Village of Marcellus 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, Marcellus has been awarded the Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) certification, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) announced today.

MEDC officially designates the Village of Marcellus as a Certified RRC in Michigan. Marcellus now joins a distinguished group of 94 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 here.

“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 and Development Readiness Michele Wildman. “The Village of Marcellus 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 Village of Marcellus and supporting local economic development efforts.”

As an RRC participant, the Village of Marcellus 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.

“I am thrilled that the Village of Marcellus has achieved its Certified Redevelopment Ready Community status,” said Jacqueline A. Terrill, manager/clerk for the Village of Marcellus. “This designation highlights the collective commitment and effort put in by our Village Staff, Planning Commission, DDA and Village Council to update our processes and better position us for investment. We are also grateful to the MEDC’s RRC team for their support and guidance throughout the process, and we look forward to continued collaboration. This certification comes at exactly the right time. With the blight elimination project recently completed at the former Tailgater building, a partnership between the Village, the Cass County Land Bank Authority, and the State Land Bank, we have positioned one of our most challenging properties for a new chapter. Along with other priority redevelopment sites in our community, these efforts open the door to new opportunities that will benefit our downtown and our residents. I am proud of this accomplishment and excited about what comes next for our Village.”

As a certified community, Marcellus 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 Village continues implementing the best practices over time. Certification is active for five years before needing to be renewed.

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.