“I hope that the Michigan Legislature sees the overwhelming demand for this program, along with the ways RAP will directly benefit Michiganders, and take it upon themselves to provide an additional allocation to fund more great projects around the state.” “The way the MEDC has crafted this program ensures that communities all over the state will benefit, and we will invest in long-term infrastructure and housing improvements that will provide generational benefit to Michiganders,” Cornerstone Alliance President and CEO Rob Cleveland said in a statement. Meanwhile, Berrien County’s funds are earmarked for renovating downtown districts and housing in Niles and Benton Harbor. Together, we’re excited to have this opportunity to fund many of those worthy projects.”Ī spokesman for Southwest Michigan First told MiBiz the organization was still determining how it would allocate its funding among the list of projects it submitted as part of its grant. “Our regional application was built with input from many public and private partners. “We’re thrilled with Governor Whitmer’s announcement of $7.9M to support revitalization and placemaking projects throughout Southwest Michigan,” Southwest Michigan First CEO Jonas Peterson said in an emailed statement to MiBiz. ($3.6 million) and Southwest Michigan First ($7.9 million). Subgrant recipients in West Michigan include: the City of Grand Rapids ($9.4 million), the City of Muskegon ($6 million), Berrien County ($2.6 million), The Right Place Inc.

The subgrant RAP awards - funds that local governments or local economic development organizations requested for projects in their communities - made up nearly $65 million of the total RAP grants approved Wednesday. Applications for the funds were due in June. Municipalities, local economic development organizations, and similar nonprofits could request up to $20 million to implement programs in their service areas. Individual public space projects could apply for up to $1 million, while individual real estate projects could apply for up to $5 million. The RAP Program aims to support projects that promote population and tax revenue growth to counteract the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as spur the redevelopment of vacant and underutilized office, commercial and community spaces. The $84 million in Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) Program grants selected by the Michigan Strategic Fund board is fueled by $100 million of the state’s American Rescue Plan Act funding. Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Berrien County will receive large chunks of funding to regrant to various housing projects that the state approved Wednesday through the Revitalization and Placemaking Program.

Cornerstone vet