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On behalf of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, officials from the Michigan State
Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) joined state and local leaders Thursday
to present a $100,000 grant to the City of Kalamazoo as part of the state’s
Cool Cities pilot program. Kalamazoo’s redevelopment project is one of 20
recently chosen to receive funding. The program, designed to foster the development
of vibrant, attractive cities and urban centers, is part of the Governor’s
overall economic development strategy for Michigan.
“Our state’s greatest economic successes have often gone hand-in-hand
with the creative and productive power of our cities,” Granholm said. “Although
government cannot create cool, these grants will bolster local efforts to create
more inviting downtown centers that will attract investment and job creation.”
The City of Kalamazoo will use the grant monies to move Smartshop, a unique metalworking
school, gallery, and sculpture garden to a new location on the city’s north
side. The business community immediately adjacent to the new location for Smartshop
will add to a cluster of gathering places, thus advancing the “Cool”
aspects of mixed-use, neighborhood intrinsic, pedestrian-friendly development
that enhances culture, community and economic development.
“The Kickoff is an opportunity to welcome Smartshop to its new location
and to tell the delegation from Lansing about the great things that are going
on in Kalamazoo,” said Special Projects Coordinator Martha Aills. “It's
also a great chance for Northside and Eastside neighborhood residents to meet
artist-owner Holly Fisher, to become more familiar with Smartshop and what's going
on in the riverfront area, and to enjoy a time of socializing over barbecue. We
want to recognize those who have been involved with Cool Cities to date, and to
make valuable new community connections as we continue to work toward revitalization.
“
Additional projects designated to receive Cool Cities funding are in Alpena,
Bay City, Detroit, Ferndale, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Marquette, Portland,
Port Huron, Saginaw, Saugatuck, Sault Ste. Marie, Traverse City, Warren, and
Ypsilanti. Detailed information about each project is available at www.coolcities.com.
Each grant recipient will receive a catalyst grant of up to $100,000, as well
as access to a resource toolbox that includes access to more than 75 of the
state’s community improvement grants, loans and assistance programs. These
resources and the catalyst grants leverage millions of existing dollars that
can now be strategically directed to revitalization projects that offer the
best opportunity for success. Selecting the final 20 projects was difficult
because there were so many high-quality applications submitted,” said
David Hollister, director of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG).
“The reaction to the program has been extremely positive and we hope to
continue the momentum to help more Michigan communities in their quest for cool.”
One hundred and fifty-one project applications from 112 Michigan cities were
submitted for the pilot program. A multi-agency team reviewed each project,
looking for those that demonstrated close partnerships with existing community
organizations and the private sector and offered plans for creating large-scale
neighborhood or community improvement.
Teams associated with projects not designated as part of this pilot program
are eligible to attend an educational and training session in Lansing in August.
They will meet with representatives from the DLEG, the Michigan State Housing
Development Authority (MSHDA), and the 14 participating state departments to
discuss how they can improve their applications for the next round of grants
and determine what other resources might be available to them.
“The Cool Cities initiative is an excellent example of what can happen
when state agencies and local governments and development organizations cooperate,”
said Acting Executive Director Rick L. Laber. “We are pleased to be among
the many organizations contributing toward the success of this innovative program.”
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority is a quasi-state agency that
provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships
to create and preserve decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income
Michigan residents. The Authority's loans and operating expenses are financed
through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds and notes to private investors,
not from state tax revenues. For more information on MSHDA initiatives and programs,
visit the Web site at www.michigan.gov/mshda.
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