October 7 , 2004

On behalf of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, officials from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) will join state and local leaders Tuesday, September 28 to present a $100,000 grant to the Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids as part of the state’s Cool Cities pilot program. Grand Rapids’ 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 Avenue for the Arts Project includes the historic renovation of seven buildings, streetscape improvements along with the creation of public art, murals, and the development of 35 loft apartments.

“Dwelling Place has been a part of the downtown Grand Rapids neighborhood for nearly 25 years,” said Denny Sturtevant, Chief Executive Officer of Dwelling Place. “We are proud to be part of the revitalization efforts of the neighborhood and pleased that the Avenue for the Arts Project will serve as a spark to this endeavor through its designation as a Michigan Cool Cities Catalyst Project.”

Along with the Dwelling Place projects, Calvin College will have space in the new building for three art professors and also will have student studio space. In addition, it plans to craft a gallery, facing the street, to be used especially for student art exhibits. Calvin president Dr. Gaylen Byker says the new Avenue for the Arts fits right in with Calvin's long-standing commitment to the city.

Another component of the Grand Rapids project is the Urban Market, a public-private venture that focuses on fresh, local, distinctive food. The market will house a seasonal farmer’s market, a local brewery, plus other fixed retail as well as an incubator kitchen for food innovation and entrepreneurial projects.

Additional projects designated to receive Cool Cities funding are in Alpena, Bay City, Detroit, Ferndale, Flint, Jackson, Kalamazoo, 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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