Recently, the Friends of SMARTrails learned Manistee County will soon be considering the hiring of grant writer and recreation planner. This news was well received by the Friends as clearly, these resources would directly help to better facilitate the development of trails in the county.
The Friends Board has already sent a letter of support (pictured at the bottom of this post) to the Manistee County Board of Commissioners. SMARTrails President, Rob Carson commented, “The securing of a grant writer and recreation planner by the county would help us with our mission and to achieve the ultimate vision of a county with a well-developed, connected trail system.”
“We’d like to encourage local units of government, groups and organizations, and individuals and stakeholders to provide their own letters of support for this initiative,” he added.
Help for Writing a Letter of Support to the County
See each heading below for recommended language dependent upon whether the letter is from a local unit of government, a non-profit or user group.
Local Unit of Government Language:
Manistee County Board of Commissioners,
We offer this letter of support to the Manistee County Board of Commissioners for establishment of two staff positions; that of a grant writer and a recreation planner. We recognize that our natural resources are an important asset that provides opportunities for outdoor recreation throughout Manistee County for our residents and visitors. Improving upon access and assets will lead directly to increased opportunities, and marketing of these opportunities will lead to an increases in user base. Through increased users, these assets will provide direct beneficial outcomes of economic development and an increased recreational healthy lifestyle.
[Insert Name of Local Unit of Government] would utilize a grant writer and recreation planner if the capacity was established by Manistee County, and made available to the local units of government. We offer this letter as our support to the Manistee County Board of Commissioners to invest in our natural resource assets, community residents and visitors.
Respectfully,
[Insert Name of Local Unit of Government Official]
User Group/Stakeholder Language
Manistee County Board of Commissioners,
The [insert organization name] is a [insert a brief description of your organization and what it does]. We offer this letter of support to the Manistee County Board of Commissioners for the establishment of both a grant writer position and a recreation planner. Our [insert organization name] is comprised of a passionate group of residents and visitors which utilize the recreational assets made available in Manistee County. We see opportunity for expansion of these assets, and understand that other passionate users of recreational facilities would be drawn to the County to recreate. This would continue to build the user base, which would not only lead to increased monetary spending within Manistee County, but would also continually grow the support network of passionate enthusiasts spreading the word of the amazing opportunities afforded in Manistee County.
We hope that you give strong consideration towards investing in the future of Manistee County and the myriad of benefits that will occur through that investment.
Respectfully,
[Insert Name of Group or Group Representative]
Non-Profit Language:
Manistee County Board of Commissioners,
The [insert organization name] is a [insert a brief description of your organization and what it does]. As an organization devoted to supporting Manistee County and its residents, we are happy to provide this letter of support to establish two positions within the County for a grant writer and a recreation planner. Manistee County has long been regarded as a community with an abundance of natural resources and recreational opportunities. Our existing residents and visitors understand the assets made available through these resources are a portion of what defines us as a community. Therefore it is without question that we must make consideration towards investment in assets which are so highly regarded and available to all.
It is our wish that you as the elected officials of the County make a positive move toward truly establishing Manistee County as a front-runner in assets for outdoor recreation. The ability to increase the draw of our community to future residents and visitors will forever have lasting impacts that will benefit future generations. There is a need and a desire, and we wish that you will answer that call.
Respectfully,
[Insert Name of Group or Group Representative]
Below is the letter of support the Friends of SMARTrails sent to the County Commissioners.
