PETOSKEY — Despite general uncertainty about the future of federal funding, Petoskey leaders called for collaboration and support at the 20th annual State of the Community event.
It’s put on by the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce for governments, nonprofits and businesses to present ways they’re improving the community. Speakers brought updates on healthcare, housing, tourism and other hot-button topics.
Chamber of Commerce President Nikki Devitt began the event by addressing sweeping changes in the federal government and the new guard of state Legislatures in the now Republican-led House and Senate.
“Those changes are things that can cause uncertainty. What I’m talking about is we don’t know necessarily where funding is going to be,” she said addressing the crowd. “It’s not taking a side, it’s giving you the information … Remember, your business, your employees have gone through the unknown before, and you were incredible because your community had your back.”
Presentations from community leaders in education, healthcare, government and more focused on initiatives they’re excited about in 2025.
Shannon Klonowski took over as health officer for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan last week. The department serves Emmet, Charlevoix, Antrim and Otsego counties and relies heavily on state and federal grants. She addressed the Trump administration decision to suspend federal health funding at the Department of Health and Human Services. A federal judge temporarily blocked the order last week.
“Will the restrictions be lifted in the next couple of months? If so, I think we’ll be OK,” she said. “… And if it goes well into the fall, then I think we might be seeing some funding issues with some of our grants in future fiscal years.”
Klonowski said much of her new duties will involve promoting public health programs and regaining trust with the community.
She praised various health department programs that place nurses and counselors in public schools, provide health inspections for local restaurants and the department’s management of sewer and septic inspections.
“A lot of people don’t know how much our department does,” Klonowski said. “We are screening children for oral health. We have substance-abuse prevention programs. So much more.”
Klonowski shared the stage with McLaren Northern Michigan Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Kennedy, who said the healthcare system is continuing to invest in northern Michigan by focusing on recruiting and retaining nurses and providers.
Kennedy also touted the newly renovated Justin A. Borra Behavioral Health Center in Cheboygan which opened in 2023.
“This morning, I was recruiting two doctors who have come to replenish the physicians and the nurses who have left cardiology, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, interventional radiology, infectious disease, primary care. It’s a big list we have to fill and we’ve done very well,” he said.
Sarah Ulrich, executive director of Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity, celebrated her organization’s goal to build 40 homes by the end of 2025.
“To date, we’ve built 32 homes. We’re currently constructing seven and those and the rest of those houses will kick off this summer,” she said. “So, not only are we on track to meet our goal, but we’re actually going to exceed it.”
Most of those homes are in the Meadowlands subdivision near Alanson.
The Petoskey region still has a ways to go before it reaches its larger housing goals. According to the nonprofit Housing North, which surveys housing needs throughout northern Michigan, Emmet County needs more than 3,000 new units to keep up with demand.
That data comes from the organization’s Housing Needs Assessment from 2023.
Find a full recording of the 2025 State of the Community on the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce website along with reports submitted by more than 30 businesses and organizations.