The Lincoln Township Board of Trustees has agreed to explore the establishment a Greater Stevensville Chamber and Growth Alliance in partnership with the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber and the village of Stevensville.

Township trustees this week heard from the chamber’s Arthur Havlicek, who presented the idea of setting up a CGA that would consist of the two municipalities, the chamber, and the local business community.

Havlicek told us a CGA is more than a chamber of commerce. It’s an economic development vehicle that works full time to improve the community.

“The CGAs are basically boots on the ground, and what that does is it allows for a customized, local and proactive strategy and increases the capacity for whatever communities decide to invest in it by dedicating an economic development professional to that footprint,” Havlicek said.

Havlicek highlighted the Greater Bridgman Area CGA — a partnership between the city of Bridgman, Lake Township, and the business community — as an example of how CGAs work. He said Bridgman puts up $20,000 a year and Lake Township puts up $20,000 a year for the CGA, making up about 53% of its budget. Business partners pay the rest. Two thirds of the budget goes to hiring a director who works on economic development every day.

Havlicek said the model has produced real results in Bridgman, pointing to projects like the downtown courtyard, the new Casey’s store, and a 100-unit housing development planned at Lake and Church Streets.

Lincoln Township Trustee Marc Florian told us the idea of partnering with Stevensville on a CGA is worth exploring.

“I’m really excited by it because any opportunity for us, the two local governments, being so juxtaposed as we are with them being right in the middle of us, to work together and collaborate on an economic development initiative such as this,” Florian said. “I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s fantastic.”

Lincoln Township Supervisor Dick Stauffer agreed.

“I have a strong feeling about this,” Stauffer said. “Anything that’s good for the village is good for the township, and we do need to work together on this. This is a vehicle that we need to try.”

Havlicek noted CGAs are governed by boards that include representatives from all partners involved. They oversee spending and operations.

Township trustees agreed to begin an exploratory phase to create a CGA with the village. Florian volunteered to be part of an exploratory committee.

Havlicek is set to make a formal presentation to the Stevensville Village Council next month.