Community Development

Coverage of community groups bringing about changes, innovations, and solutions in their community.

On-Demand Coaching helps Ypsi’s government and small businesses build a winning team

A Michigan Municipal League program helps Ypsi and other municipalities connect small businesses and entrepreneurs with existing capital and technical assistance. 

Latest in Community Development
A map showing the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority's original and expanded boundaries.
Ann Arbor DDA expands its boundaries for first time, enabling new projects on city’s North Side

The goal of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority's expansion is to strengthen connections between downtown, the Huron River, and Ann Arbor's North Side.

Genealogist Bill Ruddock, Ypsilanti history expert Laura Damschroder, and African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County Board Chair Debby Covington at Woodlawn Cemetery in Ypsilanti Township.
Ypsilanti African-American cemetery is being rehabilitated after decades of disrepair

The African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County has been cleaning up Woodlawn Cemetery and working to identify lost graves.

Inaugural State of the County address celebrates Washtenaw County’s recent achievements

The event marked the county's bicentennial and looked back at its pre-colonization roots while highlighting recent government achievements.

People walk in downtown Ann Arbor.
Washtenaw County residents invited to contribute to new 10-year tourism plan

Destination Ann Arbor is inviting residents and local stakeholders to help directly shape the future of tourism in Washtenaw County from 2027-2036.

Volunteers line up with shopping carts of food to distribute at the Community Family Life Center in Ypsilanti.
Ypsi Township church has fed hundreds in twice-monthly food distributions for nearly 20 years

The food pantry at the Community Family Life Center, 1375 S. Harris Rd. in Ypsilanti Township, has been a family-feeding machine, distributing groceries twice a month to an average 300-400 families.

Washtenaw County Director of Elections Rena Basch stands next to a voting machine.
Washtenaw County officials say local elections are secure despite Trump calls to “nationalize” them

Washtenaw County elections officials say they're well-prepared to protect against fraud in this year's midterms and any other election. We interviewed them about their system and President Trump's statement that elections should be "nationalize[d]."

Recast Leaders aim to revitalize local economies

Ypsilanti and six other Michigan communities are working on building their local economies in the Recast Leaders program. Here's a look at how the program works.

Ypsilanti District Library (YDL) Librarian Aaron Smith and Youth Librarian Stephanie Pocsi-Morrison with some of the equipment available through YDL's Library of Things, which will be used during YDL's upcoming repair clinics.
Get household items repaired for free at Ypsi library’s new “repair clinic” events

The Ypsilanti District Library (YDL) is launching a pilot repair clinic program where residents can use YDL supplies and equipment to repair household items for free.

Woodlawn Cemtery founder Garther Roberson Jr.'s grave at the cemetery in Ypsilanti Township.
African-American cemetery in Ypsi Township will be surveyed to identify lost graves

Woodlawn Cemetery was deemed abandoned in 1965, but recent efforts have sought to clean it up and identify grave sites.

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