To: Dr. Beverly Brown, Community & Economic Development Committee Chairperson
From: Derek Bradshaw, Director
title
RE: Approval to Accept the Trails Staff Support, Website Design, and Marketing Grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
The Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission (GCMPC) is recommending the Board of Commissioners accept the Trails Staff Support, Website Design, and Marketing Grant and approve the attached budget adjustment.
BACKGROUND:
Beginning in 2024, Genesee County collaborated with the C.S. Mott Foundation to look for opportunities to increase the pace at which our community builds meaningful trail connections to schools, parks, and neighborhoods. The Flint and Genesee County Trails Symposium on June 11, 2025, alongside an online interactive dashboard were used to gather public and stakeholder feedback. Follow- up meetings with local elected officials, and 1-on-1 discussions with neighborhood groups identified a clear path forward. As a result, a Strategic Trails Plan would be drafted. The new approach calls for building a coordinated project delivery framework grounded in collaboration, speed, and accountability This collective feedback represents a paradigm shift from incremental, project-by-project progress toward a strategic, unified trail network that is planned, implemented, and maintained collaboratively for the benefit of all Genesee County residents.
DISCUSSION:
Earlier this Fall, Genesee County staff applied to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in the amount of $275,000 to be used towards implementation of the Genesee County Strategic Trails Plan (currently under review and comment). The grant would be used for administration expenses in the first year as well as creation of a program website, brand, and media strategy. Substantial completion of the website and media strategy would be expected in mid-2026. The initiative may foreseeably continue into a second-year dependent on program accomplishments. All funds must be expended and supporting documentation by December 31, 2026.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
There will be no impact on human resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
This will increase transportation revenues and expenditure by $275,000.
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 municipalities 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 Trails Staff Support, Website Design, and Marketing Grant from, and entering into a grant agreement with, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in the amount of $275,000, 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 21, 2026 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.