BIRMINGHAM, AL (June 30, 2026) – Middle Michigan Development Corporation (MMDC) has been awarded funding through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bring Retail Academy – a comprehensive retail recruitment and business development training program produced by Retail Strategies – to community leaders in the City of Clare, City of Evart, and the greater Mt. Pleasant area (City of Mt. Pleasant and Union Charter Township). Leadership from all four municipalities participated in the full-day training session on June 24 in Harrison, Michigan.
The funding allows MMDC to equip local officials and community leaders across the region with the tools, data, and strategies needed to attract and retain retail businesses in their communities. Participants engaged with market analysis frameworks, site selection education, and practical recruitment strategies tailored to the unique opportunities and challenges present throughout the four-county area.
The training addressed a wide range of community priorities, from strategies for activating underutilized commercial properties and rehabilitating historic downtown buildings to helping property owners and local stakeholders better understand the drivers of retailer decision-making and site selection. Communities also explored how to sustain retail momentum and capitalize on emerging development opportunities, including the connection between industrial growth and retail demand.
“Strong retail districts don’t happen by accident – they require the right data, strategy, and local leadership,,” said Kati Mora, President and CEO of MMDC. “Retail Academy gives local leaders practical tools they can put to work immediately to better market their communities, attract new investment, and strengthen their local economies. This is an investment in the long-term success of our region.”
Sarah Beth Stewart, Vice President at Retail Strategies, praised MMDC’s commitment to the region and the impact the program is designed to deliver. “MMDC is exactly the kind of organization this investment was designed to support,” Stewart said. “Retail Academy has a proven ability to act as a catalyst for growth in rural communities – it gives leaders a clear picture of their market, the confidence to tell their story, and the tools to recruit the retail their residents deserve.”
Retail Academy is a signature program of Retail Strategies, a national retail recruitment and economic development consulting firm serving communities across the country. The program is designed to demystify the retail recruitment process for local governments and economic development organizations, providing participants with market data, site selection education, and actionable recruitment strategies.
About Retail Academy
Retail Academy is a program developed by a leading national retail advisory firm, Retail Strategies. The program assists communities in strengthening their retail landscape. Communities will be trained and equipped with the tools and education needed to attract new retailers to their markets while supporting their existing local businesses.
To learn more, visit https://www.retailstrategies.com/retailacademy/.
About Retail Strategies
Retail Strategies is the national expert in community development and retail economic development. Our mission is to provide the real estate expertise, tools, and human effort that position deserving towns as alluring locations for national businesses and destinations for tourism and quality-of-life amenities. We confidently pursue this mission by delivering unparalleled customer service as a unified team, drawing on unmatched real estate and community development expertise. Our activities yield returns in sales taxes, additional jobs, and businesses that enhance the unique qualities of your community.
