It’s late June in downtown Sturgis, Michigan, and the streets are buzzing with the familiar rhythm of Sturgis Fest. The air is hot and heavy as vendors finish setting up their tents, some already open and selling local gifts and food. There’s a sense of anticipation, with Bike Night approaching and people beginning to gather. It’s the kind of small-town celebration that radiates warmth, but behind the scenes, there’s something bigger happening.

The energy flowing through Sturgis isn’t just from the festival crowds. It’s part of a deeper, strategic revitalization effort quietly gaining momentum. At the heart of it is John Carmichael, a local entrepreneur who, after two decades of growing a national company, is also investing in growing his hometown. Carmichael is the co-founder and CEO of GT Independence, a company born out of a personal journey with his older brother, Ben.

“My older brother, Ben, was born with a disability,” John shared.“ For his entire life, my family advocated so that he could live a meaningful life.”

In Ben’s teenage years, group homes were the standard model of care. But for the Carmichaels, that wasn’t good enough. “It wasn’t the right fit for what he needed and wanted,” John said.

The family’s solution was simple but radical at the time: let Ben make his own choices. From what to wear to who came through his front door, Ben was given full control. The transformation was profound.

“It was wonderful to see the change in him and to see how both he and the community benefitted from his inclusion,” John said. “If we want to create richer communities, we need a variety of perspectives and lived experiences.”

That vision became the foundation for GT Independence, which the Carmichaels launched in 2004. It began in Sturgis, with just a few employees and a mission to help people with disabilities direct their own care, a concept known as self-direction.

“Self-direction was in many ways in its infancy,” John explained. “In GT’s early days, Medicaid programs weren’t set up to facilitate self-direction… there was no well-developed network of financial management service providers.”

The challenge was steep. While John’s parents had accounting backgrounds, they had to quickly master Medicaid’s complexity, educate facilitators, and push for systemic change. “It was an exciting challenge, and it felt like they were truly innovating,” he said. Over the next two decades, GT Independence grew rapidly.

“It’s been like being strapped to a rocket for 20 years,” John said. The company now supports thousands of people across the country and employs more than 300 people in Sturgis, a city of just 11,000.

That kind of impact is hard to overstate. “Sturgis is also my hometown, and it has always been important to my family to create opportunity here so that people can stay and raise their families,” John said. “We have a shared commitment to making GT, the lives of the people we serve, and our community better.”

GT’s local workforce is a point of pride. “The talent pool in Sturgis has been a true asset to GT, the people are dedicated and passionate about what we do,” he added. “At the end of the day, they’ve earned a paycheck, but they also go home and feel good about how they’ve made an impact on someone’s life.”

But for John, economic success wasn’t enough. As GT matured, so did his vision for what kind of legacy he wanted to leave in his hometown. The next step was Root and Branch, a community development initiative focused on building a vibrant future for Sturgis. Through this effort, Carmichael began turning his long-term vision for the city into action by revitalizing downtown spaces, restoring historic buildings, and supporting projects that bring people together. While GT Independence serves individuals across the country, Root and Branch is rooted entirely in Sturgis, acting as a local engine for economic activity, culture, and community life.

“Launching Root and Branch was largely sparked by my desire to show gratitude and to reinvest in this community for a stronger future,” he said. “It’s my way of continuing to support people, and the timing felt right.”

The shift from leading a national company to investing locally wasn’t abrupt, but it did represent a new chapter. With his roots in Sturgis and a deepening appreciation for what makes small towns thrive, John began to see how the values behind GT could also shape a community. John had already served in local government and seen firsthand the effort it takes to sustain a small city.

“So many people have come together and helped us to grow and succeed, and I have such gratitude for this place and its stewards,” he said.

Root and Branch is more than a symbolic gesture, it’s a tangible, strategic effort to make Sturgis a place where young people and entrepreneurs want to stay.

“Southwest Michigan has some wonderful small communities, like Kalamazoo, that are economically vibrant and exude a sense of shared responsibility among people involved in development,” John said. “I wanted to create something similar for Sturgis… with the same emphasis on the long term.”

The most visible Root and Branch project to date is The Watershed, a mixed-use building that blends housing, dining, and gathering space right in the heart of downtown Sturgis. Located along Chicago Road, the building stands as both a cultural hub and economic driver, designed to bring people together and inject new life into the city center.

“The vision behind The Watershed was one in which the development of the building, and its community-minded features, is a catalyst in energizing the downtown area,” John explained. The building will include a restaurant expected to open this fall, loft-style apartments, and shared spaces that invite collaboration and local use. John drew inspiration from the way creativity and community thrive when people live and work in proximity.

“I wanted to get people excited about what we can create in Sturgis,” he said. “And I hope that it serves as a gathering place and a launching pad for new initiatives to move Sturgis forward.”

The Watershed project received $4.1 million from the Michigan Strategic Fund’s Community Revitalization Program, supplementing private and other public investment.

“The project could not have happened without that support,” John said. “MEDC is dedicated to development in our state and provides a process and infrastructure for shepherding projects like The Watershed through to completion.”

With its mix of restaurant space, apartments, and gathering areas, The Watershed is designed to be more than just a building. It stands as a statement of intent, reflecting a broader mission that reaches beyond architecture. What began as a family effort to empower individuals has grown into a larger commitment to strengthen the fabric of an entire community. For John, GT Independence and Root and Branch are two sides of the same coin.

“Root and Branch is an extension of the essence and purpose of GT,” he said. “At GT, we talk about serving our many stakeholders… Root and Branch continues that commitment to stakeholders, particularly those in our backyard.”

He’s quick to emphasize that this isn’t about charity, it’s about reciprocity. “The Root and Branch development is not a gift; it’s an investment in a community that has invested in our business,” he said.

The relationship is symbiotic. As Root and Branch improves quality of life in Sturgis, it makes GT a more attractive place to work. And as GT grows, it provides the resources and leadership to fuel even more local development. That ripple effect is part of what drives John’s ongoing commitment. As both initiatives continue to shape the local landscape, the lines between personal mission, professional work, and community betterment have started to blur. John Carmichael’s definition of success has changed over time.

“When starting out, it was about making change and having the world take notice,” he reflected. “As I experienced success, however, I began to appreciate the importance of shared effort and inclusive participation.” He finds joy in helping others discover their own capacity for impact. “My greatest joy is helping someone realize that they can do something they didn’t think they could do, that’s success.”

Looking ahead, his hopes for Sturgis are clear. “I hope to see a growing, thriving community where people from different backgrounds and cultures have opportunities to engage and learn from each other,” he said. “I’d like to see it as a place where our children will return and settle.” As for what’s next? For now, The Watershed is the focus, but John isn’t closing the door on future projects. “Dreamers never stop dreaming,” he said. The story of GT Independence and Root and Branch offers a playbook for other communities:

1. Start with people. Understand their needs, empower their choices.
2. Invest long-term. Short-term ROI doesn’t always reflect long-term value.
3. Build feedback loops. Local investment supports business, and business supports place.
4. Dream big. Even in small towns.

It doesn’t need to be flashy or fast. What matters is that it’s real, it’s working, and it’s making a difference right here in Sturgis.

“Within this small community, there are so many of the things that make for a great quality of life,” John said during our conversation at The Watershed. “I would never trade the idea that I know my friends and neighbors. I see them at the grocery store. My kids grow up with their kids.”

The focus is not on a single development or individual achievement, but on the broader idea that small towns can thrive when people choose to put their time, resources, and belief into them. Because when people feel connected to where they live, when they feel like they belong, communities grow stronger. That’s the future John Carmichael is helping shape in Sturgis, and it’s already happening.

 

 

About GT Independence Founded in 2004 in Sturgis, Michigan, GT Independence helps people with disabilities and long-term care needs live life on their own terms. The company provides financial management services that empower individuals to hire caregivers, manage budgets, and make independent decisions about their care. Today, GT supports thousands of people nationwide while employing more than 300 people in Sturgis, reflecting a commitment to both self-direction and community strength. Learn more at gtindependence.com.

About Root & Branch Real Estate Root & Branch Real Estate was launched in 2021 by John Carmichael to reinvest in his hometown of Sturgis, Michigan. The company focuses on projects that revitalize downtown, restore historic spaces, and create opportunities for housing and community gathering. Its flagship initiative, The Watershed, blends housing, dining, and collaboration space in the city’s core, serving as both a cultural hub and an economic driver. Learn more at rootandbranchrealestate.com.