Phillips: Battle Creek and Community Development Corp. ‘Getting Reacquainted’

As the City of Battle Creek grapples with balancing the budget, a proposed cut to a longstanding city grant to the Southwest Michigan Community Development Corporation (formerly Neighborhoods Inc.) left the organization scrambling.

This week, SWMCDC CEO Bill Phillips told WBCK cooler heads have prevailed, as the organization invited city leaders to a sit-down at SWMCDC. Phillips said the meeting was productive.

"We were really created 25 years ago...to be a service organization specifically to the city," he said. "Over 25 years, perhaps we've taken each other a little bit for granted. A part of the process we're going through right now is to just get re-acquainted."

An initial city budget proposal would eliminate the $150,000 city contribution to SWMCDC. City commissioners will vote on the budget June 21.

Hear Phillips' comments by clicking on the player below.

Hear The Richard Piet Show weekday mornings from 5:30-9 on WBCK.