Boards and Commissions
Learn more about the boards and commissions that support the growth and development of downtown Kalamazoo
About Us
We’re passionate about making downtown into an engaging place that’s welcoming for everyone. Guided and supported by our community members, we promote and celebrate growth, improvement, and diversity in our downtown.
How We’re Built
We believe the greatness of a community stems from the compassion and actions of its members. The commitment countless individuals have made toward improving downtown Kalamazoo is what ultimately drives the work we do.
The City of Kalamazoo and the Downtown Economic Growth Authority (DEGA) is working together with many collaborative partners including The Chamber, Discover Kalamazoo, and the business that make downtown what it is. Together, the promotion and support of downtown is a collaborative effort built by the people of Kalamazoo for the betterment of downtown Kalamazoo. In this work communication is critical and how we work together will define the outcomes that create the downtown we all love and can be proud of.
The ultimate purpose is to facilitate the ongoing collaboration between downtown’s development entities in order to drive the collective group’s mission forward. The City of Kalamazoo Community Planning and Economic Development is the coordinating body for downtown programs, services, and initiatives on behalf of DEGA and the DDA. The many partners who are working together include diverse representatives within our community that help to identify our priorities and how that work is done consistently for all of downtown.
Our Work
We take pride in helping downtown Kalamazoo become even more outstanding. This means more than initiating developments; it means deepening our relationships with the people and businesses within the city. It means basing every action on a foundation of honesty and transparency. And it means creating an inclusive, welcoming environment within our community. This process takes time and thoughtful strategy that looks decades into the future.
Our goal is to do good, impactful work – work that is informed by our community and supports what our community needs. Not just for the advancement of downtown, but for the benefit of everyone who visits, works, and lives here.
It Takes A Community
Ready to step up and help keep your downtown beautiful? There’s countless ways you can volunteer—from cleaning up trash to helping manage downtown events.
Whether you’re volunteering for school credit or simply to have fun, come join us in making downtown Kalamazoo beautiful.