What Happened?
The city of Kalamazoo was awarded a $300,000 grant to support its site and infrastructure improvements project along the Kalamazoo River. The development is expected to cost a total of $1.5 million.
Goal
Kalamazoo’s Riverview Launch project calls for the redevelopment of an abandoned site along the Kalamazoo River and Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. The Kalamazoo County Land Bank will turn the vacant space into a 9,000-square-foot commercial property to house the Land Bank, Michigan State University Extension Junior Master Gardeners and the Open Roads bicycle program.
In addition, the development will include a variety of public amenities including:
- Kayak launch
- Observation deck
- Environmental demonstration features
- Public art
- Outdoor play area
- Perennial gardens
- Walking paths
- Community gardens
The city wants the Riverview Launch to provide meeting spaces for outdoor activities as well as youth groups focused on gardening and urban agriculture education.
Funding
To cover the $1.5 million price tag, the project received $488,600 from the Kalamazoo County Land Bank and Kalamazoo County. The land being used for the redevelopment was donated by the land bank, valued at $60,000, MLive reported.
The city of Kalamazoo was also awarded a $300,000 grant from Michigan’s Core Communities grants program, which aims to meet the critical needs of older communities with new construction and redevelopment of obsolete facilities or properties.
Five communities in Michigan were awarded a total of $1.2 million in Core Communities grants for improvements to public infrastructure and development sites. The $1.2 million investment is expected to generate more than $4 million in private and public investment statewide, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Allegan
Another community benefiting from the Core Communities grant program is Allegan, where $250,000 in state funding will be used to convert a parking area into a riverfront events plaza. Also located along the Kalamazoo River, the project will create a multi-use event space to host festivals and other events, MLive reported.
The city of Allegan has gathered $175,000 to support the development, along with the state grant of $250,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The events plaza will be strategically placed between the Kalamazoo River and the city’s central business district.
MEDC Initiatives
Aside from the Core Communities grant program, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is supporting other development programs that meet specific criteria such as:
- Located in a high impact area
- Contributes financially to long-term community development
- Uses mixed-use elements to promote walkability
- Involves sustainable components and/or revitalization of historic structures
- Addresses underserved markets of commerce
- Combines private and public sector funding
Other programs through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation include:
- Brownfield Tax Increment Financing: Designed to address existing brownfield conditions on sites to make them competitive.
- Community Development Block Grant: Federal grant program to help smaller communities develop community and housing units.
- Michigan Community Revitalization Program: Promotion of the revitalization of brownfield or historic properties in traditional downtowns.
- Urban Land Assembly: Provides loans to municipalities to help them acquire property for economic development purposes.
Each program is designed to attract and retain talent in Michigan communities through sustainable developments.
Redevelopments on the Rise
Gov1 has reported on a variety of redevelopment projects stemming from unique funding opportunities to boost sustainability.