Kalamazoo City presents economic development update, cites $278 million in recent investments and expanded equity programs

At a Committee of the Whole meeting, city economic development staff presented a strategy update that officials said helped leverage about $278,000,000 in private and capital investment in 2025 and expanded small-business supports, including microenterprise grants and a new PR and business-attraction campaign.

Manager Hankins opened the presentation and introduced Bobby Boyd, the city’s economic development supervisor, who reviewed four strategic pillars — fostering the business environment, strengthening neighborhoods and community connections, improving the downtown experience, and advancing conditions for growth — and outlined 2025 accomplishments. Boyd said the division streamlined permit processes for certain marijuana renewals and liquor licenses, expanded ribbon cuttings, and increased grant and capital activity tied to business support.

"We've helped advance investments within the city of Kalamazoo up to $278,000,000," Boyd said, listing capital and grants the division said supported development in 2025. He also described several business-support programs, including EIF gap financing intended as last-source capital (described in the presentation as up to 10% of a capital stack or a $250,000 cap) and the Kalamazoo microenterprise grant (KMEG) that provides $5,000 awards to qualifying microbusinesses.

The presentation highlighted a…