Idlewild, Michigan Transformation Initiative

 

Community Cultural Economic Development Readiness

Organization and Roles

 

Vision:              Assist Yates Township citizens and property owners in preserving, restoring and developing Idlewild, Michigan, a National Register Historic District and Enterprise Community, as a national rural retreat, resort and tourism destination.

 

Goal:                Help Yates Township achieve prosperity by leveraging Idlewild, Michigan's natural environment, historic buildings and sites, cultural heritage, creative talent and other assets to spur financial investment and economic growth.

 

OBJECTIVES:

 

1.       State of Michigan Due Diligence - work as an inter-agency team to inventory, assess and leverage state holdings and assets for creation of a coordinated stewardship agenda

2.       Community Engagement - engage Idlewild/Yates Township civic leaders, community residents and stakeholders in public dialogue and planning to improve community cohesion and stability, and develop a new transformative vision for Idlewild, Michigan

3.       Technical Assistance - work as an inter-agency team, with consultants/partners/advisors, to assist community transformation

4.       Strategic Planning - work in collaboration with the Idlewild/Yates Township civic leaders, community residents and stakeholders to craft a comprehensive transformative economic development (master) plan (including historic landscape management plan and wayfinding assessment)

5.       Funding - assist Idlewild/Yates Township government and community-based organizations identify and secure financial resources (i.e., grants, gifts, loans and incentives) to support master plan implementation (including short-term and long-term strategic signature projects) and community transformation

6.       Marketing - work as an inter-agency team, with consultants/partners/advisors, to market Idlewild, Michigan as a high-value cultural tourism destination

 

ROLES:

 

Co-Chairs

Provide leadership on behalf of the Governor

 

Governor-Appointed Advisory Committee  (i.e., commission, panel or task force of influential stakeholders)

Serves as an advisory body to the Governor and Co-Chairs to foster the revitalization, preservation and celebration of Idlewild, Michigan

 

• Assist and support creation of a ‘transformational vision' for Idlewild, Michigan
• Assist development, monitor and assess transformation efforts and return on investment
• Foster best practices
• Promote regional cooperation and the benefits of cultural economic development to quality of life and community prosperity
• Help identify, secure and leverage resources
• Provide public information

 

Inter-Agency Transformation Team  (Representation from participating state agencies/departments and others) Serve as a forum for state agency discussion, policy development and implementation, collaboration and programming/services synergy

 

 

 

Planning Assistance Team  (HAL, MDOT, MEDC, MSHDA)

Serves as a sub-committee to the Inter-Agency Transformation Team focused on Idlewild economic development (master) plan development, offering planning oversight, technical assistance and resources (i.e., funding and services) to Yates Township and/or the Transformation Partnership

 

Transformation Partnership Facilitators  (State Agency Captain, Local Community Captain, and Agency Co-Leaders) Facilitate Transformation Partnership activities

 

·        Organize, convene and administer the Transformation Partnership

·        Help facilitate Partner participation

·        Facilitate "cutting of red tape" to expedite implementation

·        Monitor, document and assess Partnership progress

·        Report partnership progress to the Inter-Agency Transformation Team and Community

 

Transformation Partnership

Serves as a forum for ‘on-the-ground' planning and soliciting transformative projects, formulating requests for resources (i.e., funding and services) from state agencies/departments and other partners, and performance measurement

 

Transformation Tool Box

Networked resources (i.e., funding and services) that may be available to support economic development (master)a plan and partnership implementation

 

Examples:

 

• HAL MCACA Arts and Cultural Grants
• MDOT Enhancement Grants
• HAL Historic Preservation Tax Credits
• DNR Programs
• HAL MCACA Rural Arts and Culture Program
• MEDC CBDG Funds
• SBA Loans
• Summer Youth Program
• Michigan Humanities Council Grants
• Department of Corrections (services)
• MSHDA CAT Team
• MSU Extension
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• U.S. Forest Service

 

Transformation Committees  (Community and Partnership Representatives)

Serve as a forum for highly-focused ‘on-the-ground' dialogue, needs assessment, and planning as sub-committees to the Transformation Partnership

 

 

02/07