Michigan is steering roughly $39.2 million into a pair of high‑profile redevelopment efforts in Battle Creek and Detroit, turning long‑vacant parcels into new housing, child care space and small‑business storefronts. State officials say the funding is meant to jump‑start neighborhood revitalization, pull in additional private investment and give workers and entrepreneurs more reason to put down roots.
State Grants Aimed At Housing And Small Business Growth
According to WZZM, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the two awards as part of a combined capital investment topping $39.2 million. The station reports that both projects were picked through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Revitalization and Placemaking program, which backs efforts to turn underused sites into active neighborhood anchors.
Battle Creek’s Blue Light To Add Apartments And Child Care
In a press release from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, officials describe the Battle Creek effort, known as Blue Light, as a full makeover of five vacant acres once home to a K‑Mart. Plans call for a four‑story apartment building and a one‑story commercial building that will include a new child care center.
The residential component is slated to bring 80 apartments, with 48 units reserved as low‑income housing and 32 designated as workforce units rented at 80 to 120 percent of area median income. The project secured a $5 million Revitalization and Placemaking grant, and MEDC says it is expected to leverage roughly $30.2 million in total capital investment. The City of Battle Creek has also signed off on a 50‑year payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes agreement to support the deal.
Detroit’s McNichols Site To Host Artisan Market And Offices
In Detroit, the state award will back the demolition of a long‑vacant building at 7326 W. McNichols and the construction of a 15,600‑square‑foot commercial and retail complex, as reported by WZZM. Plans call for a ground‑floor artisan market designed to support roughly 20 to 25 emerging entrepreneurs, with event and office space on the second floor.
The Detroit project received a $1.5 million Revitalization and Placemaking grant. It will also be backed by an Act 381 brownfield work plan that brings a modest amount of brownfield tax‑increment financing to help cover eligible costs tied to the cleanup and redevelopment.
Why Local Leaders Say These Projects Matter
State and local officials argue the two sites are strategically located to support workers and small businesses. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation notes that the Blue Light property sits less than five miles from Fort Custer Industrial Park and about seven miles from Ford’s planned BlueOval Battery Michigan facility, positioning the new apartments close to major job centers…