Events and Activities

HOUSING TOOLS WORKSHOP

Housing North will host an in-person workshop on housing tax increment financing and other housing incentive programs from noon to 1:30 p.m. on February 26 at Beards Brewery, 215 E Lake St, Petoskey. Lunch will be provided.

The event aims to educate community members, local officials, and stakeholders about housing tax increment financing and how it can help address the area's housing needs. The workshop will feature a presentation by Susan Wenzlick, senior brownfield consultant at Fishbeck.

Housing tax increment financing allows local governments to use the increase in property tax revenues from new housing developments to fund affordable housing projects, infrastructure improvements, and other initiatives that support community growth. This tool promotes housing solutions without raising taxes by leveraging future tax revenues. Those interested in attending the workshop are encouraged to RSVP by February 24th

Housing Zoning Atlas Workshop - Petoskey

Explore how zoning shapes housing development at our Housing Zoning Atlas workshop on March 6, from 3:30–5:00 PM at North Central Michigan College. This session will highlight how communities can use the Zoning Atlas to identify opportunities for housing development. Local officials, community leaders, and housing advocates are encouraged to attend. RSVP to secure your spot!

Revolving Loan Fund for Housing Webinar

Join us on April 7th 2025 at 10:00AM to learn from InvestUP about their Build U.P program. Build U.P. is a housing fund to help fast-track high-impact shovel-ready housing projects. During this webinar you will hear from Marty Fitante and Steve Arwood from Invest UP on how they are using this fund to move housing forward in the U.P. Housing North's Policy Advisor, Kent Wood and Executive Director, Yarrow Brown will also share briefly about the fund we are hoping to bring to NW Michigan. Click here to register today!

PRO-HOUSING WEBINAR SERIES

This 7-module Pro-Housing Webinar Series runs from January to September 2025, and covers it all, from how to contemporize zoning codes to make development review processes more predictable and creating a data driven housing element of your master plan to corridor planning and why missing middle housing probably IS one of the most effective ways to provide housing for those seeking something other than a single family detached home. Click here for more information and registration details.

CEDAM COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 201 - AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Please join CEDAM for its first installment of Community Economic Development 201, a discussion-oriented panel where we will hear about and learn from the work of organizations across the state. Specifically, this session will focus on the theme of Affordable Housing. We will hear from our panelists about the work their organization is engaging, their individual career journeys in the CED field, and their thoughts on advancing Affordable Housing in Michigan. Click here to register.

BUILDING MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE (BMCC)

The BMCC is where industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers come together to shape the future of affordable housing and community development in May 14-15, 2025. The Conference will take place in Lansing. To register and learn more, please click here.

SMALL TOWN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

The 2025 Small Town & Rural Development Conference is June 9-11 at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, MI. More details will be coming soon. Please contact Shawn Hunter (hunter@cedamichigan.org) if you have any questions.

CEDAM REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT BOOT CAMP

CEDAM’s Real Estate Development Boot Camp is a multi-part training program designed to give you the tools needed to develop affordable housing in your community. From rising construction costs to new funding sources, our training curriculum is updated each year to provide context around the current real estate development landscape in Michigan. We bring in experienced speakers from across the state and country to discuss practical applications of this work and help you create important connections.

CEDAM will host two Real Estate Development Boot Camps in 2025. 

• Real Estate Development Boot Camp (Core – urban / suburban focus) | Week of April 28 | Detroit

• Rural Real Estate Development Boot Camp (small-scale, rural focus) | Week of September 15 | Marquette 

Click here to register and learn more.

EVENTS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND MORE!

Housing North works regionally to lead action from the public, local governments, employers, and community organizations. We aim to offer clear courses of action and resources about how to participate in housing solutions. We organize events with diverse experts, funders, and stakeholders to bring communities together and help lead action at the local level.

​Stay tuned and learn more about any ongoing event, community meeting, or public activity. If you’re interested in learning more from our previous events, please visit and subscribe to our Youtube Channel where you can find recordings of events, meetings, and discussions related to housing solutions.

SPONSOR A HOUSING NORTH EVENT

Housing North offers training sessions, webinars, community events and opportunities for diverse stakeholders to be engaged in expanding housing solutions. By sponsoring our events you can be part of:

• Statewide promotions and media coverage of the event including your logo

• Be recognized as a Housing North partner.

• Showcase your organization and your work towards housing and community development.

Click here to learn about opportunities to sponsor one of our events. If you’d like to receive more information, please contact us at info@housignorth.org.