For several months, the city of Houghton has worked on developing a new branding plan. Much of the branding work during that time has been talked over within a committee.
Next week Houghton will host the first of two public working sessions that will help shape Houghton future community branding strategy. The drop-in sessions at the city center will run for two hours at a time. Each session will overview the city’s branding initiative and explain why the effort is both timely and important to Houghton’s sustainable growth. Attendees will provide feedback on central themes, Home Views and Progress, and will engage in providing residential input the committee will take into account as work continues.
In November and December last year, Houghton conducted a branding survey to gather important information from its residents. The survey resulted in more than 600 responses, representing residents, neighbors, visitors, and highlighted the importance to maintaining a community identity, through homes views and progress themes.
The first session on November 5th will begin at 6 pm. A second session will occur on November 11th beginning at the same time.
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City of Houghton Invites Community to Branding Working Sessions
Houghton, MI — October 2025 — The City of Houghton invites residents and stakeholders to participate in one of two public working sessions dedicated to shaping the future of Houghton’s community brand. These sessions will be held:
· Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
· Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 6:00 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 our 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.
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