MEDC has $3M available for struggling Michigan cities that want to build up their business districts

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has $3 million in federal grant money it wants to award to infrastructure projects in low- and moderate-income Michigan cities. Eligible projects would be those within a city's business district, with an eye to encouraging further development.

The Downtown Infrastructure Grant (DIG) program offers a maximum grant amount per city of $750,000, says Katharine Czarnecki, the MEDC's community development manager, which could go toward projects like streetscape improvements or green infrastructure projects, such as, rain gardens or pervious pavements.

"We're striving to give these communities a bit of a leg up in terms of walkability and streetscapes to help them fill empty storefronts in those downtowns," Czarnecki says. "We're hoping that it provides incentive for driving further private investment and job growth in those downtowns."

The area seeking funding must meet the definition of a traditional downtown with a concentrated density of multi-story buildings that already have some walkable component, Czarnecki says. The project must already have a "significant local match," which could be 20-25 percent of the project cost or more.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Click here for more information.

Click here for a list of eligible communities.
    
Source: Katharine Czarnecki, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor