MSU Extension Public Policy

Resources

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  County Government at Work

  Published on July 2, 2025
  County Government at Work provides a basic overview of the roles and responsibilities of the departments, agencies, and commissions that carry out the health, safety, and welfare functions of county governments.

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  Planning & Zoning for Solar Energy Systems: A Guide for Michigan Local Governments, 2025 Edition

  Published on May 16, 2025
  This free guide is intended to help communities across Michigan understand the siting of solar energy systems relative to local planning policies, zoning regulations, and state law.

• Sample Zoning for Wind Energy Systems 2020

  Published on January 16, 2025
  This flyer presents a sample zoning ordinance for utility scale wind energy systems and smaller wind electric generation systems for an individual business or home.

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  Selected Planning and Zoning Decisions: 2024 (August 2023-August 2024)

  Published on December 17, 2024
  This public policy brief summarizes the important state and federal court cases, and Attorney General Opinions issues between August 1, 2023, and August 1, 2024.

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  Investigating the Condition and Investment Needs of Michigan's Drinking Water Infrastructure: Policy and Financing Ramifications

  Published on December 5, 2024
  This project compiles water infrastructure finance data for Flint and 249 other cities across Michigan.

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  Summary Report for the Lansing Charter Commission: Literature Review on the Forms and Efficiency of Municipal Government

  Published on October 18, 2024
  This report provides a summary of research on municipal forms of government to assist the Lansing City Charter Review Commission in crafting the new charter.

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  Michigan Local Food Policy Council Network Repository for Equity and Access in Food Systems

  Published on January 16, 2024
  The Michigan Local Food Council Network (MLFCN) Repository is a living document of local food policy council resources for the Michigan Local Food Policy Council Network.

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  Van Buren County Annual Report 2022

  Published on November 30, 2023
  Based on MSU Extension annual reporting and evaluation feedback, 2022 proved to be another good year leveraging resources provided by Van Buren County to help us do our work in the community.

• Wellbeing and Employee Retention

  Published on November 10, 2023
  Midland County Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden discusses Midland County's efforts to support employee well-being and the impact of those efforts on county staff.

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  Relief at the Right Time: How Michigan's Local Governments are Spending their State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds

  Published on August 7, 2023
  As of March 31, 2023, approximately $1.9 billion, or about 42 percent, has been obligated out of the $4.4 billion dispersed among over 1,700 local Michigan units from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Local Fiscal Recover Funds (SLFRF).