To: Dr. Beverly Brown, Community & Economic Development Committee Chairperson
From: Derek Bradshaw, Director
title
RE: Approval of Grant Agreement with Mott Foundation for Non-Motorized Trails Analysis
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
The Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission (GCMPC) is recommending the Board of Commissioners accept the Trails Analysis Grant and the attached budget adjustment.
BACKGROUND:
Genesee County is making significant strides in the development of a premier non-motorized network and communities are experiencing first-hand economic, health, and social benefits. According to a 2021 County Health Rankings report, Genesee County ranks 80 out of 83 counties for overall health outcomes. To improve our ranking, we need to expand upon our efforts to provide meaningful places to walk, cycle, or jog that are attractive, safe and accessible to all ages and income levels. By the year 2025, over 19 miles of non-motorized trails will be constructed since the development of Genesee County’s regional trail plan in 2014. Although regional connections throughout the County have been completed there remain key non-motorized gaps between our communities.
DISCUSSION:
This past November, GCMPC staff applied to the Mott Foundation for a non-motorized trails analysis grant that will help to strengthen Genesee County’s 2025 Master Plan update. GCMPC is proposing to organize a trails symposium that’ll bring together residents, trail advocacy groups, community officials, the business leaders, and health experts to name a few. One anticipated outcome from this event will be not only a renewed list of priority trail connections but a funding strategy and timeline that identifies grant competitiveness of projects to secure funding. Along with the trails symposium there will include an education and outreach campaign that looks to engage populations and community groups around the County whose thoughts are crucial to a well-rounded plan. Staff were notified by the Mott Foundation in mid-December that GCMPC was awarded $60,000 towards this effort.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
There will be no impact on human resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
This will increase transportation revenues and expenditure by $60,000. A budget amendment is attached.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
There will be no impact on Genesee County facilities.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
There is no impact on technology.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Helping to meet Genesee County’s priority of healthy, livable, and safe communities, this grant will increase the pace at which local agencies build meaningful non-motorized connections to schools, parks, and core community services.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Director of Planning to authorize accepting the Mott Foundation Trails Analysis Grant Agreement to receive a $60,000 grant to be used to organize a trails symposium and an education and outreach campaign, and to approve a budget adjustment along with this request, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documentation being on file with the official records of the January 8, 2025 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee of this Board), the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of Genesee County, and the Chief Financial Officer is directed to record the attached budget amendment.