Features

Feature Story Housing Forward

Housing Forward takes lead on Region G housing partnership

Housing Forward has been named the lead for Region G’s housing initiative, aiming to improve affordability and access across eight counties under Michigan’s Statewide Housing Plan.

Longform PreK for All ensures that every 4-year-old in Michigan has access to a high-quality preschool experience, regardless of income.

“A lifeline for families,” PreK for All expands access and raises expectations

Enrollment in PreK for All is now open for all families, no matter their income. The program operates across a mixed delivery system, including local school districts, public charter schools, private child care providers, Head Start programs, and community-based organizations.    

Partner Content Event helps autistic children and adults get used to the airport environment and boarding experience.

On Board for Autism: Airport simulation helps autistic kids take flight

To help autistic people and their families manage  these challenges, Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM), Delta Airlines, and the Detroit Metropolitan Airport partner to host On Board for Autism events that prepare them to successfully take a flight.

Longform Pharmacists handle cancer medications at the cancer drug repository at the Trinity Health Reichert Medical Center in Superior Township.

Ann Arbor nonprofit and Sault Tribe of Chippewa partner to redistribute unused cancer drugs for free

Last year the nonprofit YesRx received a grant to work with the tribe over a two-year period, expanding access to expensive drugs that would otherwise go to waste.

Longform small-judy-logan

Dental aid helps cancer patients regain health and dignity

HNC Living Foundation provides dental care, nutrition, and support to head and neck cancer patients facing financial and treatment challenges.

Partner Content Boy in classroom

Blueprint for school funding would ensure equitable resources in special education

The MI Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint would ensure that Michigan adequately and equitably funds public special education in Michigan. 

Feature Story All Gods Children teacher

No-cost pre-K for all Michigan 4-year-olds enrolling for 2025-26 school year

QA with Jeffrey Capizzano, Policy Equity Group, on the implementation of Pre-K for All no-cost preschool for Michigan 4-year-olds.

Feature Story Nonprofit Day at the Capitol, February 2025

How Michigan nonprofits are navigating federal uncertaintyNonprofit Journal Project

Michigan nonprofits are facing uncertainty as federal funding streams fluctuate and administrative support wanes. The Michigan Nonprofit Association is helping organizations navigate this instability through advocacy, collaboration, and strategic planning.

Feature Story trailshuttle

Aaron Rogers: Mountain bike trail builder extraordinaire

Outdoor enthusiast and innovator Aaron Rogers has transformed mountain bike trail design into a global phenomenon. His Rock Solid Trail Contracting is the world’s largest trail building contractor with 100 employees and offices in Copper Harbor and Bentonville, Arkansas.

Feature Story Michigan's first mass timber building built with Michigan wood.

DNR marks mass timber milestone with Newberry building

The new DNR Customer Service Center in Newberry is Michigan's first mass timber building constructed with Michigan wood.   

Feature Story No Till Drill list

New equipment helps plant wildflowers in order to draw in pollinators

The Bay County Soil Conservation District was awarded a $39,000 grant through EGLE to purchase a new No-Till Drill. The compact drill allows property owners to seed small plots of land, creating habitats for pollinators and filling otherwise unusable land with wildflowers.

Feature Story City Café Owner Kyle Dudek poses for a photo outside his New Baltimore restaurant.

Little cafe with city charm opens in New Baltimore

Kyle Dudek has spent years behind the counter in the restaurant industry as a cook and manager. Now, he’s stepping out on his own as a restaurant owner to breathe new life into City Café – formerly A Little Mustard Seed – in New Baltimore.

Feature Story War Water Event Space

War Water Brewery is expanding its brand in St. Clair with the opening of a large event space

War Water Brewery in St. Clair recently opened an approximately 10,000-square-foot event space, offering one of the largest event rentals in the Blue Water Area. The addition to the growing restaurant might boost foot traffic for other St. Clair businesses and offer another option for organizations that benefit from hosting big events.

Longform Lauren LaPine

Medicaid cuts would destabilize mental health care: How Michigan is responding

Proposed Medicaid funding cuts would dismantle critical services, especially for residents facing poverty, mental illness, or substance use disorders — and reduce access to mental health services for all.

Feature Story trainrailyard

Railroad program flourishes where there are no rails

A three-year pilot program to teach rail transportation education and research at Michigan Technological University is still rolling along two decades later. The nationally recognized program has attracted more than 1,000 students and continues to grow. 

Feature Story playgroundimage

$1 million grant brings first-ever park to Benton Heights

A new park is being planned in Benton Heights in Benton Charter Township in Southwest Michigan, thanks, in part, to a $1 million grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 

Feature Story Small-volunteers

Community Impact Day expands, mobilizes volunteers across Michigan

The West Coast Chamber’s Community Impact Day grows statewide, rallying businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to create lasting community change.

Feature Story Downtown Drugs

Heart, hospitality, and a side of nostalgia at Downtown Drugs Soda Shoppe

At Downtown Drugs in Mt. Pleasant, the charm of an old-fashioned soda counter meets the warmth of community connection. Guided by longtime local Agnes McDonald, the Soda Shoppe is more than a lunch spot—it’s a place filled with friendly faces, homemade comfort food, and small acts of kindness.

Feature Story Matt Acker, co-owner of Pavement Ends, is all smiles at the start of the race.

Gravel, growth, and the future of Barry-Roubaix in rural Michigan

In Hastings, the Barry-Roubaix gravel cycling race has become the largest event of its type in the world, driving economic revitalization, fostering community connections, and promoting an inclusive trail culture in a rural town that attracts thousands of visitors every spring.  

Feature Story Small-Steve-Potter

Career tech program tackles skilled trades labor shortage

Allegan Tech Center equips students with real-world manufacturing skills, addressing industry gaps and opening career paths for hands-on learners.