Battle Creek

With an economic development organization that is the envy of many communities, Battle Creek is a city building on its food industry roots and the land that makes it the state’s third largest city. For fun, each year the Cereal City, world headquarters to the Kellogg Co., celebrates the significance of the most important meal of the day with the World’s Longest Breakfast table. Bikers, cyclers and joggers take in the parks, forests and streams linked by a 24-mile linear park. Campers and outdoor lovers visit Fort Custer Recreation area for fishing, hiking, cross country skiing and boating. For animal lovers, African creatures, like giraffes, and Asian animals, like snow leopards, make the Binder Park Zoo a must. The Battle Creek Art Center and Battle Creek Symphony stoke the city’s cultural offerings and the new Firekeepers Casino adds to the city’s fun side. B.C’s Math and Science Center is acclaimed and secondary education needs are accommodated by Kellogg Community College, Robert B. Miller College and a branch of Western Michigan University.  And Sojourner Truth, who lived here, watches over downtown from the memorial in her honor.

Volunteers assist those who need a little extra help

More than a hundred people, including many children, some of them homeless and others simply having financial difficulties recently got some hope in Battle Creek. Members of the H.O.P.E. Team, […]

Battle Creek offers trolley to help navigate construction
Landscape Forms fixes up B.C. outdoor fixtures
Seeds of the future: Restoring Chipman Preserve

The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has 12 properties entrusted to its care. Of those, the Chipman Preserve in Comstock Township draws the most visitors and volunteers. Second Wave's Kathy Jennings reports on what makes this property a place people come back to over and over.

Marshall businessman sells ice cream from carriage
New KCC program teaches young people how to change community
State makes case for Corporate Income Tax
Detroit Free Press: West Michigan is home to shelf-full of authors
What’s Working in Cities: CreateHere in Chattanooga

What's Working in Cities is a monthly series in which we take a closer look at people and organizations transforming neighborhoods and driving change in urban areas across the country. What works in Portland, Austin, or Chattanooga will probably work here, too, in some form or another. Let us know what you think.

WMU hopes to study aftermath of Kalamazoo River oil spill

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