MSU Extension Government

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  Career advancement paths for migrant and seasonal farmworkers through new grant to MSU, nonprofit partners, and State of Michigan

  Published on August 3, 2021
  Creating ways for farmworkers to gain career-ready skills through hands-on training and professional experiences.

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  Water quality concerns and actions addressed during Water School Webinar Series

  Published on July 30, 2021
  Local decision-makers play a key role in managing and protecting the water quality of our freshwater resources.

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  2020-2021 Michigan planning and zoning court cases are available

  Published on July 26, 2021
  The annual 2020-2021 summary of Michigan planning and zoning court cases is now available to the public.

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  Planning commissions and zoning board of appeals are required to have governing bylaws

  Published on July 23, 2021
  There is a minimum content for bylaws, but normally there is much more, including specifying which parliamentary authority is used.

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  New Planning Commissioner Training series launched in partnership with Planetizen Courses

  Published on June 28, 2021
  Virtual training series provides citizen planners with the tools and resources to effectively work alongside professional planners on behalf of their communities.

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  To plan or not to plan? Minimum contents of a master plan

  Published on June 17, 2021
  For local governments that chose to adopt zoning, this is a moot question, as zoning must be based on a plan. Still, the minimum contents of a master plan are not well defined in law and communities have great latitude in developing a master plan.

• Economic impacts of COVID-19 on travel and tourism, specifically in the Great Lakes States

  Published on June 3, 2021
  U.S. Travel Association publishes details of the startling decline in U.S. travel and tourism.

• How are county commissioner districts created?

  Published on June 2, 2021
  The county apportionment process takes place every 10 years following the census, to draw county commission districts.

• Common questions about school boards and the Open Meetings Act

  Published on May 30, 2021
  Public school boards are public bodies and subject to the Open Meetings Act. This article contains answers to many commonly asked questions.

• Planning commissions can strengthen inclusion with gender neutral policy language

  Published on April 7, 2021
  Are people of all gender identities represented in your planning commission bylaws, policies, and other documents? Many organizations have taken steps to update policies and replace gendered language with gender neutral options.