Granholm Announces Grants to Support Downtown Improvements in Grand Haven, Fremont, Brighton

Grants to make downtown infrastructure improvements and facade renovations

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced a total of $819,600 in grants to the cities of Brighton, Fremont and Grand Haven to make downtown infrastructure improvements and façade renovations. The grants are being made available by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) with funds provided by the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

“Improving the downtown areas of our cities will help attract new business investment and job growth,” Granholm said. “These improvements contribute to a stronger, more diversified state economy.” 

The projects announced today are:

• City of Grand Haven:A $200,000 CDBG will fund façade renovations to two downtown buildings. The improvements to the buildings, which are located on the riverfront, will assist the city with its efforts to fill retail spaces with year-round businesses. The city of Grand Haven is contributing $207,750 to support the project.
• City of Fremont:A $220,000 CDBG will fund renovations to a downtown parking lot, which will include resurfacing, landscaping, decorative fencing, lighting and new street furniture. The city of Fremont is contributing $181,967 to support the project, which will create 11 new, full-time jobs. Additional funding to support the project will come from a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant ($60,000) and the city of Fremont Downtown Development Authority ($121,967).   
• City of Brighton:A $399,600 CDBG will fund a new public parking lot adjacent to a new commercial building on W. Grand River. Additional improvements include new sidewalks, streetlamps, trees and street furniture, as well as a pedestrian-oriented pocket park. The Brighton Downtown Development Authority will contribute $44,000 to the project, and a private developer will invest $2 million to build the 13,569-square-foot commercial building with space for four new businesses. The project is expected to create 34 new full-time jobs.

“The CDBG program is an excellent resource that helps communities promote new business development and job creation,” MEDC President and CEO Greg Main said. “The MEDC is pleased to work with city officials and our local economic development partners to bring these projects to fruition.”

The MEDC is able to award approximately $40 million in federal CDBG funds each year. There are 1,655 local governments within the state eligible to apply for these funds. Projects are approved contingent upon compliance with state and federal requirements.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.