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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 move fast or not at all!  Finally, communication will soon go out for those members interested in serving on the League's Policy Committees, which review legislative ideas and recommend positions on bills affecting local government.

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, and more. Finally, a preview of this year’s Convention!

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...and more!

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.