City of Grayling receives certification as Redevelopment Ready Community

Designation facilitates private investment, improves economic development opportunities

LANSING, Mich. – For establishing a solid foundation to attract private investment and further build on municipality assets, the city of Grayling has been awarded Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced today.

The MEDC will formally present the award at 11:30 a.m. Friday, September 7, 2018 at Commission Chambers at a special event to recognize the city of Grayling’s new designation. Commission Chambers is located on 1020 City Boulevard.

The Northern Michigan city joins 25 other communities that have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” when it comes to planning, zoning along with other key features that remove traditional barriers and promote opportunities for prospective investors. Other certified RRC communities include Allegan, Alpena, Battle Creek, Boyne City, Dearborn, Eastpointe, Escanaba, Ferndale, Grand Rapids, Hudsonville, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Lathrup Village, Manistee, Marshall, Middleville, Muskegon, Oak Park, Petoskey, Pinckney, Roseville, Southfield, Traverse City and Ypsilanti.

“Our mission at the MEDC is to empower communities so they can proactively shape their future, a future built on a solid foundation of retaining and attracting business investment and talent,” said MEDC Senior Vice President Katharine Czarnecki. “We look forward to working collaboratively with Grayling to create a vibrant community where business and talent want to be, and where a strong sense of community flourishes.”

As an RRC participant, the city of Grayling received a comprehensive assessment that measured current community and economic development practices compared to RRC best practice standards. Further, the program evaluates and certifies communities that integrate transparency, predictability and efficiency into economic development practices. Certification status provides a compelling sign that a community has removed development barriers and streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive to investors.

“RRC has done more for Grayling than just streamline our processes.  It has helped us to understand the headaches a new developer or business owner would feel when there is not a plan or organized steps to follow,” said Grayling City Manager Doug Baum. “We are supposed to help Grayling thrive and having an unfriendly ordinance and processes that deter potential new jobs is not the way.  RRC makes you look at all aspects of city planning and question if they are truly working or are a barrier.”

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.