BC City Connection Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Understanding the Goals of the Fair Housing Center in Southwest Michigan May 28, 2026

Show notes

Housing discrimination isn’t always a slammed door. Sometimes it’s a quieter pattern: one person gets the full tour, another gets brushed off; one gets the helpful phone number, another gets “check the website.”

Those small moments can shape who gets access to safe, stable housing, as is discussed with Beth Romeo from the Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan and Darcy Schmitt from the City of Battle Creek.
Episode Resources
City of Battle Creek Website
Fair Housing Center of SW Michigan

Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tuesdays at 6:30 PM on channel 17/917.

The BC City Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications.

Community Oversight Board 101 May 14, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of BC City Connection, Community Oversight Board (COB) Chair Carey Whitfield and Vice Chair Clare Tanner to explain how Battle Creek’s police complaint review and appeal process works.

The Community Oversight Board is a community-based advisory board that serves the City Manager by reviewing appeals of investigations and findings related to community complaints made against the Battle Creek Police Department. The Board also supports transparency, community education, and trust-building between residents and law enforcement by providing community perspective on departmental practices and policies.

Episode Resources
City of Battle Creek Community Oversight Board

Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tuesdays at 6:30 PM on channel 17/917.

BC CIty Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications.

Opening Doors To First-Time Homebuyers Among Underserved Populations Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

This time on the BC CIty Connection Housing Podcast, REALTOR Talia Champlin joins the city's Darcy Schmitt to discuss what “equitable pathways to homeownership” really means and why the hardest part is often stepping onto the path in the first place.

Episode Resources
City of Battle Creek website

Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tuesdays at 6:30 PM on channel 17/917.

The BC City Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications.

Assistant City Manager Handoff In Battle Creek Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

In their first interviews since Battle Creek Assistant City Manager Ted Dearing announced his retirement, he and successor Marcie Gilette talk through the priorities, partnerships, and resident input that will guide what comes next. Ted also reflects on his tenure in Battle Creek.

Episode Resources
City of Battle Creek website

Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tuesdays at 6:30 PM on channel 17/917.

The BC City Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications.

How Habitat For Humanity Makes Homeownership Possible In Battle Creek Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

This time, the BC CIty Connection Housing podcast visits with Executive Director Mike King from Habitat for Humanity in Calhoun County to break down how the program turns renters into homeowners through affordable payments, volunteer labor, and strong local partnerships.

Darcy Schmidt from the City of Battle Creek weighs in about why homeownership matters for equity and how the city helps remove barriers so more homes can be built.
Episode Resources
City of Battle Creek Housing Strategy
Calhoun County Habitat for Humanity

Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tuesdays at 6:30 PM on channel 17/917.

BC CIty Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications.

Open4BizBC.com: A Step-By-Step Plan for Potential Entrepreneurs Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

This time on the BC City Connection, John Hart of the Small Business Development Office talks about Open4BizBC.com, a self-serve website that helps entrepreneurs understand what it really takes to open a business in Battle Creek.

The discussion breaks down how the seven-step guide reduces surprises around zoning, permits, licensing, and costs so more small businesses can launch and last.
Episode Resources
OpenforBizBC.com

Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tuesdays at 6:30 PM on channel 17/917.

The BC City Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications.

Turning Blight Into Affordable, Accessible Housing Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

This time on the BC CIty Connection housing focus, Darcy Schmitt and Krista Trout-Edwards share how the city and the Calhoun County Land Bank align land, zoning, and neighborhood input to turn vacant parcels into infill homes.

The discussion maps the shift in acquisitions, highlights early wins in Washington Heights, and invites builders into a growing local pipeline.
Episode Resources
City of Battle Creek Housing Strategy
Calhoun County Land Bank Authority

Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tuesdays at 6:30 PM on channel 17/917.

BC CIty Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications.

How Neighborhood Planning Councils Shape Battle Creek Decisions Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of BC City Connection: Exploring how Neighborhood Planning Councils (NPCs) give Battle Creek residents a structured voice on policing, code, planning, and development, and why diverse, new members are vital.

CommissionerJessica Lacosse and Helen Guzzo, community development manager, detail how councils work, what they decide, and how to join.
Episode Resources
City of Battle Creek website

Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tuesdays at 6:30 PM on channel 17/917.

The BC City Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications.

Housing: 2026 Housing Master Plan Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

Over the course of 2026, the BC CIty Connection will include some conversations specifically focused on housing in the city.

In the first of those episodes, Planning Supervisor Darcy Schmitt lays out how Battle Creek tackles the housing shortage with mixed-use zoning, infill, and accessory dwelling units, and why public input shapes every choice.

Episode Resources
City of Battle Creek Housing Strategy

Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tuesdays at 6:30 PM on channel 17/917.

BC CIty Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications.

Digital Services: Ensuring Information is Accessible Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

This time on BC City Connection, a discussion outlining how Battle Creek is building an accessible digital city that meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards and puts residents first.

From language-ready alerts to a content-first website overhaul, the plan, the tools, and how neighbors can help us improve are part of the discussion.
Episode Resources
City of Battle Creek website

Watch the video of this discussion here or see the episodes on Access Vision in Battle Creek Tuesdays at 6:30 PM on channel 17/917.

The BC City Connection Podcast is produced by Livemic Communications.