November 2011 CCEA Newsletter

CCEA Appoints New Executive Committee Members

The Clinton County Economic Alliance (CCEA) Executive   Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of six new Executive Committee members to its Board of Directors. The new CCEA Executive Committee members include:

1)      Dan Coss – City Administrator, City of DeWitt

2)      Dr. Ryan Cunningham – Superintendent, Ovid-Elsie Area Schools

3)      Troy Feltman – Township Superintendent, Bath Township

4)      Dave Ivan – State Specialist, Community & Economic Programs, Michigan State University Extension

5)      Mike Kettlewell – President and Chief Executive Officer, Christman Constructors

6)      Michael Lee – Chairman, DeWitt Downtown Development Association

“The CCEA Executive Committee would like to thank outgoing Executive Committee members: Steve Fredrickson, The Christman Company; Loretta Spinrad, Coldwell Banker – Hubbell BriarWood Real Estate; Marilyn Thelen, Clinton County MSU Extension; and David Wittkop, Michigan Milk Producers Association for their service,” said CCEA Chairman Chris Thelen of Consumers Energy. 

The six new Executive Committee members join Mr. Thelen; Craig Bishop, President of FirstBank; Ed Bruun, President of Sparrow Clinton Hospital; Kevin Feuka, Principal at C2AE; Randy Jobin, Vice President of Clark Construction; Dennis LaForest, City Manager for the City of St. Johns; Clinton County Commissioner Robert Showers; Greg Ware, Banking Center Manager for Fifth Third Bank; and Rich Trent, DeWitt Township Community Development Director. The new appointments increase the number of Executive Committee members from 12 to 15, the maximum allowed by CCEA’s bylaws said Mr. Thelen. 

Michigan and Clinton County’s October Unemployment Rates Fall

According to the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October fell by half a percentage point to 10.6 percent. The number of unemployed in the state decreased by 24,000 over the previous month, while total employment increased moderately by 8,000.

Michigan’s work force recorded a net decline of 17,000 in October. The Michigan jobless rate in October 2011 was a full percentage point below the October 2010 rate of 11.6 percent. The national jobless rate decreased by seven-tenths of a percentage point to 9% over this same period.

“Unemployment in Michigan fell in October, with a slight net job gain,” said Rick Waclawek, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “The jobless rate decline over the month was due primarily to a reduction in the number of unemployed individuals actively seeking employment.”

Monthly Labor Force Trends & Highlights

• Michigan’s jobless rate declined for the second consecutive month in October, countering an upward trend that occurred from May through August. In that period, the state’s rate rose by a full percentage point. Since August, Michigan’s rate edged down by six-tenths of a percentage point.
• Through the first ten months of the year, Michigan’s 2011 average jobless rate stood at 10.6 percent.
• Michigan’s labor force decreased again in October, marking the seventh consecutive monthly drop dating back to April. Since March, the state’s workforce has fallen by 70,000 or 1.5 percent.
• After declining for five months in mid-2011, total employment has edged up slightly in Michigan over the last two months.
• From October 2010 to October 2011, the number of unemployed fell by ten percent in Michigan. Nationally, unemployment decreased by seven percent over the same period.

Clinton County

In Clinton County, unemployment was down 0.7% in September from August this year and down a 1.5% since January 2011.

 

Year        Adjusted           Preliminary        Period            Workforce      Employed     Unemployed       %

2011	Not Adj.	Not Pre	Jan	36,700	33,818	2,882	7.9
2011	Not Adj.	Not Pre	Feb	37,189	34,439	2,750	7.4
2011	Not Adj.	Not Pre	Mar	37,313	34,413	2,900	7.8
2011	Not Adj.	Not Pre	Apr	36,879	34,444	2,435	6.6
2011	Not Adj.	Not Pre	May	37,022	34,543	2,479	6.7
2011	Not Adj.	Not Pre	Jun	36,521	33,806	2,715	7.4
2011	Not Adj.	Not Pre	Jul	36,280	33,441	2,839	7.8
2011	Not Adj.	Not Pre	Aug	35,750	33,207	2,543	7.1
2011	Not Adj.	Not Pre	Sep	36,040	33,727	2,313	6.4
2010	Not Adj.	Not Pre	Annual	36,544	33,391	3,153	8.6

 Tri-County Brownfield Assessment Coalition Formed

Clinton County, Eaton, and Ingham Counties have formed a coalition for the purpose of applying for a $1 million Brownfield Assessment Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The three Counties and their respective Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities along with the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission developed this proposal as a means to improve our region’s eligibility to secure additional Brownfield site assessment grant funds. Beginning this year, the USEPA has given preference to regional organization when awarding Brownfield grants over individual counties.

EPA Brownfield site assessments are the technical studies needed to identify the risk of hazardous materials or petroleum contamination on a property. A site assessment program can encourage and facilitate the redevelopment of previously used, potentially contaminated sites. It does this simply by paying for the assessments that provide a potential developer with the important information they need about hazards and risks when considering a site for redevelopment. Applications this year are due to USEPA by November 28, 2011. The Coalition’s application for the $1 million EPA grant was submitted on Friday, November 25.

A regional assessment program would complement existing County Brownfield programs. This coalition will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the individual county Brownfield authorities. It is strictly for the purposes of applying for and, if granted, implementing a regional Brownfield site assessment program.

TCRPC along with the coalition participants will conduct all grant application and related activities in an open and public way with public meetings, public records, and in compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations. TCRPC would be responsible for maintaining communications regarding projects and potential projects with each County and for convening and facilitating coalition meetings.

The proposed grant project will use EPA standards and share clear criteria for eligible projects to be funded under this program. Typically, these criteria include that properties be previously used, eligible for redevelopment for an economic development purpose such as the creation of jobs, and have a potential contamination that hinders their reuse.

The grant proposed would fund Phase I, Phase II, and baseline environmental assessments as well as education and outreach concerning Brownfield redevelopment and the assessments program. The coalition will allocate equal funding for assessments in each of the counties with each receiving one-third of the grant after the cost of the education and communication program is allocated – or approximately $325,000 per county. TCRPC would receive the remaining funds to provide the grant program’s education and outreach activities across all three counties.

Each county will disburse Brownfield assessment funds for projects in their county. If, after one year, funds allocated for assessments in each county have not been fully utilized, the Coalition members may decide by a vote of the three counties in the coalition to re-allocate the grant funds among the three counties to assure that the region as a whole benefits from the fund.

Under the USEPA guidelines for this grant program, no matching funds are required and no administration fees can be charged to the grant. Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, on behalf of the three-county coalition, will be the lead applicant. The technical work of the assessments would be conducted by an EPA approved environmental consultant. TCRPC will bid the work openly and, with the coalition members, select the consultant firm.

TCRPC will hold and execute the required contracts with USEPA and a qualified environmental consultant firm to conduct the assessments. Tri-County, with assistance and approval from each County, will be responsible for the grant communications and reports with EPA, state agencies or others as appropriate, overseeing the contracted consultant, and the day-to-day Coalition administration.