White Cloud achieves MEDC's Redevelopment Ready Communities "Essentials" status

LANSING, Mich. – For its efforts in establishing a more streamlined development process and overall community development vision, the City of White Cloud achieved the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) Essentials designation, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced today.

Redevelopment Ready Communities is a voluntary initiative which empowers communities to shape their future as they strive to become RRC Certified by building a foundation of planning, zoning, and economic development best practices and integrating them into their everyday functions and was launched statewide in 2013. RRC promotes communities to be development ready and competitive in today’s economy by actively engaging stakeholders and proactively planning, making them more attractive for projects that create places where people want to live, work, and invest.

After engaging communities and other partners for feedback, MEDC evolved the RRC toolkit to introduce two designations: “Essentials” and “Certified.” This allows communities to choose the path that best suits their needs, considering their capacity, goals, and local factors. Achieving the RRC Essentials designation formally acknowledges that a community has a clear vision for the future and the essential practices to realize that vision.

“We applaud the City of White Cloud for achieving Essentials status,” said MEDC SVP of Community Planning and Development Readiness Michele Wildman. “White Cloud has identified its desired direction for the future and has a plan to achieve its goals for the community. We look forward to building upon our relationship with the city and supporting its continued economic development efforts.”

To achieve the Essentials designation, White Cloud worked to incorporate all the key documents and practices to provide a predictable development experience and meet local planning and zoning responsibilities under Michigan law. The city’s efforts have produced high-quality documents and processes that will continue to generate value. The City of White Cloud has future plans to pursue full RRC Certification now that they have reached the Essentials designation.

“This milestone, three years in the making, represents a significant step forward for our city,” said City Manager April Storms. “From the moment I assumed this role, one of my top priorities was to position White Cloud for meaningful growth by securing this important designation. Today, we are proud to celebrate the achievement of that goal. This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our City Staff, Planning Commission, and City Council. It reflects our shared commitment to building a stronger, more vibrant future for White Cloud.”

To date, the MEDC has formally recognized 83 Michigan communities in all corners of the state at the Certified level and 32 at the Essentials level. These communities have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” when it comes to planning and zoning, to remove traditional barriers and promote opportunities for prospective investors. To see the entire list of Redevelopment Ready Communities, visit here.

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.