The Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold their 2025 Hot Topics: Housing Town Hall at the Crooked Tree Arts Center in downtown Petoskey on Wednesday, August 13.
The annual event brings education and attention to Emmet County's housing crisis. This year's theme is "Understanding the Crisis. Advancing the Solutions," featuring experts from across Michigan to talk about topics such as local housing projects nearing completion and statewide housing programs.
Chamber President Nikki Devitt told WCMU one of the topics people are looking forward to is new updates on the three upcoming multi-unit housing developments set to finish sometime between November and next spring. These will be Petoskey's first multi-unit developments in over 20 years.
"That's something we want to highlight and help our local community understand because this is open, free and open to the public," Devitt said. "It's not just for employers; It's for employees, it's for everyone, it's for our elected officials and anybody who knows that housing is important to a community."
There will also be a discussion on the effects adequate and affordable housing has on the local economy and community growth.
"It's hard to understand the complexities of housing. It's hard to understand how it is really, truly economic development. Strong communities are built on the foundation of people being able to live, work and play in the same space.," explained Devitt. "And when you have such a critical lack of available housing, as Emmett County does, it contributes to really hampering not just businesses, but schools and hospitals and everything in between."
The event will take place from 3-5 p.m. and is free and open to the public. You can find more information and register to attend here.
"People need to come to understand what is available. Especially if you have a neighbor, a friend, yourself, or your employee who is in desperate need of housing to find out which one might fit your lifestyle and your budget," Devitt said.
