We implement community-driven ideas to ensure Mancelona families thrive.
Supporting our families and children is an investment in our community’s collective future and prosperity.
Our Vision
By embracing the critical role of family-friendly community development in Mancelona, our community deeply supports the programs, organizations, and partnerships which strengthen our schools, quality of life, housing, and economy. Because of this, the following are true:
Our community is confident in our local relationships and capacity to recognize and collaboratively respond to community issues and effect change. We are optimistic about our future.
Mancelonians are proud and happy to easily live, learn, work, play, and retire here.
Our bustling downtown is as cute as a button and provides year-round activities for young and old alike.
Our Beginning
Founded in 1996, the CRD rallies Mancelona residents, businesses, elected leaders, and partners around implementing grassroots initiatives that support the families and people who call Mancelona home. We have helped attract millions of dollars of investment in Mancelona to support a variety of projects, including Communities in Schools of Northwest Michigan (a nationally-recognized program and partnership), downtown revitalization , environmental remediation, and public infrastructure.
We focus on strengthening and sustaining the elements of our community that are attractive to families, including education, child care, employment, and housing. These are the community assets that families care most about (and that Mancelona has!) and that, if strong, signal a healthy, sustainable place that benefits all members, regardless of what your family looks like.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”
— Margaret mead
Get Involved
We are delighted and grateful to meet with anyone interested in our work, especially local residents and business owners, investors, and partners. We hold regular board meetings (sometimes with cookies!) every month; guests always welcome.