Comstock Township: Kalamazoo, Michigan

Comstock Township, Michigan is a mostly urban area (70% urban, 30% rural) located in the eastern portion of Kalamazoo County. Comstock Township residents enjoy exceptional natural beauty with 17 parks and scenic vistas of the Kalamazoo River. Prior to 1999, Comstock Township was a thriving industrial community. Our economic base was adversely affected when General Motors closed and various paper companies serving the Kalamazoo area downsized and eventually closed. Since the loss of these major employers, many small companies have emerged and growth has occurred in other major manufacturers that exist in Kalamazoo County. The greenhouse businesses has been consistently growing, although a seasonal employer, we have still been labeled “Bedding Plant Capital of the World.”

Our Communities for All Ages Team was developed in April 2009. We are currently in the first phases of the work: building our coalition, assessing the strengths and challenges within our community and making plans for community change efforts. We have brought together a wide range of collaborators including local residents of different generations as well as members of local schools, businesses, libraries, and community based organizations. As part of our assessment phase we have begun administering a “social capital survey” which looks at the levels of trust, engagement and interaction of residents with friends/family, larger social networks and institutions. We will combine this information with other assessment information gathered to develop a robust picture of the strengths and assets we can leverage and shared challenges and concerns.