City of Three Rivers, Michigan

What City of Three Rivers, Michigan does

The City of Three Rivers is a municipal government entity in St. Joseph County, Michigan, serving residents and businesses of a small city located at the confluence of the St. Joseph, Portage, and Rocky rivers, approximately 20 miles south of Kalamazoo. The city delivers standard municipal services including water and sewer utilities, public safety (police and fire), parks and recreation, planning and zoning, building inspection, and economic development support. Its operating footprint centers on City Hall at 333 West Michigan Avenue, with service delivery supported by contracted partners such as SAFEbuilt (building department and zoning administrator, based in Athens, MI) and BSA Online (utility billing).

The city's revenue model is diversified across recurring and transactional streams: property taxes and monthly water/sewer utility billing form the recurring base, while one-time fees from building permits, zoning reviews, site plan reviews, dump passes, and parks/recreation rentals provide transactional revenue; the fee schedule is reviewed twice annually. The city operates a hybrid segmentation across city residents (residential utilities, public safety, parks), local businesses (zoning, permits, licensing), and industrial/manufacturing tenants of its Enterprise Industrial Park and Airport Industrial Park (a 210-acre park with runway access and shovel-ready sites). Marketing and distribution are channel-light: the official website (threeriversmi.org) is the primary information hub, supplemented by Facebook, community engagement programs, and the Grow Three Rivers (GTR) business attraction initiative.

Subsidiary entities include the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Industrial Development Authority, Three Rivers Housing Development Corporation (wholly owned), and a jointly controlled River Country Recreational Authority. Partnerships extend to the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce, St. Joseph County Economic Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), and Three Rivers Health. The city is Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certified through MEDC, manages 14 zoning districts, and offers economic development tools including Industrial Facility Tax Abatement, PILOTs, TIF, Brownfield Redevelopment, and a Façade Improvement Program.

Name

City of Three Rivers, Michigan

Legal name

City of Three Rivers, Michigan

Website

https://threeriversmi.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The City of Three Rivers, Michigan is a municipal government serving residents and businesses of a small St. Joseph County city, delivering water/sewer utilities, public safety, parks, planning/zoning, permitting, and economic development services across 14 zoning districts and two industrial parks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public water utilities
• Zoning and permitting
• Economic development
• Parks and recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Three Rivers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: The city collects property taxes to fund general operations, street improvements, and municipal services.
2. Utility Billing (Water/Sewer): Residential and commercial water and sewer services billed to customers through the Public Utilities department.
3. Building Permits and Fees: Fees collected for zoning permits, site plan reviews, building permits, and development-related approvals.
4. Dump Passes: Residential property owners within city limits may obtain dump passes from City Hall for waste disposal.
5. Parks and Recreation Fees: Fees for shelter reservations, summer programs, and recreational facilities.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The City of Three Rivers delivers municipal government services to its residents and businesses, including water and sewer utilities, public safety (police and fire), parks and recreation, building/zoning permitting, planning, and economic development. It also administers property tax billing, FOIA/public records services, and operates industrial parks and a municipal airport as development assets.

Product overview

City of Three Rivers, Michigan provides municipal government services organized into multiple operational areas: core public services (water/sewer utilities, police, fire, public works), development and planning services (building permits, zoning review, site plan review, master planning), economic development (industrial parks, business incentives, Grow Three Rivers program), and community services (parks/recreation, farmers market, FOIA requests). The city's digital presence includes an interactive website with Google Sheets-based fee schedules, BSA Online for utility payments, CivicWeb portal for meetings/documents, and various Google Drive-hosted planning documents. No unified platform product exists; services are delivered through the city website, contracted partners (SAFEbuilt for building services), and in-person city hall operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Building Permits & Inspection Services Building permits, sign permits, and zoning permits processed through SAFEbuilt, the city's contracted building department. Includes applications for construction, remodeling, and new buildings. Targeted at property owners, contractors, and developers operating within city limits.
• Zoning Review Services Initial zoning review for new businesses and general zoning consultations to determine permitted uses, conditional uses, and special exception requirements by zoning district. Targeted at prospective and existing businesses and developers.
• Site Plan Review Review process for site plan applications including exemptions, filing requirements, and Planning Commission approval for commercial, industrial, and residential developments. Targeted at developers and property owners planning new construction or redevelopment.
• Water & Sewer Utilities Public water and sewer services including utility billing, drinking water quality management, and water main maintenance. Targeted at residential and commercial customers within city service area.
• Farmers Market Three Rivers Farmer's Market at Huss School on 8th Street, operating Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm from June to September. Targeted at local residents, vendors, and visitors seeking fresh produce and community engagement.
• Fee Schedule & Financial Services Comprehensive fee schedule for city services reviewed twice annually, including building permits, zoning fees, and utility billing through an interactive Google Sheets format. Targeted at residents, businesses, and developers needing transparency on municipal service costs.
• Parks & Recreation City parks including Scidmore Park, Memory Isle Park, shelter reservations, summer programs, and recreational facilities. Targeted at residents and visitors.
• Public Safety Services Police department services including code enforcement, community safety programs; Fire department services referenced separately. Targeted at city residents and businesses.
• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Services FOIA written procedures and guidelines for public records requests, including fee calculations, fee waivers for indigent requesters, and appeals process, consistent with Michigan Public Act 563 of 2014. Targeted at residents, journalists, and organizations requesting public records.
• Zoning Map & Ordinance 14 zoning districts including Business (B-1, B-2, B-3), Industrial (I-1 through I-4), Residential (R-2 through R-5, R-MH), and Airport (A) with corresponding ordinances and interactive maps. Targeted at developers, businesses, and residents navigating land use regulations.
• Grow Three Rivers (GTR) Program Comprehensive guide to development for businesses, developers, and manufacturers including zoning, permitting navigation, site plan requirements, and economic development tools. Targeted at prospective businesses and developers.
• Industrial Parks Enterprise Industrial Park and Airport Industrial Park with shovel-ready sites, available properties, and economic development incentives. Targeted at manufacturers, distributors, and industrial businesses seeking shovel-ready sites.
• Economic Development Tools Brownfield Redevelopment, Façade Improvement Program, Industrial Facility Tax Abatement, Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs), and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plans. Targeted at developers and businesses pursuing project financing.
• Master Plan Development Master Plan documents guiding city development and growth, with current 2020 plan and 2025 update in development; includes Parks & Recreation Plan and Trails information. Targeted at residents, businesses, and developers seeking long-term planning guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 210-acre Airport Industrial Park with shovel-ready sites
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• State of Michigan - MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2020State economic development agency administering Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for housing and community development projects including the 40 N. Main St rehabilitation project.
• Three Rivers Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for economic development, business attraction, and community promotion. The chamber supports local businesses and works with the city on development initiatives.
• SAFEbuiltcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted building department providing permits, inspections, and offices of the City Zoning Administrator and Building Official. Located in Athens, MI.
• Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership for Neighborhood Stabilization Grant (NSP) housing development initiatives. MSHDA works with cities to redevelop older residential neighborhoods through construction of new homes.
• Three Rivers HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal healthcare provider partnership for community health assessment surveys and health initiatives every three years.
• St. Joseph County Economic DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty-level economic development partnership for regional business development and workforce initiatives.
• Downtown Development Authority (DDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity-established authority focused on downtown revitalization through façade improvement programs, tax increment financing, and development projects like the Mural Mall redesign.
• Industrial Development AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard overseeing development and promotion of industrial parks including Enterprise Industrial Park and Airport Industrial Park.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• City of Coldwater, Michigan: Branch County, Michigan municipal government of similar size offering directly comparable services including water/sewer utilities, public safety, parks and recreation, building/zoning, and industrial park management for small-city residential and industrial base.
• City of Albion, Michigan: Small Michigan city with similar governance structure offering water/sewer utilities, public safety, parks/recreation, and zoning/permitting services to a small population base with manufacturing heritage.
• City of Niles, Michigan: Southwestern Michigan city of comparable population scale offering the same portfolio of core municipal services (utilities, public safety, building/zoning, parks, economic development) to a small industrial/manufacturing community.
• City of Hastings, Michigan: Barry County, Michigan municipal government of similar small-city size delivering directly comparable water/sewer utility services, public safety, parks, zoning/permitting, and economic development programs to a small Michigan resident base.
• City of Vicksburg, Michigan: Small Kalamazoo County, Michigan municipal government of comparable scale offering directly comparable municipal services (water/sewer, public safety, parks, building/zoning, downtown/industrial development) to a small Michigan community.
• City of Marshall, Michigan: Small Michigan municipal government with comparable service mix (water/sewer, public safety, parks, building/zoning, historic district administration) serving a similarly sized community. Directly comparable by service portfolio and scale.
• City of Dowagiac, Michigan: Southwestern Michigan city of comparable size providing directly comparable municipal services (water/sewer utilities, public safety, parks, building/zoning, economic development) to a small industrial-era community.
• City of Sturgis, Michigan: Small Michigan city in a neighboring county providing directly comparable municipal services (water/sewer utilities, public safety, parks, building/zoning) to a similarly sized population base. Most directly comparable peer by scale and service mix.

Regional players

• St. Joseph County, Michigan: County-level government in which Three Rivers sits, providing overlapping services (economic development, public works, health, planning). Comparable as a regional peer for utility infrastructure, public administration, and economic development coordination.

Broad incumbents

• City of Kalamazoo, Michigan: Larger Michigan municipal government in the same region (~20 miles north of Three Rivers). Comparable as a peer municipal entity delivering water/sewer utilities, public safety, zoning/permitting, and industrial park economic development services, but at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/threeriverscityhall
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cityofthreerivers

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Three Rivers, Michigan