Community Success Panel Recap: August 24, 2026
On August 24, 2026, the Community Success Panel (CSP) convened key Midland County stakeholders from business, government, education, and non-profit sectors to align local economic development and community initiatives. Established in 2010 and utilizing the Communities of Excellence Baldrige framework, the CSP drives collective impact across health, education, the economy, and quality of life through four core focus areas: Building Our Livelihood, Developing Our Talent, Caring for Our People, and Enriching Our Community. The meeting featured updates on critical county issues along with updates from individual organization on upcoming events and programming.
The first presentation, a 2026 Residential Market Update delivered by Linda Owens and Krista Martelli of Ayre Rhinehart Realtors, outlined how housing serves as foundational community infrastructure impacting talent recruitment, family stability, and economic growth. While Midland County saw active listings reach 147 and closed sales edge up 1.6% through July 2026, inventory remains constrained at 2.4 months of supply—well below a balanced market. Local home values rose 71% from a median of $149,000 in 2018 to $255,000 in 2025, driving typical monthly mortgage payments up 114% due to compounding price growth and elevated borrowing rates. Linda and Krista highlighted persistent systemic barriers, including a 63% decline in annual single-family housing builds since the 1990s, high material costs, restrictive appraisal rules for new construction, and rising median rents reaching $1,250. Despite these constraints, strong regional demand persists, evidenced by nearly 19,000 daily commuters driving into Midland County. For additional information on ongoing housing development efforts and local research, visit https://mbami.org/housing-forward/.
Penny Miller Nelson presented an update on Midland Public Schools (MPS), focusing on the 1.5-mill, 10-year sinking fund proposal appearing on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Formulated after comprehensive facility assessments identified $550 million in total building needs and backed by the community-led Blueprint for Tomorrow Steering Team, the "pay-as-you-go" measure generates approximately $4.57 million annually without long-term bonding debt, and will be subject to annual independent audits and public project tracking.
The proposal addresses essential safety improvements—such as secure buzzer entries and upgraded security cameras—alongside urgent infrastructure repairs to aging roofs, HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, technology, and bus fleets. For a home with a market value of $200,000 (taxable value of $100,000), the estimated cost is $12.50 per month. To learn more about the proposal, visit https://www.midlandps.org/sinkingfund.
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