Across West and Southwest Michigan philanthropic organizations have taken the lead on several economic development projects, shaping the futures for cities across the region. While that is not normally their purpose, the result is an astounding rebirth for dozens of blighted urban districts and the creation of new jobs.
According to excerpts from the story:
As a real estate deal, it's one of the largest projects going today in West Michigan.
As a philanthropic endeavor, the creation of a new downtown Muskegon business district is certainly a few steps beyond the Community Foundation for Muskegon County's traditional line of work.
Yet it's one that Chris McGuigan believes the foundation had to do. The former Muskegon Mall was long out of business, falling into disrepair and dragging down the entire downtown with it.
So up stepped the community foundation, joining with the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce and the Paul C. Johnson Foundation to form the Downtown Muskegon Development Corp., which bought the site in the heart of the business district and
embarked on a major redevelopment.
Read the complete story here.
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