SERVING

Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, St. Joseph Counties


Environmental Justice Analysis

The Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), are charged with evalutating our plans and programs for environmental justice sensitivity and expand outreach efforts to low-income, minority, and other potentially disadvantage populations. MACOG uses a methodology developed by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) to identify potentially disadvantage population groups. The methodology uses data from the American Community Survey (ACS) collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. Using this data, MACOG created a snapshot of the region, mapping the locations of identified EJ populations.

The current list of populations identified by MACOG's Indicators of Potential Disadvantage (IPD) are:

  • Racial Minority
  • Hispanic
  • Households in Poverty
  • Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
  • Elderly over 65 years of age
  • Carless households
  • Households with Disabilities

An average percent of population figure is used to determine which Census Block Groups are "well below average" to "well above average". The IPD is identified when sensitive population fall above average in each block group.

Environmental Justice Analysis Interactive EJ Analysis Map

Title VI
Notification

The Michiana Area Council of Governments declares that it conducts its programs, services, and activities without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes he or she has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG).

For more information on MACOG’s Civil Rights Program, and the procedures to file a complaint, call 574-287-1829, email Zach Dripps at zdripps@macog.com, or visit our office at 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., 11th Floor County-City Bldg., South Bend, Indiana 46601.

A complainant may file a complaint directly with the Federal Highway Administration or the Federal Transit Administration by mailing complaints to:

Federal Highway Administration Office of Civil Rights, Attn: Title VI Program Coordinator, 8th Floor E81-105, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590

Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights, Attn: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor-TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590

Title VI Program Limited English Proficiency Program

Title VI Complaint Procedure

The Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) is committed to a policy of non-discrimination in the operation of its programs and services without regard to race, color and national origin. Any person who believes that he or she, individually, or as a member of any specific class of persons, has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin by MACOG is encouraged to report a Title VI complaint within 180 days of the alleged discrimination to the Title VI Coordinator using the Title VI Complaint form with the following information.

  • Name, address, and telephone number of the complainant.
  • Person discriminated against (if someone other than the complainant).
  • The basis of the complaint; i.e., race, color, or national origin.
  • The date or dates on which the alleged discriminatory event or events occured.
  • The nature of the incident that led the complainant to feel discrimination was a factor.
  • Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of person who may have knowledge of the event.
  • Other agencies or courts where complaint may have been filed and a contact name.
  • Complainant’s signature and date.

The Title VI Coordinator will provide the complainant or their representative with a written acknowledgement by mail within 10 working days that the MPO has received the complaint.

The complaint will be reviewed by the Title VI Coordinator and Legal Counsel. It will then be forwarded to the Executive Director and Executive Committee of the Policy Board. The MPO will then notify the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and/or Federal Transit Administration (FTA) that a complaint has been received.

Submit your complaints to:

Zach Dripps, Title VI Coordinator
227 W. Jefferson Blvd.
11th Floor County-City Building
South Bend, IN 46601
zdripps@macog.com
p: 574-287-1829
f: 574-239-4072

Title VI Complaint Form Formulario de Reclamos del Título VI