About Southcentral michigan planning council (smpc)
Southcentral Michigan Planning Council (SMPC) is a non-profit organization that serves as one of the 14 State Planning and Development Regions in Michigan. The council represents five counties, including Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, and St Joseph. SMPC's primary goal is to promote regional planning and development by providing technical assistance to local governments and communities.
The council was established in 1968 under the Michigan Planning Enabling Act. Since then, it has been working tirelessly to enhance the quality of life for residents in its region by promoting sustainable economic growth and development. SMPC's mission is to foster collaboration among local governments, businesses, community organizations, and residents to create a vibrant region that attracts investment while preserving its natural resources.
One of SMPC's core functions is land use planning. The council works with local governments to develop comprehensive plans that guide future growth and development while protecting natural resources such as water bodies, wetlands, forests, farmlands among others. These plans are designed to ensure that new developments are compatible with existing land uses while minimizing negative impacts on the environment.
Another critical function of SMPC is transportation planning. The council works closely with state agencies such as the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to develop transportation plans that improve mobility within its region while reducing congestion on major highways such as I-94 or US-131.
SMPC also provides technical assistance on various issues related to community development such as housing affordability programs for low-income families or brownfield redevelopment projects aimed at revitalizing abandoned industrial sites into productive use again.
In addition to these core functions mentioned above; SMPC also offers other services like grant writing assistance for local governments seeking funding from state or federal sources; GIS mapping services which help communities visualize data about their regions more effectively; demographic analysis which helps identify trends in population growth or decline over time among others.
Overall Southcentral Michigan Planning Council (SMPC) is an essential organization that plays a critical role in promoting regional planning and development in Michigan. The council's commitment to collaboration, sustainability, and innovation has helped create a vibrant region that attracts investment while preserving its natural resources. If you are looking for technical assistance on land use planning, transportation planning, or community development issues in the five counties represented by SMPC, then this is the right place to go.