E-Newsletter Volume 11, Issue 4 / April 2021 |
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Welcome to Our Newest Employee! |
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We are pleased to welcome Sadie DiNatale Burda to the Bay-Lake RPC team!
As the Commission’s newest Community Assistance Planner, Sadie’s primary roles will be supporting long-range planning, community development, and growth management efforts, and will be providing technical assistance to implement plans and policies. Sadie brings experience in housing and economic analysis, infrastructure funding, and action planning. She holds a master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and a B.A. in Urban and Regional Studies with a Planning Emphasis from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.
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Land Use Technician (LTE Position) Opening |
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The Commission is seeking a Land Use Technician to assist the transportation planner and other staff with land use inventories and projects related to the completion of plans and programs. This would be a limited term employment position during the summer of 2021. The position description and list of qualifications are posted on the Commission’s website. The deadline for receipt of application materials is April 23.
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Introducing the Bay-Lake RPC Funding Portal! |
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We are excited to announce the release of our new Funding Opportunities Portal! The Funding Opportunities Portal provides communities with key information on dozens of available state and federal funding opportunities. The Portal is organized into six broad categories of funding (Community/Economic Development, COVID-19 Response/Recovery, Environmental, Housing, and Transportation), which are then organized into subcategories. For example, the Environmental category is organized by the following sub-categories: Coastal Resources, Natural Resources, and Recreation. Each funding opportunity contains a description of the program, eligible uses and applicants, application deadline, and more. Additionally, the Funding Opportunities Portal contains a “grant deadline calendar” that is a useful tool that can be used to prioritize grants that are nearing their deadline.
This portal will be updated weekly as funding opportunities become available or close. Additionally, the Funding Opportunities Portal will replace the grants section of our newsletter. If you have any questions, please email Sydney Swan or Jessica Missall.
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ARP Act - Local and State Aid |
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On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP Act) into law. The act provides a $1.9 trillion economic recovery package. Approximately $360 billion will fund economic relief to state, local, and territorial governments and $30.5 billion will fund public transit systems. State and local recipients can use the funds to provide: (1) aid to households, small businesses, nonprofits, and industries such as tourism and hospitality; (2) premium pay to essential employees or grants to their employers; (3) funds to government services affected by a revenue reduction during the pandemic; and (4) funds to be used for investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. Funds can be used to cover costs incurred through the end of 2024.
The ARP Act includes roughly $5.7 billion in total aid for Wisconsin. The majority of funding ($3.2 billion) will go directly to the state, while roughly $2.3 billion will go to local governments. On March 29, Gov. Tony Evers unveiled his plan for investing the $3.2 billion in funding that the state received.
Please contact Sydney Swan to be added to an email distribution list that will provide critical information on the ARP Act as it becomes available and be sure to check out our COVID-19 Portal for ARP Act news and updates.
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A second set of minor amendments to the Sheboygan Metropolitan Planning Area Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): Calendar Years 2021 – 2024 has been processed. This amendment modifies one transit capital item, adds two Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program (WETAP) projects that cover multiple counties (including Sheboygan County), and makes cost adjustments to one street and highway project. The Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees recommended approval of the minor amendments at their joint meeting in late February, and the Commission approved the minor amendments at its March 12 meeting. The minor amendments have been transmitted to WisDOT and USDOT and have been posted to the MPO webpage.
Commission staff were involved with several meetings and webinars over the past month regarding transportation planning matters. These have included an employment transportation virtual meeting with Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) staff, the WisDOT Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) Peer Exchange, a webinar on resiliency in the context of transportation investments, and two webinars on the proposed new definition of an urban area.
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Webinar Series: “Optimizing your Online Presence for New and Small Businesses”
To help with economic stability, the Bay-Lake RPC received funding through the 2020 CARES Act to produce an online workshop aimed at helping businesses increase their online presence.
In May, Bay-Lake RPC will post a series of brief tutorials on their website. The series will cover topics including:
- Maintaining an effective website
- Engaging through social media
- Determining whether fee-based marketplaces are right for your business
- Establishing an online marketing budget
Please stay tuned for more information.
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Have Your Communities Featured on Our Website |
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We had a great response when we asked readers for winter pictures, such as the image of Cave Point (left) taken by Darrick DeMeause. Winter images are currently featured on the front page of our website. Thank you to all those that participated! Because of the great response, we have decided to make this a regular occurrence. With the winter weather beginning to make way for birds and blooming plants, we are now asking for communities for photos of communities as they thaw for the spring!
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Want to help make an impact in our region? Below are links to the public input activities and surveys that are currently open.
Bay-Lake RPC is helping the City of Marinette update its Comprehensive Plan. Part of this process involves updating its Future Land Use Map. Please click on the link below to participate in an activity that will provide valuable insight for developing the plan and updating the map. The activity is open until April 18 at 11:59 pm.
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Upcoming Events & Meetings |
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Northeast Wisconsin Regional Access to Transportation Committee Meeting
Tuesday, April 13th, 9:30am
Virtual
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Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees Joint Meeting
Thursday, April 29th, 1:00pm
Virtual
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Bay-Lake RPC Executive
Commission Meeting
Friday, April 30th, 10:00am
Bay-Lake RPC Office
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Be sure to check in with the Bay-Lake RPC COVID-19 Portal for any new and upcoming events/workshops.
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- Mid-May, 2021 -
Webinar Series: "Optimizing your Online Presence for New and Small Businesses"
More Details to Come
(Virtual)
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- May 27, 2021 -
Sheboygan MPO Technical and Policy Advisory Committees Joint Meeting
1:00pm (Location TBD)
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Funding and Grant Opportunities |
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- USDOT Low or No Emission Vehicle Program (Monday, April 12)
- AARP Community Challenge (Wednesday, April 14)
- WDNR Targeted Runoff Management Grant (Thursday, April 15)
- WDNR Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water Management Grant (Thursday, April 15)
- USDA Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program (Friday, April 16)
- AARP Wisconsin Small Dollar, Big Impact Grant (Thursday, April 29)
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Do you want to know more about planning services or grants available? |
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The staff of the Bay-Lake RPC are happy to speak to your boards/councils, committees, organization, or community groups about what is happening in our region. We are also available to assist communities and counties with meeting facilitation.
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