Who Qualifies for STDI Services

Small Town Design Initiatve assistance is primarily available to Michigan communities ranging in population from 500 to 15,000.

Political jurisdictions that fall within the population range can make application for STDI assistance. This may include townships and charter townships and well as municipalities. Not-for-profit organizations and local citizen groups are also eligible as long as their service region falls within the population range.

What to Expect

Each project will be completed as an individual effort by the STDI. A team will be assembled, as appropriate, to properly address the project needs. Size, timing, and complexity of the project will determine how and who it is assigned to the project by the STDI.

The energy, creative thinking, and innovation of students, faculty, and professional at Michigan State University will all be brought into focus to assist Michigan's small towns in developing a vision and direction, build consensus, and create physical images of environmental design projects. This process, and resulting products, provides the community with a clearer definiton of the problem and potential solutions. The natural, and intended follow through is for the community to engage professional design consultants who will further evolve the ideas, and prepare the technical studies, plans, drawings, and specifications that turn the project ideas into reality.

What is Required

Communities wishing to receive Small Town Design Initiative assistance must complete an application package. Applications will be evaluated by the STDI. Evaluation criteria include: project meets STDI goals, community meets the small town population range and political jurisdiction/not-for-profit/local citizen group standing, broad-based community involvement and support, clear community objectives, quality of base materials (maps, data, etc.), and financial commitment. If appropriate, applicant communities will be contacted by the STDI to further review their application. In some cases a community visit will be necessary with the STDI.

Complete applications are due March 15th and September 15th. Projects will be approved by May 15th and November 15th, respectively.

How to Apply

• Download and print the PDF application and follow the instructions given in the application.
• Mail the completed application to the given address in the STDI application.

Please feel free to contact the STDI or your MSU-Extension County Director for more information or if you have any questions.

Contact Information

Warren J. Rauhe, ASLA
Director, Small Town/Community Design Initiatives
School of Planning, Design and Construction
Michigan State University
101 Human Ecology
East Lansing, MI 48824-1030
517-432-0704
rauhe@msu.edu