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WAYNE FORWARD

Wednesday 21 January 2026

Dearborn, MI

DISTRICT 13

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8:30am

Coffee & Networking

9:00am

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Welcome to Dearborn – County Commission District 13

9:05am

Introductions

9:15am

Previous Meeting Series Recap

9:20am

Community-level Data: EV Map

9:25am

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Featured Program: Michigan Green Communities

Presentation & Group Discussion

10:10am

Resources & Opportunities Updates

10:20am

Announcements & Housekeeping

10:30am

Adjourn

Agenda   

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WELCOME TO DEARBORN!

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Project Manager

ajsmith@waynecountymi.gov

(313) 229-7613

Alex Smith - Repair & Decarbonize

Project Manager

cdietz@waynecountymi.gov

(313)738-8635

Cara Dietz - Pursue Just Transition

Paul Dickey - Electrify Vehicles

Project Analyst

pdickey@waynecountymi.gov

(269) 362-5174

Erin Kelly - Drive Innovation in Industry

Division Director

ekelly@waynecountymi.gov

(313) 613-1475

Sustainability & Innovation Dream Team

*State's Climate Goals

Isaac Bertman - Repair & Decarbonize

Project Analyst

ibertman@waynecountymi.gov

(313) 716-9842

Juan Jhong-Chung – Clean the Grid

Project Analyst

jjhongchung@waynecountymi.gov

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Happy New Year!�What are your resolutions?

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Survey findings reminder

Concerns & Priorities

  • Flooding
  • Infrastructure upgrades & capacity gaps
  • Transportation (transit, electrification)
  • Energy efficiency and stability

Suggested County Support

  • Grants – share RFPs, write letters of support, grant writing trainings
  • Technical assistance – resilience / decarb planning, trainings, affordable consulting
  • Improved collaboration– County-convened workshops + networking events

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Community Conditions (Previous)

Urban Heat Island Benchmarking

DTE Power Outages (2023)

Flood Risk

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SUMMER

Get the Party Started

  • Begin Wayne Forward Series (bi-monthly)
  • Share survey results with County Commissioners
  • Begin monthly grants and resources emails
  • Establish Wayne Forward web page
  • Continue 1x1 meetings***

FALL

Build familiarity with the State’s existing climate goals

  • Hire a full-time coordinator (pending Commission approval)
  • Begin MI Healthy Climate Plan – virtual learning series
  • Pilot – TA for local government: municipal energy and water efficiency assistance
  • Launching RFQ for solar consultant pool; co-op rates available

WINTER

Establish a shared vision for how we will meet these goals by working together

  • Confirm – what is missing or underrepresented in the State’s goals?
  • Organize - Countywide Sustainability Summit
  • 1 on 1 Support - Michigan Green Communities Applications
  • 1 on 1 Support - Solar for All Applications (full program)

SPRING

Identify Priority Actions and Timelines required to align with the State’s existing climate goals

  • Draft – Wayne Forward Common Agenda
  • Wayne Forward Delegation to join the State’s Climate Conference
  • Data, Dashboard, and Tools Work Plan Developed

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Milestones (2025 DRAFT)

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Flooding

Challenges:

  • Outdated stormwater systems
  • Creek capacity issues
  • Funding & permitting barriers

Expressed need / interest:

  • Coordinated studies
  • County & State support to understand flooding hotspots & mitigation strategies

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Energy

Expressed need / interest:

  • Capacity support for centralized utility tracking in public buildings

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Previous Meeting – Recap

November 19, 2025

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Previous Meeting – Memo

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  • November 19th Wayne Forward meeting summarized
  • Includes:
    • Overview of Activities
    • Comments from Community Representatives
    • Key Takeaways
  • Official memo available for sharing
  • Lives on the Wayne Forward Webpage

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Conditions in Your Community

Dearborn Summer Market

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Wayne County EV Analysis

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EV Gap Analysis - Dearborn

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Presentation & Discussion

Arab American National Museum

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Michigan Green Communities�Overview & Resources

Wayne Forward

January 21, 2026

www.migreencommunities.com

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Introductions

  • Name
  • Local government
  • Position

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www.migreencommunities.com

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What is MGC?

A sustainability recognition, networking, & technical assistance program for municipalities & counties

Accelerate environmentally sustainable actions by communities to enhance Michigan’s livability & economic competitiveness in the 21st century global green economy

Benefits to Participating

  • Free technical assistance
  • Access to a peer network
  • Easily create a roadmap of sustainability actions that work for your community

www.migreencommunities.com

www.migreencommunities.com

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www.migreencommunities.com

PARTNERS

www.migreencommunities.com

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MGC Challenge Categories

www.migreencommunities.com

1. Planning for Inclusive & Lasting Impacts

2. Climate Resilience & Adaptation

3. Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

4. Responsibly Managing Materials

5. Sustainable Land Use & Economic Development

6. Improving Health Outcomes

7. Protecting & Conserving Water Resources

8. Support Clean & Inclusive Mobility

9. Inspire & Mobilize Residents

www.migreencommunities.com

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Active Wayne County Participants

www.migreencommunities.com

  • Canton Township
  • Dearborn
  • Detroit
  • Grosse Pointe Park
  • Livonia
  • Northville (City)
  • Plymouth (City)
  • Wayne County

www.migreencommunities.com

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Wayne County Participation by Category

  • Community Engagement
  • Planning
  • Materials Management

Least Completed Categories

Most Completed Categories

  • Resilience & Adaptation
  • Health

www.migreencommunities.com

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Wayne County Sustainability Priorities Survey

Wayne County Sustainability Priorities Survey Results

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Wayne County Sustainability Priorities Survey

Wayne County Sustainability Priorities Survey Results

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Wayne County Sustainability Priorities Survey

Wayne County Sustainability Priorities Survey Results

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Wayne County Sustainability Priorities Survey

Wayne County Sustainability Priorities Survey Results

www.migreencommunities.com

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MGC as a Framework

“Madison Heights has been successful in pursuing and securing grants because we have a strategic plan in place. We know which projects need funding, and we can strategically apply for grants and direct donations to things that will make our community more sustainable in the future. Michigan Green Communities Challenge was critical in starting this planning process. If you do nothing else, go to the Michigan Green Communities website and take the MGC Challenge. That will help you identify what you’ve already accomplished and where you want to go next. That’s where Madison Heights started, and it’s why we’ve gotten to where we are now.”

- Melissa Marsh, Madison Heights City Manager, January 2024

www.migreencommunities.com

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Template Sustainability Plan�Resource Kit

migreencommunities.com/plan

www.migreencommunities.com

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Sustainable Cities at UM Dearborn�Getting Started with Support

Connects local governments with U-M students to expand office capacity and elevate community sustainability efforts using MGC as a framework

www.migreencommunities.com

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Implementing Best Practices:�Green Infrastructure

MGC Accelerator Cohort

  • National experts in GSI & zoning
  • Small group learning sessions
  • One-on-one support

www.migreencommunities.com

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Defining Next Practices�Catalyst Leadership Circle & Fellowship

10-week free fellowship program for local governments

37 projects in 4 years

  • Waste management/composting/recycling
  • Food waste reduction
  • Energy – renewables, efficiency, resident engagement
  • Forestry & habitat protection
  • Pest management
  • Communications & staff training

www.migreencommunities.com

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Table Conversations

www.migreencommunities.com

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Takeaways

www.migreencommunities.com

Create MGC account/find your login credentials

Reporting period open now through May 1, 2026

Download templates at migreencommunities.com/plan

Visit Catalyst Communities

www.migreencommunities.com

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Contact Information

Danielle Beard

Program Manager, Michigan Green Communities

dbeard@migreencommunities.com

(517) 908-0308

www.migreencommunities.com

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www.migreencommunities.com

www.migreencommunities.com

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Resources & Opportunities

Dearborn Homecoming 

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FLOODING

ELECTRIFICATION

INFRASTRUCTURE

CAPACITY BUILDING

SEMCOG Flood Task Force

Upcoming Resilience Workshops:

  • 2/3: Planning Resilient Communities
  • 2/11: Emergency Planning & Response
  • 3/10: Engineering Flood Mitigation

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Floodwise Cohort

Email Tori Graves: Gravesvi@umich.edu

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Wayne County EV Roadmap

Send input to Paul Dickey: pdickey@waynecountymi.gov

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Clean Fuels and Charging Infrastructure Fund

For implementing EV charging for fleets, public transit, and multi-family housing locations with focus on EJ communities

  • First come first served applications now open
  • Maximum grant $300k

Direct/Elective Pay

Federal tax credit program

  • MI Resources
  • Virtual info session coming soon

Urban Sustainability Directors Network

Free membership through Wayne County

  • Email Juan if interested: Jjhongchung@waynecountymi.gov

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Michigan Green Communities

Office Hours: 9-10am ET on 02/12, 03/12, 04/9, and 04/30.

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State Of The County

Wed, Feb 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite

Join us!

Resources & Opportunities

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Brookside Park

Announcements and Housekeeping

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Requests for themes & agenda items moving forward?

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Wayne Forward Webpage

One-stop-shop for:

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  • Key dates calendar
  • Agenda access
  • Picture gallery
  • Archive:
    • Meeting materials
    • Shared resources/grant opportunities
    • Workshop sessions (recordings)

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Feedback

Next Steps

County to circulate meeting materials

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Next Wayne Forward Meeting

WEDNESDAY MARCH 18, 9-10:30AM

WESTLAND, MI – City Hall

36300 Warren Rd, Westland MI 48185

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Peers from your local government are always welcome!

Thanks for Coming