice. Click here to view MAP's current Corporate Members and learn how your company can join at this membership level.