Resources & Research

Many municipalities are working to become more sustainable, including steps towards cleaner energy. With newly available state and federal funding, there are opportunities to jumpstart decarbonization initiatives and projects for the betterment of their communities. By making changes now, communities will reap financial and tangible environmental benefits now and long...

What’s old is new again—and a beloved chapter in architectural history can be a part of our strategy for tackling Michigan’s shortage of homes. To that end, the League offers This Used to be Normal: Pattern Book Homes for 21st Century Michigan, in partnership with MEDC and East Arbor Architects....

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....

Placemaking has continued to show the importance of creating a quality of life that attracts people to a community. This draw allows for better economic development. Without place, there is no community – no development. The Michigan Municipal League is a firm believer of building community wealth. We have taken...

A condensed version of this article was published in the May-June 2022 edition of The Review.   The war in Ukraine has captured global attention, but for Michigan Municipal League Board Member Rebecca Chamberlain-Creanga it is personal. Chamberlain-Creanga, a member of the Troy City Council and who also works at...

Written by Morgan Schwanky and posted by Matt Bach The DTE Energy Foundation granted $1 million to The Nature Conservancy to fund a variety of projects that will aid the maintenance of Michigan’s natural resources, help continue to fund a fellowship program, advance urban environmental initiatives, and help educate communities....

Is your community ready to represent Michigan in the Strongest Town competition?  Nominations are open now through February 20 in this international competition hosted by our friends at Strong Towns.  The competition highlights “towns and cities who are doing the hard work of becoming stronger, putting in place the processes,...

Last year we released our second “Enabling Better Places” guide with our partners at the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) and MEDC’s Redevelopment Ready Communities program (RRC). These two guides provide a strategy for communities of all sizes to examine their zoning and development codes, finding and removing common barriers...

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...

This video out of the City of Saginaw caught our eye in a few ways. First, this new Fitness Court opened looks awesome and the way they did a ribbon cutting by turning it into a fitness competition between a Saginaw firefighter and police officer was super creative and fun...