| Benton Harbor, Michigan, is a small city of approximately 11,000 residents located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan in the southwestern corner of the state. The city covers only 4.5 square miles and has an attractive beachfront, mature vegetation, wandering creeks, cobblestone streets, and once-stately Victorian homes.
Despite its potential to be an attractive residential area, Benton Harbor has been an economically depressed community for nearly 20 years. More than half (58 percent) of its residents have incomes below the poverty line, compared to 13 percent of state residents and 14 percent of county residents. Although Benton Harbor residents represent only 7 percent of the county population, they constitute 60 percent of the county's welfare caseload. At 20.6 percent, Benton Harbor's unemployment rate is considerably higher than the regional (4.7 percent), state (3.9 percent), and national (4.2 percent) unemployment rates.
Benton Harbor is characterized by virtually every ill caused by extreme and prolonged periods of poverty. These include poor healthcare and education, lack of investment in housing and the physical infrastructure, high rates of unemployment, and problematic social behaviors such as criminal and violent activity, alcohol and substance abuse, and teen pregnancy. The resulting poor quality of life hinders efforts to attract and retain the professional talent needed to address the community's problems. Efforts to address community issues have also been exacerbated by Benton Harbor's physical and social isolation. The city has no public transit system and relatively few people own cars. Residents have difficulty getting to school, jobs, training programs, and community service sites, many of which are located in adjacent communities that are more affluent, well-served, and resource-rich.
The COPC at Western Michigan University (WMU) will target its activities to Benton Harbor and will address three key areas: economic development, professional development, and indigenous capacity building. WMU's goal is to enable Benton Harbor residents to define, reframe, and actively pursue their community's future. The COPC will facilitate residents' access to information, resources, skills, and attitudes that will help them meet their own needs. Partners include the City of Benton Harbor, Benton Harbor City Commission, the Black Chamber of Commerce, the Lake Michigan Community College Small Business Development Center, the Benton Harbor Area Schools, Lakeland Regional Health System, Berrien County Health Department, and United Way of Southwest Michigan.
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