The Michigan Municipal League League is hosting a National Brownfield Association Workshop, Building Sustainable  Communities: Revitalizing Your Town, in our Lansing office on Tuesday, June 5 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The workshop aims to highlight the importance of sustainable development on Brownfield sights as well as put attendees in touch with appropriate contacts for funding programs that are available for communities.

There are scholarship dollars available to allow communities to attend for free. They are on a first come first serve basis so be sure to get your application (Scholarship_app.doc (67.50 kb)) in to the National Brownfield Association soon (contact info can be found on the application form).

To register for the event, click here.  

Nikki Brown is the Capital Office Coordinator for the League.  She can be reached at 517-908-0305 or nbrown@mml.org.

This morning the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee hear testimony on HB 4059, a bill that would prohibit "union activity" during time paid for by a public employer.

The committee was discussing this substitute:HB 4059_h4.pdf (14.74 kb)

Many public employer and union groups discussed problems with this language. The chair indicated there would be an additional hearing next week with an intent to vote on the bill at that time.

Samantha Harkins works for the Michigan Municipal League handling municipal services and energy and technology issues.  She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org

LANSING, Michigan - The Michigan Department of Treasury website has a posting dated May 15 which indicates $700,000 is still available in the second and final round of the Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP). More than $4 million (of the original $5 million) in EVIP funding was awarded for 28 projects throughout Michigan communities during Round 1 in January.

Applications must be submitted to the Department of Treasury by Friday, June 15, 2012 to be considered for this round of grants. For more information about EVIP, including a grant application for local units of government and information on previous awardees, visit www.michigan.gov/treasury and click on the Local Government Services tab. Or, contact: Caleb Buhs --- (517) 335-2167.

Matt Bach is director of communications for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.

Riverview Mayor Pro-Tem Elmer Trombley talks with Senator Mike Nofs, R-Jackson, Tuesday in Lansing.

LANSING, Michigan - This afternoon (may 15, 2012) the Michigan Senate Energy & Technology held a hearing on House Bills 4265 and 4266, bills that would lift the yard waste ban for landfills that meet certain criteria. This is, however, a community option.

The Michigan Municipal League testified in support of this legislation as we have for the last few years. The crux of the support is that these bills are a local option, and communities can choose what is best for their needs. The cities of Midland and Riverview also attended to testify in support.

Chairman Nofs indicated that there would likely be an additional hearing in the coming weeks to hear more testimony.

Samantha Harkins works for the Michigan Municipal League handling municipal services and energy and technology issues.  She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org.