Mission: To support the revitalization of communities in Calhoun County.

Vision: The Calhoun County Land Bank Authority is a catalyst for community stabilization by creating equitable, inclusive opportunities through sustainably repurposing challenged properties.

The Calhoun County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA) was established in December 2006 and held its first organizational meeting in 2007 through an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Calhoun County Treasurer, the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, and the State Land Bank Authority. The organization was created in response to growing concerns about housing vacancies and property abandonment associated with the emerging national housing crisis. 

OUR HISTORY 

2006–2007: Formation 
CCLBA is formally created and begins operations, laying the foundation for a coordinated approach to addressing blight and property abandonment across Calhoun County. 

2007–2012: Early Operations and Blight Elimination 

In its early years, CCLBA shared staff and office space with the County Treasurer’s Office. Growth during this period was measured and strategic. Efforts were primarily focused on blight elimination through demolition, supported by grant funding. The organization also began partnering with the City of Battle Creek on select rehabilitation projects and infill housing initiatives. 

2013–2019: Program Development and Expansion 

As the organization matured, staff explored and refined different staffing models while expanding programming. The first full-time Executive Director was hired in 2013, with two additional staff members hired in 2014.  This period marked significant growth in grant writing and management capacity. CCLBA began to shift its focus beyond demolition, exploring long-term strategies for land reuse and neighborhood stabilization.   

2020: Strategic Pause and Evaluation 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, CCLBA paused to assess its direction and priorities. This moment provided an opportunity to evaluate changing community needs and the organization’s evolving role.  Affordable housing and changing housing needs also rose to the forefront during this period, and staff began to focus on the county’s overall housing ecosystem. 

2021–2023: Transition to Land Reuse and Neighborhood Investment 

Following this assessment, CCLBA recognized a significant shift in its property inventory—from primarily blighted structures to predominantly vacant land. At the same time, the organization secured substantial funding to support neighborhood-level investment. This led to focused work in the Washington Heights Neighborhood + in Battle Creek and the development of CCLBA’s first comprehensive Land Reuse Strategy, marking a new chapter centered on intentional redevelopment, community partnership, and long-term neighborhood revitalization. 

2024–2025: Focus on Housing, Neighborhood, and Contractor Support 

CCLBA continues to advance its mission by prioritizing housing development, neighborhood engagement, and contractor collaboration. Efforts during this period emphasize a balanced approach to blight remediation through rehabilitation, stabilization, and strategic demolition. 

A key focus has been on engaging staff and strengthening partnerships with developers to support new and rehabilitated housing projects across the county. CCLBA also convenes the Calhoun Builders Connection, hosting monthly meetings that bring together contractors, developers, and industry partners to share resources, identify challenges, and expand local capacity for housing development. 

In parallel, staff actively pursues grant funding to support infill housing initiatives and continues to build relationships with community partners to sustain momentum around neighborhood investment. 

Central to this work is a commitment to resident-driven planning. CCLBA engages directly with neighborhoods to help determine the future use of properties within its inventory—ensuring that redevelopment aligns with community priorities. Through this process, residents play a vital role in shaping where new housing is appropriate, where green space or beautification is preferred, and how land can best serve the long-term needs of the neighborhood.