Features

Feature Story Developer Day 2025 in Allegan County will take place Aug. 7.

Developer Day 2025 showcases housing opportunities across Allegan County

A full-day bus tour connects developers with land, leaders, and resources to spark new housing projects in Allegan County communities.

Feature Story Permanent Supportive Housing

Permanent Supportive Housing in Battle Creek receives $1.6 million boost

“Permanent supportive housing is not a homeless shelter, not a treatment facility, not a rehab, or halfway house. Nor is it public housing or rent-free. It is indeed permanent, full-time leaseholders, and they sign Good Neighbor agreements."

Longform Head Start and similar programs build academic skills as well as social and emotional strengths. 

60 years of Head Start. What's next?

As Head Start marked its 60th anniversary this past May, the program’s legacy stands as more than a historical benchmark. It offers a powerful example of how early learning can drive equity, resilience, and long-term impact. 

Feature Story Summit Pointe youth staff. CMHs collaborate with schools and families to provide care to kids and teens.

Community mental health advocates take stand against privatization plan

Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHA) advocates against proposed MDHHS plan to privatize community mental health care.

Feature Story farmmarketspread

Growing healthy eaters: MSU Extension initiative helps daycare providers serve healthy food

MSU Extension's early childhood health initiative, Growing Healthy Eaters, is helping home childcare providers serve healthy foods while teaching kids about community agriculture and gardening with a concept of “farm to early childhood education.”  

Feature Story Left to Right: Port Huron Mayor Anita Ashford, Special Assistant to the City Manager Tony Pearson, Southside Summer Pop Up Market Manager Elizabeth Buckley, and NIA Vice Chair Mary Williams, enjoying the Southside Summer Pop-Up Market.

Port Huron’s new Southside Summer Market sparks community revival

An often forgotten corner of the city is hosting a fresh wave of vendors, vibes, and revitalization at Knox Field in Port Huron every Tuesday from now until August 26.  

Feature Story Left to right: Keira Vander Kolk, Brandon Barker, and Logan Anderson.

New scholarship aims to inspire ‘future of agribusiness’

Three West Michigan students earn scholarships aimed at strengthening farming with innovative approaches and fresh talent.

Feature Story Railtrail List Image

Hikers and bikers applaud the volunteers who repaired the Frank N. Anderson Nature Trail

Users are praising restoration work on the Frank N. Andersen Nature Trail. Over a half mile of the popular trail – focused on the stretch between Lauria Road and Mussell Beach Drive-In – underwent extensive repairs.

Longform Community collaborations help coordinate shelter, food, clothing, and other basic needs alongside behavioral health services. Community Action of Allegan County home-delivered meals drivers.

Mental health agencies strengthen services through community collaborations

Across Michigan, community mental health (CMH) agencies are expanding their reach through partnerships with local organizations that address housing, transportation, and other barriers to care. These collaborations aim to create a more coordinated and accessible mental health system, particularly for individuals with complex needs.  

Feature Story bearcreekpicking

Innovative farming: Bear Creek Organic Farm promotes sustainable, local agriculture

The name says it all: Bear Creek Organic Farm. Located outside Petoskey, Bear Creek Organic Farm roots its purpose in connecting environmental stewardship and community by delivering the purest products possible from farm to table.

Feature Story compostcollage

TC entrepreneur converts trash to treasure, a bucket at a time

A grant to empower women entrepreneurs will enable Carter's Compost, a unique composting operation in Traverse City, to upgrade its operations and improve educational materials and community outreach.

Feature Story A couple stands in the dining area of a staged CLT home at 2080 Union, highlighting the space.

Dwelling Place expands affordable homeownership through Community Land Trust

Dwelling Place’s Community Land Trust program creates lasting affordable homeownership opportunities across West Michigan for working families and single-income households.

Feature Story A new grant program in Muskegon Heights is helping commercial property owners upgrade storefronts and revitalize the city’s core.

Facade grant program launches to boost Muskegon Heights downtown renewal

New grant supports storefront upgrades in Muskegon Heights’ core, encouraging private investment alongside public revitalization efforts.

Feature Story Kevin Fischer3

Medicaid cuts threaten Michigan’s mental health

Federal Medicaid cuts threaten the very lives of those living with serious mental illness, disabilities, and substance use disorders as well as the quality of life and livelihoods of those managing their mental health care with medications and support that Medicaid currently covers.  

Feature Story MSU's PA Medicine program includes 12 months of clinical experience.

MSU's PA Medicine program helps fill the gap in health care in rural Michigan

The first graduates of Michigan State University's PA Medicine program are working across the state -- some in medically underserved communities or in rural areas like the U.P., where there is a health care provider shortage.  

Feature Story Volunteers help out at Ken-O-Sha Park

Harbor Springs Indigenous group plays role in ecological and cultural restoration

Scientists and Indigenous leaders partner to restore native plant life and cultural practices in one of Michigan’s most biodiverse urban parks.

Scratching the Right Itch

Ron Reimink knew how uncomfortable and annoying swimmer’s itch could be. He spent much of his adult life trying to eradicate it in lakes across northern Michigan. Then one day, he realized he was completely wrong.

Feature Story The owners of the Three Bridges Distillery and Taproom.

Three Bridges distillery expands with craft brews, event space and bigger dreams

Three Bridges Distillery in Midland is expanding with a new event space, growing its craft beer and spirits offerings, and eyeing broader distribution while keeping its community roots.

Feature Story A drone view of the campground, perched 200 feet above Lake Superior.

Camping with a view: Kona Hills Campground opens in Marquette

Three lifelong Marquette friends with a passion for the outdoors and rustic camping have come together to create their campground: Kona Hills Campground. The unique 80-acre site boast views of Lake Superior, the Huron Mountains and Marquette.

Feature Story The chapel of St. Mary's Academy

Vacant for 20 years, historic Monroe building will be repurposed for community goodNonprofit Journal Project Feature

In Monroe, the former St. Mary’s Academy building left an empty space in the city’s downtown when it closed in 2003. Demolition was on the table until a developer with a personal connection to the building stepped up to save it.