Success Stories

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  With the help from first-time visitors, five Michigan communities engaged to better understand their assets and opportunities in 2025

  Published on February 6, 2026
  Demand for MSU Extension’s First Impressions Tourism assessment program demonstrates a growing desire and need for Michigan communities to better themselves by capturing first-time visitor perspectives.

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  First time visitor perspectives still in high demand for Michigan communities

  Published on February 19, 2025
  Demand for MSU Extension’s First Impressions Tourism assessment program reaches pre-pandemic levels by assisting five communities in understanding assets and unique qualities through first time visitor experiences and perspectives.

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  Annual state entrepreneurship conference continues to showcase small town charm and success in Cadillac

  Published on July 22, 2024
  The Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference returned in 2024 hosted by the City of Cadillac, welcoming more than 100 participants from across Michigan.

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  Community partnership results in “Shared Abundance”

  Published on July 13, 2023
  Northwest Lower Michigan has developed into a thriving food system—the book “Shared Abundance” details the community partnerships that made it happen.

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  Michigan Economic Development Corporation and MSU Extension forge partnership to better Michigan communities through fresh sets of eyes

  Published on December 2, 2022
  First Impressions Tourism (FIT) assessment program assists communities in understanding themselves and unique assets more through visitor experiences.