Madison Heights receives Certification as Redevelopment Ready Community

LANSING, Mich. – For its efforts in establishing a solid foundation to attract private investment and further build on municipal assets, the City of Madison Heights has been awarded the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced today.

MEDC officially designates Madison Heights as a Certified RRC in Michigan. Madison Heights now joins a distinguished group of 88 Michigan communities from all regions of the state that have qualified as “thoroughly prepared” in their planning and zoning efforts. This designation aims to eliminate traditional barriers and foster opportunities for potential investment. For a complete list of Redevelopment Ready Communities, visit www.miplace.org/programs/redevelopment-ready-communities/.

“Our mission at MEDC is to support Michigan’s strong economic momentum and empower communities to establish a strong planning, zoning and economic development foundation,” said MEDC SVP of Community Planning & Development Readiness Michele Wildman. “The City of Madison Heights is well positioned to continue to implement their vision for the future and further improve the quality of life for its residents. We look forward to building upon our relationship with the city and supporting local economic development efforts.”

As an RRC participant, the City of Madison Heights received a comprehensive assessment that measured current community and economic development practices compared to RRC best practice standards. Communities leverage the RRC toolkit to integrate transparency, predictability, and efficiency into local economic development practices. Certification is a compelling indicator that a community has removed development barriers and streamlined processes to be more competitive and attractive for investment.

“Recognition as a Certified Redevelopment Ready Community signals that Madison Heights is open for opportunity,” said Mayor Corey Haines. “By adopting proven best practices and strengthening our development process, we are demonstrating a clear commitment to intentional growth, investment readiness, and a strong economic future. This milestone reflects the dedication, collaboration, and pride our staff bring to their work every day. We extend our heartfelt thanks for their hard work and continued commitment to moving Madison Heights forward.”

City Manager Melissa Marsh highlighted the tremendous collaboration that supported the community’s achievement. “This designation is the result of tremendous work by our staff and strong collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation,” she said. “Updating our zoning ordinance, economic development plan, and internal processes took time and discipline, and I’m proud of the team for delivering. We appreciate MEDC’s guidance in achieving this distinction and look forward to ongoing partnership with our community to help attract high quality redevelopment.”

As a certified community, Madison Heights will have access to new tools to implement its community development goals as well as ongoing support and technical assistance from the RRC team. Annual check-ins and updates will help ensure the city continues implementing the best practices over time. Certification is active for five years before needing to be renewed.

“Becoming Redevelopment Ready certified for us means that we have a clearer, development-friendly Zoning Ordinance, better plans that reflect the vision of our residents, and a more predictable development process,” said Community & Economic Development Director Giles Tucker. “These improvements reduce uncertainty for developers and ensure higher quality projects that align with our long-term vision for the community. These improvements will help attract new investment, support local businesses, and strengthen our tax base.”

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.