MTA's Unique Credentialing Program Sets the Leadership Standard
The Township Governance Academy (TGA) is a unique and valuable credentialing program intended to give township elected and appointed officials and personnel the knowledge and skills needed to make effective decisions for the benefit of their township. It’s designed to professionally challenge you and enhance your experience serving in your township.
Scroll down for more details or download the informational brochure here.
Strengthen your board's financial foundation with MTA's Winter Academy!
MTA can help your board master the fundamentals of township finances, assessing and taxation. Join our Winter Academy at Bay Pointe Inn in Shelbyville this December for one (or both!) of the courses described below:
F-103: Township Finances (6 credits)
Tues. Dec. 8th ~ 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Includes light breakfast & lunch
We’ll review the board’s role in establishing a powerful budgeting process, techniques for protecting your financial assets, determining the correct amount of reserves and early warning signs of potential financial problems. Fulfills TGA course F-103 (6 credits) and Red Book Ready Chapter 8: Accounting, Budget & Lawful Expenditures.
F-105: Fundamentals of Assessment & Taxation (4 credits)
Wed. Dec. 9th ~ 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Breakfast served at 8 a.m.
From assessment and board of review meetings, all the way to tax collection, it’s essential that board members have an understanding of how the process works. Learn more about the Headlee Amendment and Proposal A, as well as truth-in-taxation, assessing and equalization. Delve into a variety of revenue sources coming into the township, including millages, administrative fees and special assessments. Fulfills TGA course F-105 (4 credits) and Red Book Ready Chapter 10: Assessing & the Board of Review.
Save $50 when you register for both!
Need lodging? Make your lodging reservations with Bay Pointe Inn directly; call (888) GUN-LAKE and reference MTA’s Winter Academy. Reserve by Nov. 7 to secure MTA’s discounted rates!
Download the full brochure here or register online today!
About Township Governance Academy
For hundreds of local officials statewide, MTA’s unique Academy offers new ideas, shares “best practices” in township government and provides a hands-on approach to help leaders deal more 
effectively with everyday issues that township boards face.
Here’s how it works:
The self-paced program consists of 70 required credits, obtained by attending a curriculum of 11 courses and earning electives credits. The coursework is divided into three categories:
- Foundations Courses (28 credits)
- Boardsmanship Courses (24 credits)
- Electives (18 credits)
After completing each course, TGA candidates take what they’ve learned a step further by trying out an idea or concept of their choosing in their township and reporting the results to MTA using the Practical Application Commitment form.
It’s a simple process, but one that helps you apply the knowledge by putting what you’ve learned into action. Project work requires board collaboration: You must be an MTA member affiliated and working cooperatively with your township to enroll and complete the TGA program.
Still uncertain? Click here for a message from TGA instructor Sue Radwan, who helped MTA design this exciting, innovative credentialing program.
[hidden blocks] Summer Academy is back!
Three topics over two days in one great location.
MTA’s summer courses are designed to help you identify what’s important to the residents you serve, gain insights into enhancing transparency and credibility, and employ techniques for strategic planning. Join us at Bay Valley Resort in Bay City July 14-15 for one (or all!) of the courses described below.
Each course counts as full (4.00) TGA credits.
For details, download the full brochure here.
Online registration is now closed. Limited space may still be available; call 517-321-6467, ext. 226 to check availability.
To book your housing: Make your lodging reservations directly with Bay Valley Resort by following the link provided in your confirmation email. Or visit https://bit.ly/26SummerTGA OR call (989) 686-3500 and reference MTA discount code 071326SUM. Reserve your hotel room by July 7 to take advantage of discounted rates!
Upcoming TGA Courses
Click here for the current 2026 course catalog.
Earn 3 Elective credits for attending MTA’s fall 2026 Regional Meetings or U.P. North Summit! Details can be found here.
Stay tuned: Winter Academy dates & location TBA soon! Courses will include:
- F-103: Township Finances (6 credits)
- F-105: Fundamentals of Assessment & Taxation (4 credits)
On-demand Courses: The entire TGA curriculum is available on-demand in MTA’s Online Learning Center. Click here to browse the catalog of virtual classes. (Note that 2 in-person courses are required for graduation.)
Hoping to graduate in 2027? Click here for next steps.
Searching for TGA Forms?
* Fillable PDF
Join the Graduating Class of 2027!
Think you may be ready to graduate at MTA’s Annual Conference April 19-22, 2027? Here’s a checklist to help you determine your graduation status:
- Have you completed all the required courses in the TGA curriculum, or are you striving to do so by April 1, 2027?
- Have you turned in all of your Practical Application Commitment Forms for each course, including the final version with the “Summary of Results” section filled out? Note: Completed forms are due one month prior to graduation.
- Did you complete at least two of the required TGA courses in person?
- Will you have you earned 18+ elective credits by April 1, 2027?
- Have you started your Final Project?
If your answers are (mostly!) yes, you may be ready to join the elite ranks of TGA Graduates! Contact MTA’s Education Coordinator via phone at (517) 321-6467 ext. 234, or email us to confirm your eligibility or to ask any of your credit-related questions.
