July 31, 2006

Klepinger Receives Outstanding Coastal Community Development Award

Michigan Sea Grant Extension Specialist Mike Klepinger’s work gained national recognition when he was presented with a national Outstanding Coastal Community Development Award from Ron Baird (Emeritus Director of the National Sea Grant College Program) and Geoffrey Anderson (Environmental Protection Agency's Division Director, for Development, Community and Environment). Hawaii Sea Grant Director E. Gordon Grau presented the award at the biennial meeting of Sea Grant Extension Program leaders. The award was bestowed “in recognition of his leadership and tireless efforts to promote the principles of Smart Growth and sustainable community development, and for his outstanding and continuing contributions to the work of Sea Grant's Coastal Communities and Economies Theme Team." 

Klepinger helped develop the strategy for the national Sea Grant Coastal Communities and Economies Theme Team and contributed significantly to a Smart Growth training session for local land use decision-makers being produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coastal Services Center. The new training session will be rolled-out nationwide this fall.

In addition to his contributions to national Sea Grant community development efforts, Klepinger recently guided Marquette, Michigan’s, successful application for USEPA/Sea Grant funding and technical assistance. Sea Grant and a team of national planning experts will help the Lake Superior city gather public input and create an innovative “form-based” zoning ordinance. The new land use law will help assure physical and visual linkage between Marquette’s historic central business district with its revitalized working waterfront.

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