Michiana Area Council of Governments

What Michiana Area Council of Governments does

Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) is a voluntary association of local governments serving four counties in Northern Indiana: Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, and St. Joseph. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in South Bend, MACOG operates as the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the South Bend Urbanized Area and functions as the regional convener for interlocal coordination on transportation, transit, community and economic development, environmental sustainability, and regional data services. The organization's member jurisdictions include cities, towns, and counties across the four-county region.

MACOG's product portfolio is anchored in transportation planning. The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a multi-year, federally funded investment plan; the SFY 2026-2030 cycle covers over $181 million in projects. MACOG is the designated recipient of FTA Section 5310 funding supporting accessible transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Additional programs include the Regional Brownfields Coalition (funded by a $1.5M EPA grant), the AmeriCorps regional program, the Partners for Clean Air Awards, Move Safe Michiana safety planning, and the new Regional Housing Collaborative. Underlying technology includes a GIS Maps & Data portal on ArcGIS Hub covering properties, traffic counts, parcels and assessment data; the proprietary MACOG Data Bike which uses smartphone accelerometer and gyroscope sensors to compute trail roughness scores across over 95 miles of regional trails and map 150+ trail amenities; and the MACOG Engage public engagement platform hosting project-specific pages for all major planning initiatives.

MACOG's revenue model is grant-funded, drawing on federal sources (FTA, FHWA, USDOT, EPA), state sources (INDOT Community Crossings Matching Grants, Indiana Office of Energy Development), and voluntary member contributions from local governments. It does not sell products or services commercially; instead, it administers competitive grant programs (Section 5310, TIP, Brownfields, EV pilots) and provides planning, data, and engagement services to member governments, nonprofits, and the public. Distribution is regional by design, channeled through monthly Policy Board and TTAC meetings, the MACOG Engage platform, YouTube live streams, the bi-weekly MACOGazette newsletter, and in-person open houses and listening sessions.

Name

Michiana Area Council of Governments

Legal name

Michiana Area Council of Governments

Website

https://macog.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) is a federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization and voluntary association of local governments serving four counties in Northern Indiana, coordinating transportation, transit, sustainability, housing, and community development programs for municipal members, nonprofits, and residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Planning Services

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (92612), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Public Administration (92)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Infrastructure Planning, Capital Programs & Project Delivery Offices (PMOs) (BPAIALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Traffic Management & Intelligent Transportation Systems (Signals, TMCs, Congestion) (BPAIALAC), Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Active Transportation & Micromobility Infrastructure (Bike/Ped Networks, Shared Mobility Programs) (BPAIALAI)

Keywords

• Regional transportation planning
• Metropolitan planning organization
• Transit grant administration
• Community economic development
• Environmental sustainability planning

Headquarters

HQ city

South Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Grants: MACOG serves as the designated recipient of FTA funding under the Section 5310 program (Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities) for the South Bend Urbanized Area, providing capital funding for accessible vehicles and mobility management programs. Also receives FTA funding through Section 5307 Program of Projects.
2. Federal Highway Administration / USDOT Grants: MACOG receives Railroad Crossing Elimination Program grants ($1 million awarded with St. Joseph County), federal planning grants, and manages Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP) with over $181M in federally funded transportation projects per 5-year cycle.
3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Grants: MACOG received $1.5M from the U.S. EPA to continue tackling brownfields in the region through the Regional Brownfields Coalition initiative.
4. Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Grants: MACOG assists local communities with INDOT Community Crossings Matching Grant applications. In 2025, 18 communities in the MACOG region received over $15.2 million through this program.
5. Indiana Office of Energy Development Grants: MACOG assisted four rural communities in securing $578,987 (approximately 40% of the state's $1.47 million awarded) through the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program for electric vehicle pilot projects.
6. Voluntary Member Dues from Local Governments: MACOG is described as a 'voluntary organization of local governments' suggesting member dues or contributions support operations, though specific dues amounts are not disclosed.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

MACOG is a voluntary council of local governments that, as a federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, delivers regional transportation planning, transit grant administration, sustainability, and community and economic development services across Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, and St. Joseph Counties in northern Indiana. It produces the multi-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), administers FTA Section 5310 funding, manages the Regional Brownfields Coalition, operates an AmeriCorps program, and provides GIS-based Maps & Data and the MACOG Engage public engagement platform.

Product overview

MACOG operates as a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on regional planning and governance. The core offerings include Transportation programs (TIP, Section 5310, Move Safe Michiana), Sustainability initiatives (Partners for Clean Air, AmeriCorps), Community & Economic Development, and public engagement tools (MACOG Engage platform, MACOGazette newsletter). The organization also provides GIS mapping services through its Maps & Data platform and supports active transportation through the Data Bike initiative. Programs are delivered through various channels including the Engage online platform, public meetings, and the Go574 travel options platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) A prioritized, multi-year program for the implementation of transportation improvement projects across the MACOG region, serving as a management tool to ensure the most effective use of funding for transportation improvements. Available for public review and input.
• Section 5310 Program Federal Transit Administration funding program supporting capital projects for seniors and individuals with disabilities, including accessible vehicle purchases and mobility management. Available to eligible private nonprofits and units of local government in the South Bend Urbanized Area through competitive application.
• Regional Brownfields Coalition Initiative bringing together local governments, community organizations, and developers to return potentially contaminated sites to productive use across the MACOG region. Includes the Elkhart Roundhouse Brownfield project.
• Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Five-year regional economic development plan identifying assets, challenges, vision, goals, and objectives for the MACOG region. Provided to local governments, community organizations, and economic development stakeholders.
• AmeriCorps Program Regional AmeriCorps program building capacity for environmental sustainability goals and economic resilience strategies through member service with local governments and non-profits across the four-county region.
• MACOG Engage Interactive online platform supporting public engagement efforts across all MACOG programs, enabling community participation in planning studies and projects including the Rail Corridor Study, Interurban Trolley Service Changes, Argos 2040 Plan, TIP, and Transpo Route Modifications.
• Maps & Data (GIS Platform) Geographic Information System site providing property information, traffic counts, parcels and assessment packages for Saint Joseph and Elkhart Counties through ArcGIS Hub.
• Move Safe Michiana Regional Transportation Safety Action Plan addressing roadway safety in St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, and Marshall Counties.
• Regional Mobility Plan Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan providing a short-range implementation plan for public transit and social service transportation in the MACOG region.
• Go574 Platform Platform helping the public understand and explore travel options in the MACOG Region including St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall and Kosciusko Counties.
• Vanpool Program (with Commute with Enterprise) Vanpool program providing commuter transportation for those starting or ending in Elkhart or St. Joseph Counties, with vehicles, insurance, maintenance, and support provided by Enterprise, partially subsidized by MACOG using grant funds.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $15.2M in INDOT Community Crossings Matching Grant funding secured for 18 communities in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• DLZ (Consulting Firm)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 12 May 2026MACOG partnered with DLZ, a consulting firm, to lead the Rail Corridor Study focused on at-grade railroad crossings in eastern St. Joseph County. DLZ is conducting the alternatives analysis and public listening sessions. The study covers Ash Road, Apple Road, Beech Road, and Cottage Grove Avenue crossings on the Norfolk Southern Line.
• Indiana Office of Energy DevelopmentcoreOthers · 1 May 2024MACOG assisted four rural communities in securing $578,987 in funding through the Indiana Office of Energy Development's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. This represented approximately 40% of the $1.47 million awarded by the agency statewide.
• Commute with EnterprisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMACOG partnered with Commute with Enterprise to provide an innovative vanpooling program for commuters starting or ending in Elkhart or St. Joseph Counties. Enterprise provides vehicles (7-15 passenger), insurance, maintenance, and ongoing support. MACOG partially subsidizes the program using grant funds, with remaining costs split between employers and participants.
• Drive Clean IndianasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMACOG works with Drive Clean Indiana, the designated Clean Cities coalition organization, to assist with implementing and tracking electric vehicle pilot projects and capturing lessons learned and best practices for future local government fleet electrification.
• Norfolk Southern RailwaycoreOthersThe Norfolk Southern Line through Osceola is one of the busiest rail corridors in the MACOG region with nearly 100 trains daily, and is the subject of the Rail Corridor Study. It includes the Robert Young Classification Yard, Norfolk Southern's second-largest yard. MACOG is working to improve safety at at-grade crossings on this line.
• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC)supportingTechnology or IntegrationMACOG employs a methodology developed by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to identify Indicators of Potential Disadvantage (IPD) populations using American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)coreOthersMACOG serves as the designated recipient of FTA funding under the Section 5310 program in the South Bend Urbanized Area. FTA oversight includes compliance with Title VI requirements and federal transit planning mandates.
• U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)coreOthersUSDOT awarded MACOG and St. Joseph County $1 million from the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program for rail crossing safety improvements. Part of a $1.1 billion USDOT announcement for 123 rail projects nationwide.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)coreOthersMACOG received $1.5 million from the U.S. EPA to continue tackling brownfields through the Regional Brownfields Coalition, which brings together local governments, community organizations, and developers to remediate potentially contaminated sites.
• Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)coreOthersINDOT administers the Community Crossings Matching Grant program through which 18 MACOG region communities received over $15.2 million in 2025. MACOG staff assist communities with CCMG applications.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA): NOACA is the MPO for the Cleveland-Akron region in Ohio, performing regional transportation planning, TIP administration, and air quality coordination. Comparable in size and mandate to MACOG, including similar work with active transportation and environmental programs.
• Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC): NIRPC is the MPO for Northwest Indiana serving Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. It is the closest direct geographic peer to MACOG, performing identical regional transportation planning, transit coordination, and grant administration functions under the same federal MPO framework.
• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC): DVRPC is the MPO for the greater Philadelphia region and the originator of the Indicators of Potential Disadvantage (IPD) methodology that MACOG explicitly adapted. It is a direct functional peer in equity-focused transportation planning and regional data analytics.
• East-West Gateway Council of Governments: East-West Gateway is the MPO for the St. Louis region, combining regional transportation planning with broader community development functions. Comparable to MACOG in being a council of governments serving a multi-county region with federal grant administration responsibilities.
• Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization: The MPO for the Indianapolis region, also operating in Indiana under the same federal designation framework. Comparable in scope as a regional transportation planning body administering federal TIP, transit funding, and public engagement programs, though serving a larger urbanized area.
• Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham: RPCGB is the regional planning commission for the Birmingham, Alabama region, performing transportation planning, TIP administration, and community development coordination. A comparable mid-sized MPO with similar program breadth to MACOG.
• Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission: GCMPC is the MPO for the Flint, Michigan region, performing similar small-to-mid-sized MPO functions including transportation planning, TIP administration, and community development. Comparable in scale and program breadth to MACOG.

Others

• Commute with Enterprise: Enterprise is a strategic partner of MACOG for vanpool service delivery in Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, providing vehicles, insurance, and maintenance. While not a planning peer, it is a key operational partner enabling MACOG's commuter transportation programs.

Broad incumbents

• Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC): SPC is the MPO and economic development planning organization for the Pittsburgh region, combining transportation planning with broader community and economic development programs. Comparable to MACOG's multi-disciplinary scope but at a larger metropolitan scale.
• Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP): CMAP is the regional planning agency for the Chicago metropolitan area and a leading MPO with comprehensive transportation, land use, and sustainability programs. While larger and more resourced, it serves as a broad incumbent peer operating under the same MPO framework with expanded analytical capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkAzQXpHmXsYuSxhzSy5ZFA
• Facebookfacebook.com/MACOGplan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michiana Area Council of Governments