Research

It is estimated that 600,000 businesses open each year in the United States. They vary in size and span, some closing and some remaining in business. Michigan has about 902,000 small businesses that are owned by and employing our fellow Michiganders, our neighbors. Starting a business is an intimidating venture....

The Michigan Municipal League’s 2021 Convention is taking place in person later this month and this year’s focus is around the Community Wealth Building work the MML started last year. The Convention, happening Sept. 22-24 in Grand Rapids during ArtPrize, centers on helping our local leaders spark a community revival...

The pre-feasibility study looked at several routings for coast-to-coast service, as well as connections to existing Amtrak services. Rail service connecting Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Holland? Yes, please! With the amount of travel we do just between the League's Ann Arbor and Lansing offices -let alone across...

Last week saw Lansing take up bills for a "Historic District Modernization Act", as well as CityLab weigh in on historic districts' role in driving up housing prices and limiting affordability. In this context, we can revisit the role of local historic districts in placemaking.(Spoiler: they're an important tool!) Since...

Great neighborhoods dedicate only the bare minimum amount of space to parking. Visiting family in Grand Rapids' Heritage Hill neighborhood over the holidays is always a great opportunity to dive into another city's urban form. Â (Or at least that's the excuse I give to get out of the house...

Here comes BRT! Silver Line's stations include "blue light" emergency phone kiosks, fare machines, and digital signs showing when the next vehicle arrives. The Rapid cut the ribbon on their Silver Line, Michigan's first BRT system, a few weeks ago, connecting Grand Rapids, Wyoming, and Kentwood along 9.6 miles of...