The college will also fund a $1.7 million endowment for essential city services

This rendering shows the planned Dow Hotel expansion. Courtesy | Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College plans to expand the Dow Hotel and Conference Center after an 8-0 vote and one abstention in the Hillsdale City Council meeting on Aug. 19. 

The plan includes the construction of a 158-room hotel, conference center, and public fine dining restaurant, making it the largest hotel between Battle Creek and Detroit, according to the project plan. The new hotel would be north of the main campus and will require the permanent closure of a block of East Galloway Drive and part of Summit Street. 

The city council has been especially supportive of the idea to expand the hotel since the college was able to fund a $1.7 million endowment to be placed in the Community Foundation,  Hillsdale College Associate Vice President for Administrative Affairs Tim Wells said. The city council can use the proceeds for essential city services.

Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford said he is grateful for the college’s decision to contribute to the city of Hillsdale’s essential service funding, something all residents rely on and a gesture that reflects the college’s mission.

“This endowment is more than just a gift or an exchange, it’s ushering in a new age of cooperation between the city as a whole and the college, and a vote of confidence in the city’s leadership,” Stockford said. “Two million dollars is a lot of money.”

The multi-million dollar project will support economic growth in Hillsdale, creating 80 new jobs and directly benefiting the local trades, Wells said.

“There has been a need for expanded hotel space for several years now, especially as the college has seen an expansion in both total annual events as well as the number of attendees,” Wells said. 

From the project’s inception, the college has consistently sought to achieve a win-win scenario in its communication with city officials, according to Wells. 

“This involved outlining both the immediate and long-term economic benefit that would arise from its addition, while also striving to look for ways in which it could be a benefit for the city directly,” Wells said. 

This is where the concept of establishing the endowment will pay dividends, both literally and figuratively, Wells said. It will provide additional financial resources to the city and assist in meeting the needs of essential city services.

Hillsdale City Manager David Mackie said the city thanks the college for its continued investment in its campus and the community as a whole.

“The college has been a great partner in continuing to make Hillsdale a great place to live and work,” Mackie said. “The project will be nothing short of a game changer for the community.”