Michigan’s Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Partners with KL&A to Implement New Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) Verification System

OKEMOS, MI, APR. 8, 2020 — Kunz, Leigh & Associates (KL&A), a Midwest leader in custom software solutions, has recently begun work on a $1.8 million dollar project for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to deliver a new verification system that will scale to meet the needs of Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). 

Since 1998, MAEAP’s mission has been to develop and implement a proactive environmental assurance program to ensure Michigan farmers engage in cost-effective pollution prevention practices and work to comply with state and federal environmental regulations. By participating, Michigan farmers can comprehensively evaluate their entire farming operation for potential environmental risks to the public. 

This new partnership with KL&A involves replacing the existing applications with a single custom system that will facilitate the long-term process of education, assessment, implementation, and verification of Michigan-based farms. It will impact farming communities by allowing MAEAP to accurately and efficiently verify farms into the program, allowing for a higher volume of better-quality data to be collected in less time. 

The new system will provide MAEAP staff with a variety of features and automation capabilities including GIS-enabled mapping features, configurable dashboards, and graphical data. The system’s comprehensive reporting feature will provide MAEAP with the various metrics needed to assess the program’s overall performance and impact. The new system will be able to support over 3000 annual assessments, with scalability to support increased program participations as the program grows.

“As a Michigan native, this is an exciting project because it involves meaningful work that will have a positive impact,” said Jason Lantz, KL&A Project Manager. “This new system will help streamline their process and make their lives easier, so MAEAP can focus on maintaining the environmental integrity of Michigan’s farming communities. So, being a part of that is really rewarding.”

KL&A has been developing unique systems for State of Michigan agencies like MDARD since 1993. KL&A is excited to work with the state again to assist MAEAP in their effort to reduce erosion and protect Michigan ponds, streams, and rivers from potential agricultural pollution. This new project aligns with KL&A’s aspirations to better serve their community and the State of Michigan. For more information about the MAEAP program, please visit the MAEAP website at https://maeap.org.

About KL&A

KL&A is an information technology systems provider with over 100 employees and two offices in the State of Michigan. Founded in 1992 by partners Jim Kunz and John Leigh, KL&A’s small, but highly qualified staff, laid the foundation for the company’s success. Over the past 27 years, KL&A has formed several long-lasting relationships with clients which has resulted in substantial organic growth in annual revenue, service offerings, and staff members. With clients in Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota and Illinois, KL&A is gaining momentum in the Midwest as a leading software development company. The secret to KL&A’s success, in both business and as an employer, lies in understanding the importance of balancing work and play. Visit KL&A’s website to learn more and explore current job opportunities.

Media Contact:

Kim Spagnuolo
Marketing Manager
Kunz, Leigh & Associates
248-330-8801
k.spagnuolo@kunzleigh.com

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