Help Shape Grocery Access in Muskegon

July 28, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MUSKEGON, Mich. — The City of Muskegon’s Economic Development team is inviting residents, businesses, and community partners to help shape the future of grocery access in Muskegon by participating in the City’s Grocery Market Analysis and Needs Assessment.

What’s Been Happening

In June 2026, the City hired Plante Moran Realpoint through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process to complete a Grocery Market Analysis and Needs Assessment. Since
then, the consulting team has:

  • Conducted a retail gap analysis and evaluated the local grocery market.
  • Collected and analyzed demographic, economic, and market data.
  • Worked with City staff to identify key stakeholders and develop a community engagement strategy.
  • Met with grocery retailers, community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, transportation providers, and other local stakeholders to better understand grocery access throughout Muskegon.

Community Discussions

On Tuesday, August 4, at 1:00 p.m. the City will host stakeholder discussions at the Central Fire Station to gather additional community input.

SCHEDULE OF DISCUSSION:

  • 1:00 p.m. – Residents and Neighborhood Leaders
  • 2:30 p.m. – Grocery Retailers
  • 4:00 p.m. – Community and Nonprofit Leadership
  • 6:00 p.m. – National Night Out Survey Booth

Residents and neighborhood leaders interested in participating in the discussion are encouraged to attend and RSVP, please email Isabela Gonzalez at isabela@shorelinecity.com.

Additionally on August 4th, the Development team will host a booth at National Night Out from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. where you can learn more about the project from city staff, complete the survey on a city tablet, or scan QR codes for mobile participation.

Take the Community Survey

Community input is a critical part of this study. In addition to attending a discussion or visiting the National Night Out survey booth, residents are encouraged to complete the community grocery survey and share it with others.

What’s Next

Once complete, findings from the market analysis, stakeholder discussions, and community survey will be combined into a final report. The report will help guide future conversations, recommendations, and strategies to improve grocery access throughout Muskegon.