Robert Megowen Photo A double rainbow graces the City of Houghton in this May 2024 photo. The city will hold a pair of branding work sessions next month.

HOUGHTON — The City of Houghton invites residents and stakeholders to participate in one of two public work sessions dedicated to shaping the future of Houghton’s community brand. These sessions will be held:

• Wednesday, Nov. 5, 6 p.m.

• Tuesday, Nov. 11, 6 p.m.

Both drop-in sessions will take place at the City Center in downtown Houghton and will run approximately two hours.

Each session will begin with an overview of the city’s branding initiative, explaining why this effort is both important and timely. Residents are encouraged to join a session at any time during the two-hour period. During each session, attendees will be asked to provide feedback on the central themes developed from public input: Home, Views, and Progress. Each session marks an important step in public engagement; input gathered from each session will be used to shape the city’s brand going forward.

This initiative builds upon the city’s first branding survey, conducted between November and December 2024, which generated 637 responses from 254 zip codes. That input, representing residents, neighbors and visitors, highlighted the importance of community identity and helped establish the three guiding themes:

• Home — A place where you always feel you belong.

• Views — A year-round landscape that inspires.

• Progress — A city rooted in history, building for tomorrow.

Why Branding?

In 2021, Houghton earned Redevelopment Ready Communities® (RRC) certification from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). This certification provides the city with access to resources to advance community development goals. RRC’s mission is to empower communities to shape their future by integrating best practices in planning, zoning, and economic development.

Branding is identified as a critical tool for strengthening economic health, building community pride, and increasing investor confidence. The MEDC strongly encourages communities to develop marketing and branding strategies promoting their unique identity and sense of place.

Accomplishments

• In July 2024, Houghton’s Planning Commission formed a committee to explore branding and survey community perspectives.

• By March 2025, four additional Houghton residents joined the committee, broadening viewpoints and sharpening the city’s understanding of its identity.

• Three themes Home, Views, and Progress emerged as pillars of Houghton’s brand.

Where We’re Heading

The goal of this process is to define Houghton’s story — how we view where we live, and who we are as a community.

Economic development requires more than business attraction; it must also embrace community development and talent retention. This effort seeks to unify residents, businesses, nonprofits, and local government around a shared identity that strengthens both civic pride and long-term economic vitality.

Resident participation is valued. By attending an October work session, participants will help validate and shape the branding themes that will guide Houghton’s story for years to come.