MSU Extension Livable Communities

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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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  Boat cleaning equipment at launch sites can stop the spread of aquatic invasive species

  Published on July 12, 2021
  Available systems vary in approach, effectiveness, and cost.

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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.

• Cultivating local farm economies

  Published on April 21, 2021
  Farm viability requires flexibility, innovation in local government planning and zoning to allow for farm income diversification.

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  First-time visitor perspectives become the catalysts needed to spawn change just in time for the novel coronavirus pandemic

  Published on January 29, 2021
  City of Laingsburg, MI acts on tourism assessment results, which helps prepare them for unpredictable changes related to the pandemic, downtown business, and web presence.

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  Sustainable Living and Leadership Series launched by three land-grant universities

  Published on January 22, 2021
  Multi-topic series explores sustainability actions for home and community.

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  What’s in a planning commission’s annual report?

  Published on November 6, 2020
  The annual report is a requirement of all local government planning commissions and is an opportunity to provide the community and elected officials with a review of planning commission activities and achievements.

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  Why did the chicken (and cow and pig) cross the county?

  Published on September 11, 2020
  A guide for local officials addresses barriers for needed livestock processing in Southeast Michigan

• Life-cycle models can help tourism destinations chart a path to sustainability

  Published on August 7, 2020
  Can a life-cycle model help a destination understand tourism development and plan its future?  The answer is: yes.

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  Annual entrepreneurship conference provides solutions to rural communities in advance of pandemic

  Published on July 21, 2020
  City of Alma, Mich. adopts rural connectivity solution in advance of the pandemic allowing students to access the web while being confined to learning from home.