Kalamazoo, Michigan

THE C I TY OF KALAMAZOO, MI CHIGAN a lot of theatre… Cats and Wicked and Lion King, they’ve all been here in our community auditorium. It shows the diversity of the arts that people will be able to access here. I think our gift is our strong focus on education and diversity as a foundation for our community.” Home to about 75,000 permanent residents, the City of Kalamazoo is the seat of Kalamazoo County and sits right between Detroit, Michigan to the east and Chicago, Illinois to the west, both around 150 miles away and easily accessible by train or automobile. The I-94 runs through the city making travel and shipping for businesses a breeze. Kalamazoo County is also blessed with 83 small public lakes and several rivers making it a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. There are three ski resorts within a 10 minute drive from downtown Kalamazoo and 22 public golf courses in the area. The Kalamazoo Valley Bike Trail runs from downtown all the way to Lake Michigan. The trail, which goes through efforts are being done through the “Kalamazoo Promise”. But that’s not the only reason Kalamazoo stands apart from other regions of the U.S. and the world. The city heralds physical, sexual, ability, and racial diversity among its greatest strengths. They strive to give a warm welcome to students, residents, and visitors of all backgrounds, orientations, and abilities to enjoy all that Kalamazoo has to offer. City staff work tirelessly to ensure every citizen has the same advantages through education, economic development, infrastructure, and affordable housing projects throughout the community. Antonio Mitchell, Community Investment Manager for the Community Planning and Economic Development Department boasts, “We have lots of opportunities with music and entertainment venues here. We have an auditorium at Western University, we have