The W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan, has awarded a three-year, $5.9 million grant to Michigan State University's Land Policy Program to support land-use policy research, education, and innovation.

The grant builds upon the program's People and Land (PAL) initiative, a statewide partnership that has played a major role in initiating change in Michigan land-use policy. The PAL approach focuses on educating citizens and policy makers about land-use issues, informing them of innovative policy tools and alternative options, and convening organizations to understand various perspectives and implement appropriate land-use agendas.

"Michigan is unique; no other state can boast of this kind of public-private partnership infrastructure in land-use policy," said Soji Adelaja, director of the program. "Success in addressing land-use issues like sprawl, traffic congestion, and resource conservation is critical to Michigan's future prosperity, and a broad consensus is forming around that premise."