About WUPPDR

WUPPDR is a regional planning agency (RPA), one of fourteen designated by the State of Michigan in the 1960s and ‘70s and eventually constituted under the Regional Planning Act, Public Act 281 of 1945.

We are a multi-jurisdictional unit of government created and maintained by any local governments (counties, municipalities, and townships) that choose to participate and make financial contributions.

WUPPDR’s member governments are:

  • Counties of Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon

  • Cities of Hancock, Houghton, and Wakefield

  • Villages of L’Anse and Ontonagon

  • Charter Townships of Calumet and Portage

Representatives on WUPPDR’s Commission (governing body) are apportioned based on dues, which are determined by formulas that account for population, and, in the case of county members, state equalized values.

WUPPDR conducts diverse activities within the scope of certain recurring grant programs – federal economic development planning and state transportation planning, in particular – along with such other funding programs and projects (grants) that arise from time to time and are consistent with regional priorities. These are generally related to:

  • Broadband communications

  • Energy

  • Environment/climate resilience

  • Food systems/agriculture

  • Infrastructure asset management

  • Hazard mitigation

  • Housing

  • Recreation

  • Solid waste

  • Transportation

WUPPDR also provides specialized technical assistance to member and non-member local governments, usually on a fee-for-service basis, including:

  • Comprehensive/master planning

  • Geographic information systems (GIS) support and hosting, including mapping

  • Recreation planning

  • Grant writing

  • Third-party grant administration, including Community Development Block Grants

Finally, WUPPDR fulfills a variety of other regional needs, including:

  • Acts as a central point of contact and networker in the region

  • Functions as a clearinghouse for certain federal grant applications

  • Functions as a liaison to many state and federal agencies

  • Provides or facilitates access to regional data (e.g. Census and labor statistics)

  • Receives and reviews local comprehensive and recreation plans

  • Communicates critical information to local governments

  • Convenes various groups and initiatives as needs arise

For more information on WUPPDR’s roles, functions, and capabilities, contact Jerry Wuorenmaa at jwuorenmaa@wuppdr.org or (906) 231-2580.