Economic Development

HomeTown Competitiveness Partner The HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC) initiative is a framework that joins a variety of approaches and multiple community organizations into a cohesive force for developing and sustaining a vital, prosperous community. HTC recognizes that although small towns and rural communities sometimes may struggle, they have significant local resources and resolve that, when focused, can create a sustainable plan for community and economic development. The Community Foundation has created a fund to help gather charitable assets and is working with local leaders to implement a county-wide "hometown" vision for all of our futures.

Through the HomeTown Competitiveness Fund and HTC initiatives we can support entrepreneurship and help maintain thriving farms and small businesses; create flexible charitable assets and retain local wealth; engage youth in positive ways and give young people a reason to return to their hometown to work and raise their families, and strengthen local leadership capacity.

Michigan WORKS! Southwest Workforce Development Board connects people to jobs through the Michigan Works! system.