LIAA's proposal to manage and host TCTV2, the Traverse Bay region's public access cable channel, has been accepted by the City of Traverse City, Garfield Charter Township and Elmwood Charter Township. LIAA is also working toward an agreement with East Bay Charter Township and hopes to work with other area municipalities soon.

Based on these agreements, LIAA is preparing to open the new Northwest Michigan Community Media Center (CMC). The CMC will host and manage the region's public access television station (TV 2) and related public support programs (e.g., access to training and equipment)  as well as providing video services to local governments and other nonprofit organizations throughout the region.

A Citizen's Advisory Committee has been established to guide the development of policies and procedures for the CMC.  The Committee will hold its first public meeting on Wednesday, June 25 at 7:00 pm at the Traverse Area District Library.  Find out more at http://www.upnorthmedia.org/.

After carefully reviewing several project proposals on behalf of over 30 municipalities, LIAA will soon announce the start of several new and exciting inter-jurisdictional cooperation projects under the new Partnerships for Change (PfC) Sustainable Communities Program.

PFC Sustainable Communities is LIAA’s latest intergovernmental cooperation program designed to assist communities in their efforts to develop coordinated planning programs with neighboring townships, cities, and villages that protect natural resources and cultural character. Building upon the experience, expertise, capacity and momentum developed under the first PfC Program, the PfC Sustainable Communities Program will offer a number of new incentives to stimulate new inter-jurisdictional cooperation in developing and adopting more holistic, inter-jurisdictional land use policies.

The PfC Sustainable Communities Program is managed by LIAA with support from the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Townships Association, Michigan Association of Planning, and Michigan State University Extension and several grant-giving organizations.

LIAA will also issue a second Request for Proposals (RFP) for the new PfC Sustainable Communities Program later this summer!

LIAA organized a series of seminars held across the state in June 2007. The seminars offered information and training in the use of tools and techniques for Inter-jurisdictional Diplomacy.

We are pleased to offer a full-length video of the Inter-Jurisdictional Diplomacy Seminar as presented in Traverse City. To order your own copy of the 2-hour video on DVD, visit Partnerships for Change.

Fresh Food Partnership is supported by gifts and grants from people like you as well as a few local charities. This year, we were able to purchase and deliver well over 50,000 pounds of fresh produce valued at over $24,000 to people in need through area food pantries. The Fresh Food Partnership estimates that over 3,400 families received nutritious fresh food to help them through some very difficult times.

We hope you will consider giving the Fresh Food Partnership your support. For example, a tax-deductible gift of $250 will assure that 25 families receive emergency supplies of nutritious fruits and vegetables from local farms.

Visit the Fresh Food Partnership link to learn more about this program and how you can help make a difference.