We Love Where You Live

The four Community Excellence Award finalists share how their projects took community engagement to the next level and what Convention attendees can look forward to during their presentations, which will kick off voting for the winning project. John LeMacchia from our State and Federal Affairs team then imparts some wisdom as we prepare to enter Lame Duck after the November elections: things could...

Now that both candidates for governor have announced their lieutenant governor selections, we’re here to tell you what we think those picks indicate about each campaign’s priorities. We also have some quick updates on housing, and a call for applications for the League’s five internal policy committees. 

We have a packed lineup today! Amy Schlussler-Schmidt from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the League’s Shanna Draheim join us to discuss federal disaster-recovery funding available to Michigan communities. Members of our State & Federal Affairs team share a recap of the primary election, the latest on the state budget, what communities should be doing on housing right now, a...

We begin with a summary of our new state budget, passed in the wee hours of July 3, as well as a discussion of some of the nearly 60 bills that were passed along with it (and what was vetoed). Plus, an update to what’s going on with MSHDA’s Statewide Housing Plan update, Opportunity Zones 2.0, and what to expect in the housing conversation with the passage of the 21st ROAD to Housing Act. 

Long before many communities generated their own power, Sturgis was producing electricity locally, helping shape a civic identity that has endured for more than a century. The City has recently celebrated that heritage through the Electric City Project, a downtown revitalization effort that combines LED lighting, public art, and a new community gathering spot. 

We’ve got a very full show lined up for you today, discussing progress on oath of office legislation, dark stores prevention, recent member events hosted in partnership with SEMCOG, housing policy developments, the latest on the state budget process (including personal property tax reimbursement and housing priorities), video franchise fee legislation and its potential impact on local governments....

Nelson Park, located in southwest Sterling Heights, is a cherished local space for residents and visitors alike. With ARPA dollars in hand, the City listened to resident feedback on what further amenities could be developed. Now. the park boasts not only a community garden, but also a butterfly conservatory, a micro-forest, and functional public art.

The City of Harbor Beach took an abandoned Coast Guard and transformed it into an accessible pier that connects the waterfront to the city’s Harbor View Trail network. The project was completed entirely with City personnel and equipment, including a barge used for dredging the City's marina. 

Located just 500 feet from City of Chelsea offices and the main thoroughfare of historic downtown, a nearly three-acre site with ties to WWI and WWII is set to advance four key community priorities: expanded green space, walkability, non-motorized connectivity, and inclusive recreation. 

Once home to agricultural mills, then to heavy industry, the City of Buchanan finds itself again in transition. To keep up with a rapidly modernizing downtown, the City did a complete overhaul of utility infrastructure and the downtown streetscape, which now boasts a curbless, tabletop design, perfect for pedestrians and festivals. 

The City of Royal Oak’s Ruck-22 March has become a beloved tradition, raising awareness and donations for veteran health and wellness. Participants walk while carrying weighted packs to raise awareness of veteran suicide and the physical and mental challenges many veterans face after service.   

The City of Holland renovated an underused patch of land in Window on the Waterfront Park into a year-round destination. Holland Ice Park, which welcomed its first skaters during the winter of 2024-25, combines skating, curling, community gathering spaces, and a diverse calendar of seasonal events. 

Happy summer from Live with the League! We’re here with an update on what’s going on in the ever-dynamic budget negotiation process, the movement of the property tax reform package proposed by House Republicans, the ongoing process of becoming the last state in the union to establish a statewide septic code, where things stand with the zoning preemption package in Lansing, and more. 

Like most Michigan municipalities, Portage faces an attainable housing shortage. With a lot of planning, state funding, grants, and private assistance, the City has developed Stanwood Crossings, an owner-occupied single-family housing subdivision based on the community land trust model, aimed at households earning 80 to 120 percent of the area median income. 

 The former garbage dump at the edge of Rochester provided the perfect opportunity for the City to do something amazing. Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, from City officials to teenage volunteers, the site is now home to a thriving mini forest, planting using the Miyawaki Method of urban land restoration.

With some of the best walleye fishing around, the City of Ecorse’s John D. Dingell Park was a special amenity for residents. With help from EDA and MEDC grants, the City fixed up the boat launch and added ADA accessible kayak pads, a kayak rental kiosk, a playground, and a walkway—making a treasured asset even better.

For the City of East Lansing’s five-year update to its Comprehensive Plan, it engaged community members for guidance on what priorities they’d like to see addressed. It resulted in a human-first, forward-looking plan that focuses on four key areas of resident interest: housing, sustainability, public health, and social equity.

Last winter, the City of Livonia debuted its new Senior Wellness Center, connected to the Jack E. Kirksey Recreation Center. Guided by a focus on accessibility and long-term adaptability, the new senior center is a gorgeous, modern space with expanded amenities and configurable programming areas.

In 2020, the City of the Village of Douglas acquired an underutilized marina, which it has since begun to develop into a year-round gathering space, boasting gorgeous views, a lakeside pavilion, and rentable boat slips. Thanks to the generosity of two local residents, the Douglas Marina Park & Pavilion will be completed this summer. 

Based on feedback on its Recreation Master Plan, the City of Oak Park looked to “elevate” its offerings, in particular its popular farmers market and summer concert series. The result of that effort, a new event hub and band shell which will have its grand opening in June 2026, activates a previously underused parcel of land on its municipal campus. 

Boasting more than 40 coffee shops, the City of Dearborn realized it had a unique identity to share with the rest of the state. With a bit of DDA money and a lot of  support from local businesses and stakeholders, Dearborn Coffee Week has grown from a small neighborhood festival to a significant cultural and commercial draw. 

Kalamazoo’s Foundation for Excellence is a municipal endowment—the only one of its kind—made possible by an anonymous donation. Since 2017, this publicly accountable fund has been used for property tax cuts, housing development, youth programs, and other City initiatives benefiting Kalamazoo residents. 

After nearly a century of neglect, the Carbide Dock in Sault Ste. Marie was falling into the water. With funding and collaboration from federal, state, and local stakeholders, the dock is now a thriving hub of commercial, educational, and resident activity. 

Today, we’re talking about a litany of Lansing happenings of interest to League members, including our recent testimony on a package of tax reform bills, the Senate passage of the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, and what’s going on with the budget. We also call upon all League members to reach out to their legislators and urge them to oppose House Bills 5529–5532 and 5581–5585. Make your voices heard...

The beloved Wolf’s Prairie Playground in the Village of Berrien Springs had reached the end of its life. To create its successor, the Village enlisted local children to draw their ideas. The resulting hand-sculped, inclusive fantasyland features a  kayak, a life-size campfire, and—of course—a zipline.