Our events bring together local leaders, state and regional partners and resource providers from across Michigan who share a common goal: strengthening the capacity, connections and resilience of rural communities.
In recent years, rural communities across Michigan have experienced devastating ice storms, record-setting floods, severe storms and tornadoes that have required both immediate emergency response and sustained long-term recovery efforts.
The Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity is hosting a series of virtual Disasters and Recovery in Rural Communities Roundtables to better understand the lived experiences of local leaders as they access, coordinate and deploy resources during emergencies and throughout the recovery process.
These conversations are an opportunity to share what has worked, identify challenges, learn from peers across the state and help inform future strategies to better support rural communities before, during and after disasters. Each session will include guided discussion, peer-to-peer learning and an opportunity to shape recommendations that will be synthesized by the Office of Rural Prosperity.
Please join the session that best aligns with your role:
Advance registration is requested. Please select the session that best fits your role using the registration links above.
We hope you'll join us as we listen, learn and work together to strengthen disaster preparedness and recovery for rural Michigan.
Each Regional Prosperity Summit is a one-day convening designed to strengthen regional collaboration, build community capacity and connect leaders with tools and partnerships that support a prosperous and resilient rural future. Attendees include cross-sector leaders from economic development, government, education, nonprofit organizations and private industry across the region.
Date: August 11, 2026
Location: Mt. Pleasant, MI
Download the Central Lower Peninsula Regional Prosperity Summit Program
Date: September 9, 2026
Location: Cassopolis, MI
Date: July 21, 2026
View Western Upper Peninsula Regional Prosperity Summit Program.
Date: June 18, 2026
Date: April 20, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Michigan Library and Historical Center, Lansing, MI
Event Summary:
This event will highlight:
If you are a local leader, decision maker or policymaker, we hope you’ll attend!
Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. – noon
Location: Virtual
Event Summary: Join the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP) for our February virtual kickoff as we launch our 2026 efforts. This statewide Zoom webinar will introduce the full 2026 ORP event calendar, highlight key findings from our annual report and share updates on how ORP is strengthening governance and capacity across rural Michigan.
This is an informational webinar designed for community leaders, partners and anyone engaged in rural development. No preparation or participation is required. Simply join, listen and get oriented to what is ahead in 2026.
Date: November 12-13, 2025
Location: North Central Michigan College, Petoskey, Michigan
Event Summary: The Rural Readiness Network Convening is a statewide gathering designed to bring together network participants, community leaders, and resource providers to collaborate on innovative solutions for rural prosperity. This event will serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and strategic planning to address the evolving, complex challenges and opportunities facing rural communities.
Date: October 17, 2025
Location: Kingston Community Center, 1951 S. Kingston Road, Deford, Michigan 48729
Event Summary: This event brings together community leaders from across the Thumb for a day-long summit focused on building capacity and utilizing community economic development tools to build a prosperous and resilient future. The day’s agenda builds upon the Thumb Prosperity Summit hosted in Bad Axe in October 2024 and the statewide Rural Futures Summit hosted in Lansing in April and will feature presentations, spotlights, resource panels and networking.
Date: September 8-10, 2025
Location: Grand Traverse Region, Michigan
Event Summary: The Grand Traverse Region Rural Readiness & Resiliency Summit is a multi-day event focused on advancing climate resilience across rural communities in Northern Michigan. This collaborative gathering will bring together stakeholders, service providers, and local leaders to explore actionable solutions addressing climate change, food systems, infrastructure, and community preparedness. The Office of Rural Prosperity is teaming up with Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation and Interlochen Public Radio for this event.
Download Grand Traverse Region Rural Readiness & Resiliency Summit Event Program
View the Grand Traverse: Region Rural Readiness and Resiliency event recap
Date: July 22, 2025
Location: NMU Northern Center, Marquette, MI
Event Summary: The Office of Rural Prosperity is hosting a UP Rural Futures Summit in Marquette, MI, drawing from and expanding on content from the statewide summit held in April ‘25. This event will provide rural leaders, community organizations, and policymakers with insights that shape the future of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Topics will include climate adaptation, inclusive economic development, rural infrastructure, and workforce development, with a mix of case studies, resource panels, and networking opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies, hear from experts, and connect with peers working toward a more resilient and prosperous rural Michigan.
Download UP Rural Futures Summit Event Program
View the Upper Peninsula Rural Futures Summit recap
This two-day event is dedicated to exploring the future of rural Michigan and preparing for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This convening is designed to bring together key stakeholders from across the state to engage in meaningful discussions, share insights, and collaborate on solutions that will shape the future of our rural communities.
