After a record-setting spring and summer, with temperatures soaring, community leaders may be looking for constructive initiatives they can undertake to help residents cope with and adapt to extreme heat. Georgetown University recently released a guide targeted specifically for local governments titled "Adapting to Urban Heat". This guide includes a number of low-cost policy options available, provides criteria to help communities decide which options to pursue, and documents results with case studies from around the country.

For more tips about greening your community, visit our Green Communities page.

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator for the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him via email or Twitter.

The Michigan Green Communities network is sponsoring a free webinar tomorrow, August 15, featuring the energy financing programs of Michigan Saves. Michigan Saves, a statewide nonprofit organization, is launching a Business Energy Financing Program in partnership with a Michigan lender. This program will build on the success of its existing residential program. Learn how these programs can help residents and business owners in your community. Michigan Saves is also seeking input to help shape a special financing program targeted at municipal lighting and facility energy improvements.

Join the webinar at 10am Eastern by calling 734-794-6099 and using access code 43720. The presentation will be available by clicking this link.

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator for the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him by email or Twitter.

In late 2011, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission a $3 million grant to support the Mid-Michigan Program for Greater Sustainability, a collaborative effort involving partners from Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties. This regional planning grant supports initiatives that integrate housing, land use, economic and workforce development, transportation, environmental and infrastructure investments. June 20, a Michigan Green Communities webinar will feature Harmony Gmazel, AICP, Land Use Planner with the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission and Julie Powers, Executive Director of the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council. Harmony and Julie will provide an overview of the grant and the region’s emerging sustainability planning efforts.

Wednesday, June 20

10 am Eastern

Call in: 734-794-6099

Access code: 43720

Link to access presentation materials during the call

A business environment that is supportive of entrepreneurs and small businesses is a key asset of 21st Century Communities. The Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) recently released its newest Entrepreneurship Scorecard, which tracks Michigan’s progress in creating that environment. The report shows progress in a number of areas, but much work in this area remains to be done.

Two projects of the Michigan Municipal League were highlighted by SBAM as bright spots. The Economics of Place was cited several times, including on page 125, highlighting the connections between entrepreneurship, placemaking and economic growth. Our Green Communities program was mentioned on page 140 as a key driver of green economic development. Thank you to SBAM and the report's authors, Mark Clevey and Graham Toft, for the recognition and for continuing to push Michigan in new innovative directions.

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator for the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him via email or Twitter.