NEGAUNEE — The city of Negaunee’s Downtown Enhancement Project has been chosen as a finalist for the Michigan Municipal League’s Community Excellence Award. 

The award is the most prestigious community award offered by the MML, designed to highlight success stories, best practices, and sharing innovative community programs and projects on a statewide platform. 

Submissions are accepted based on community wealth-building principles. According to the MML’s website, “This model balances economic prosperity, sense of place, and cultural substance. It also considers the importance of the safety, health, and well-being of our residents, as well as the ongoing process of learning over time.” 

The city will be given the opportunity to present the project at the MML annual conference in Grand Rapids, which takes place from September 17-19. If Negaunee wins the award, it will be passed the CEA trophy from Houghton, who won the 2024 award for the Pier Placemaking Project. 

“We are so grateful for this opportunity to not only let Negaunee shine, but represent the whole Upper Peninsula,” said Negaunee City Manager Nate Heffron in a press release. “We want to show how this project has transformed our community and to help encourage other communities across Michigan to do the same.” 

Negaunee is one of four finalists alongside the City of Heart and their HeArt Project, the City of Milford and their Heart of Milford Project, and the Village of Roscommon and their Largest Kirtland’s Warbler Sculpture Project. The CEA winner will be announced on Sept. 18. More information about each finalist can be found online at cea.mml.org/2025-community-excellence-award.